Walmart (NYSE:WMT) – Walmart is reducing corporate jobs and urging remote workers to move to offices, according to the Wall Street Journal. Smaller offices in Dallas, Atlanta, and Toronto are being redirected to hubs like the headquarters in Bentonville or Hoboken. The company allows part-time remote work but prioritizes office presence. Walmart is about to disclose its first-quarter earnings while facing signs of weaker spending. Its overall stocks are high, which might impact its profit margins. Wall Street expects solid results, but intense online competition could pressure its stocks.
Gamestop (NYSE:GME), AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC) – Meme stock investors have renewed their bets on GameStop and AMC. Following sharp increases on Monday, shares of the video game retailer surged 48% in pre-market trading, while those of the cinema chain rose 57%. The return of investor Keith Gill fueled the rise.
Home Depot (NYSE:HD) – Home Depot reported earnings per share of $3.63, beating the estimate of $3.60. Net profit was $3.6 billion, down from $3.87 billion the previous year. Revenue was $36.42 billion, below the expectation of $36.66 billion. The company projects sales growth of 1% in 2024.
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) – The NHTSA is investigating Amazon.com due to incidents involving autonomous Zoox vehicles that resulted in rear-end collisions. Two accidents caused minor injuries to motorcyclists. Zoox is cooperating with regulators. The investigation will evaluate the performance of the autonomous system in various collision scenarios.
McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) – McDonald’s is collaborating with Chinese regulatory authorities to investigate food issues, as stated on its Chinese website on Monday. The company expressed apologies for the impact on affected restaurants and committed to reinforcing the implementation of the restaurant code of practices.
Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ:KHC) – Kraft Heinz is considering selling its Oscar Mayer meat division, potentially raising between $3 billion and $5 billion. The business faces declining demand, driven by consumers’ preference for healthier options. The company hired Bank of America and Centerview Partners to assess interest in the business.
Capri Holdings (NYSE:CPRI), Tapestry (NYSE:TPR) – The federal judge overseeing the FTC case to block the acquisition of Capri Holdings by Tapestry rejected a request from the companies for more information on their definition of “accessible luxury” in the handbag market. The judge stated that the details provided by the FTC were sufficient.
On Holding (NYSE:ONON) – The Swiss apparel maker, On Holding, boosted by tennis legend Roger Federer, saw its first-quarter profit more than double, driven by strong direct-to-consumer sales. With a profit of $101 million (or 3 cents per share), revenue increased by 21%, reaching 508.2 million Swiss francs. The company reiterates its annual sales growth target, with an adjusted operating margin between 16% and 16.5%.
Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) – Walgreens is in preliminary talks to sell its Boots drugstore chain in the UK, valued at about $8.78 billion (£7 billion), seeking to focus on its core pharmaceutical operations in the US.
Kenvue (NYSE:KVUE), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) – Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, announced on Monday that Johnson & Johnson will sell its remaining 9.5% stake in the company. Based on Kenvue’s closing shares, the offering of 182.3 million shares would be worth about $3.75 billion. J&J will exchange its stake with Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Securities for its debt. Kenvue has focused on its 15 priority brands since the spinoff and recently announced cuts in its global workforce.
OpenAI – OpenAI has launched the GPT-4o model and the desktop version of ChatGPT with an updated interface. The GPT-4o, faster and more efficient, is now available to all users, including free ones. In addition to improvements in text, audio, and video, the company plans to add video and voice conversation features. OpenAI aims to enhance accessibility and expand the use of ChatGPT, with future testing of Voice Mode for paid subscribers.
Foxconn (USOTC:FXCOF) – Apple supplier Foxconn reported a 72% increase in first-quarter profit, driven by demand for AI servers, but still below analyst forecasts. Foxconn reaffirmed its commitment to Sharp Corp, describing it as an “important asset”. The quarterly net profit of approximately $679.24 million was below analyst forecasts but marked the third consecutive quarterly profit increase for Foxconn.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) – Apple is gearing up to launch its Vision Pro mixed reality headset internationally, after training hundreds of employees from its stores worldwide. Priced at $3,499, the device aims to rejuvenate demand, following a launch in the US in February.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) – Meta is considering producing AI-powered earphones and cameras as part of the “Camerabuds” project, seeking to capitalize on the growing interest in AI-based wearable devices. The Ray-Ban smart glasses, launched in September 2023, also integrate AI to provide visual information.
Rumble (NASDAQ:RUM), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) – Rumble has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging anticompetitive practices in digital advertising and seeking over $1 billion in damages. Rumble claims Google monopolized the ad stack, hindering competition. Google denied the charges, stating that its products benefit publishers.
Sony (NYSE:SONY) – Sony reported revenue of approximately $22.4 billion in the fourth quarter, surpassing expectations of $18.5 billion, representing a 14% year-on-year increase. Operating profit was $1.47 billion, below the expected $1.52 billion, but still a significant 57% year-on-year increase. In 2023, the Japanese gaming giant reported revenue of $83.2 billion, growing 19% from the previous year. However, Sony’s annual operating profit fell 7%, totaling $7.68 billion. The company nearly met its revised target for PlayStation 5 sales, with 20.8 million units sold in fiscal 2023. Additionally, Sony appointed Hermen Hulst and Hideaki Nishino to lead its video game business, succeeding former president Jim Ryan. Hulst will continue overseeing PlayStation Studios as CEO of the studios, while Nishino will focus on gaming devices as CEO of platforms.
Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Apollo Global Management (NYSE:APO) – Intel is in advanced talks with Apollo Global Management for a deal worth over $11 billion to build a facility in Ireland, as reported by the Wall Street Journal on Monday. This comes as Intel seeks to expand its US presence with a planned $100 billion investment in four states. Intel and Apollo are in exclusive negotiations and may sign the deal in the coming weeks. Additionally, Intel named Kevin O’Buckley as head of its foundry division, succeeding Stu Pann, who is retiring. O’Buckley will play a crucial role in the shift to chip manufacturing, part of Intel’s ambitious recovery plan.
Uber (NYSE:UBER), Delivery Hero (USOTC:DLVHF), Lyft (NASDAQ:LYFT) – Uber closed a $1.25 billion deal to acquire control of foodpanda from Delivery Hero in Taiwan, increasing its stake in the German company. This move aims to strengthen Uber’s presence in Asia, where competition in the food delivery market is fierce. Additionally, the Massachusetts Attorney General is taking Uber and Lyft to court, alleging the misclassification of drivers as independent contractors. The dispute covers benefits such as minimum wage and overtime. While the companies’ lawyers emphasize driver flexibility, prosecutors point to the companies’ control over the drivers.
Vodafone (NASDAQ:VOD) – Vodafone Group Plc reported growth in Germany, its largest market, with service revenue of €11.45 billion and adjusted profit of €5 billion. CEO Margherita Della Valle plans to streamline operations and focus on Germany, exiting unprofitable markets. Shares rose by 2.77%. Excluding operations in Spain and Italy, Vodafone saw a 6.3% increase in organic service revenue, totaling €29.9 billion. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) after leases reached €11 billion, aligning with analysts’ estimates. For the fiscal year 2025, the company projects €11 billion in adjusted EBITDA.
Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) – Verizon is interested in reacquiring the stake of US Cellular (NYSE:USM) in its Los Angeles operations, provided a reasonable price can be established. Verizon Consumer CEO Sowmyanarayan Sampath expressed interest but emphasized the importance of a fair deal.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) – Tesla settled a lawsuit filed by a former employee who alleged dismissal due to sexual harassment while facing multiple discrimination lawsuits. The judge dismissed Tyonna Turner’s case on Monday without disclosing settlement terms. The company faces other allegations of racial and sexual discrimination. In other news, Tesla is bringing back some of the nearly 500 members of its Supercharging team, fired by CEO Elon Musk. Max de Zegher, one of the key managers before the mass layoff, leads the return. Meanwhile, SpaceX is expanding its Texas facilities, including launch and office spaces, but faces payment delays to builders and suppliers, leading to legal actions. Construction companies express reluctance to work with SpaceX again due to unpaid bills.
Fisker (NYSE:FSR) – Fisker announced a six-week pause in electric vehicle production and plans to raise up to $150 million in financing through convertible notes. Its manufacturing partner, Magna, produced about 1,000 Ocean vehicles. The company seeks a partnership to ensure operational continuity. Fisker delivered over 1,300 vehicles in 2024, with a completed vehicle inventory value above $200 million. The convertible notes have a 10% issuance discount, aiming for up to $150 million in gross proceeds. On Friday, the company’s cash balance dropped to $120.9 million.
Boeing (NYSE:BA) – Union leaders and U.S. lawmakers criticized Boeing for blocking its unionized firefighters, urging the company to negotiate a fair contract. About 130 members were blocked after rejecting two contract offers, concerning President Biden.
Grupo Aeroméxico SAB de CV – Grupo Aeroméxico SAB de CV reveals a 29% revenue increase in 2023, after emerging from bankruptcy in March 2022. The company seeks an initial public offering in the U.S., capitalizing on the travel demand recovery. Major underwriters include Barclays, Morgan Stanley, and JP Morgan Securities.
BHP Group (NYSE:BHP), Anglo American (LSE:AAL) – BHP may soften its $43 billion acquisition offer for Anglo American and possibly add cash after Anglo American’s rejection. Anglo American rejected BHP’s £34 billion offer, citing undervaluation. BHP offered £27.53 per share, but Anglo deemed it insufficient. BHP has until May 22 to make a binding offer or withdraw. The latest proposal increased Anglo shareholders’ stake from 14.8% to 16.6%. Anglo American presented a strategic review, considering the spin-off of its steelmaking coal, nickel, diamonds, and platinum businesses in response to BHP’s public takeover bid. The company aims to create sustainable value through simplification and cost reduction.
Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) – Activist investor Ancora Holdings Group won three seats on Norfolk Southern’s 13-member board, despite shareholders voting to elect 10 of the company’s 13 nominees, including CEO Alan Shaw. Ancora planned to replace Shaw. The dispute signals changes in the railroad company’s management.
Blackstone (NYSE:BX) – A consortium led by Blackstone, with GIC and ADIA, is negotiating to acquire up to 75% of Haldiram’s, valued at up to $8.5 billion. The Indian company, known for its restaurants and snacks, is considering the offer, with negotiations in the early stages. Previous attempts to strike a deal with Tata Group did not advance.
JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) – JPMorgan Chase has rejected ISS recommendations to separate CEO and chairman roles. The bank has defended keeping Jamie Dimon in both roles, citing his 18-year leadership that elevated the institution to the largest U.S. bank. Plans for future separation of roles are underway.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) – Goldman Sachs plans to launch investment strategies to mobilize capital in the Gulf’s public markets. The region, representing about 7% of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, could grow to 10%, attracting more international investors, said Marc Nachmann, global head of asset and wealth management.
UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS) – UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti warned that integration with Credit Suisse needs to be swift to ensure cost savings. Customer migration starts this year. He disagrees with proposals to increase UBS’ capital. Ermotti plans to lead UBS until 2027.
Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) – Coinbase resolved a system failure after an outage. Cryptocurrency prices fell during the incident. This isn’t the first time the platform has faced technical issues, having recorded failures in March. Shares fell 2% pre-market.
Paysafe (NYSE:PSFE) – Paysafe shares jumped 13% pre-market after exceeding earnings and revenue estimates in the first quarter. Paysafe’s revenue rose to $418 million in Q1, an 8% year-on-year increase. Its Merchant Solutions and Digital Wallets segments grew 11% and 5%, respectively. Additionally, adjusted EBITDA reached $112 million, driving expansion initiatives and share buybacks, returning $14 million to shareholders.