Key TakeawaysShares of Starbucks rose Tuesday as its striking baristas were expected to return to work on Wednesday. Its union has demanded a higher minimum wage and other concessions from the company.A Starbucks executive said most of its locations remained open during the striker, also calling the union's pay request "not sustainable." Shares of Starbucks (SBUX) finished Tuesday higher amid reports that its striking baristas would return to work. The union representing some Starbucks baristas had earlier ...

Key TakeawaysThe strike by some Starbucks baristas has expanded to 300 stores in the U.S., according to the union representing them.The union is demanding a higher minimum wage and other concessions from the company.A Starbucks executive said a vast majority of its locations remained open, and the union's pay request is "not sustainable." The union representing some Starbucks (SBUX) baristas announced that workers in 300 stores in the U.S. are now taking part in a strike against the biggest coffee chain. St ...

Tesla's (TSLA) shares were among the S&P 500's top gainers Tuesday morning as the Magnificent Seven big tech stocks rose on Christmas Eve.  Shares of the EV maker were recently up more than 4%, making them the second-best performer in the benchmark index—second only to Super Micro Computer (SMCI). Other "Mag 7" stocks also rose this morning, a holiday-shortened session that comes ahead of a day off tomorrow and kicks off the Santa Claus Rally period. The major indexes were rising this morning, led by the N ...

Key TakeawaysThe S&P 500 added 0.7% on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, with communication and tech stocks outperforming as the holiday-shortened trading week got underway.Broadcom and AMD shares surged following positive analyst commentary and as a government probe into Chinese semiconductors helped boost chip stocks.Shares of ResMed slipped after the FDA approved Eli Lilly's weight-loss drug as a sleep apnea treatment, raising concerns about sales of ResMed devices. Major U.S. equities indexes moved higher to kick ...

Core Insights - Eli Lilly's Zepbound has received FDA approval for treating obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, demonstrating significant efficacy in clinical trials [1][2][6] - The drug is reported to be five times more effective than a placebo in reducing breathing disruptions associated with obstructive sleep apnea [2][3] - Approximately 50% of trial participants experienced complete resolution of their sleep apnea symptoms [5] Group 1: Drug Efficacy and Trials - Zepbound was found to reduce the number of breathing disruptions per hour significantly, especially in patients not using a sleep apnea mask [3] - In trials, adults taking Zepbound alone lost an average of 45 pounds (18% of body weight), while those using it with PAP therapy lost an average of 50 pounds (20% of body weight) [4] - Nearly half of the clinical trial patients reported improvements that led to the absence of symptoms associated with obstructive sleep apnea [5] Group 2: Market Context and Company Performance - Zepbound's approval follows its earlier approval for obesity treatment in November 2023, positioning it alongside Eli Lilly's other drug, Mounjaro, in a growing weight-loss market [6] - Eli Lilly's stock rose by 1.6% on the day following the announcement, contributing to a year-to-date gain of approximately 34% [7] - In contrast, shares of ResMed, a company that produces sleep apnea masks, fell by 4% following the news, indicating potential market disruption due to Zepbound's efficacy [7]

Intel Stock Performance - Intel's stock has lost more than half its value in 2024, with shares down 61% for the year [1][10] - The PHLX Semiconductor Index (SOX) is up about 19% in 2024, while Nvidia has more than doubled in value [10] Analyst Sentiment - Wall Street is broadly cautious about Intel's stock, with 13 of 16 analysts tracked by Visible Alpha having "hold" ratings and three with "sells" [3] - Bernstein analysts advised investors to "stay far away" from Intel's stock [7] - The consensus price target for Intel is around $24, representing a roughly 23% premium to recent prices [3] Leadership and Strategy - The departure of former CEO Pat Gelsinger has raised concerns about Intel's future [2] - The appointment of a new CEO and changes to Intel's turnaround plans could be near-term catalysts for the stock [6][9] - Interim co-CEOs Dave Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthaus called the possibility of a full separation of Intel's foundry business an "open question for another day" [8] Business Challenges - Intel faces significant challenges in proving its competitiveness, with a "lagging position" in both chip design and production [5] - The company's turnaround could depend on its foundry business, which is set to receive billions of dollars in CHIPS Act funds tied to meeting manufacturing milestones [4] - Analysts suggest that the business challenges facing Intel could take months—or years—to work through [9] Potential Breakup - A breakup of Intel's operations could become more likely, with some analysts suggesting it could benefit shareholders in the short term [4][5] - Gelsinger had been a proponent of keeping Intel's own manufacturing and contract foundry businesses as part of his turnaround effort [10]

Core Viewpoint - Nvidia's stock is expected to continue rising due to strong demand for its AI chips, despite recent price corrections [2][8]. Group 1: Analyst Sentiment - Analysts are overwhelmingly bullish on Nvidia, with 20 out of 21 analysts recommending a "buy" or equivalent rating, and an average price target of approximately $177, indicating over 31% upside from the recent closing price of $134.70 [3]. - Morgan Stanley analysts have labeled Nvidia as a "top pick," anticipating the company will maintain its AI leadership due to its substantial R&D budget and strong partnerships with major cloud providers [10]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Nvidia reported record quarterly revenue of $35.1 billion in the fiscal third quarter, with data-center revenue more than doubling year-over-year to reach $30.8 billion [9]. - The company's stock has more than doubled in value in 2024, driven by booming demand for AI chips [4]. Group 3: Upcoming Events and Product Developments - CEO Jensen Huang is expected to deliver a keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 6, which could provide a significant boost to the stock [11]. - Analysts from Citi anticipate that Huang may announce higher projections for Blackwell sales and unveil new graphics cards during the CES event [14]. - The company plans to release a new family of chips annually, with details about the successor to Blackwell, named Rubin, expected in the coming months, with a release anticipated in 2026 [12]. Group 4: Market Position - Nvidia is one of only three companies with a market capitalization exceeding $3 trillion, reflecting its strong position in the AI chip market [4]. - The demand for Nvidia's next-generation Blackwell AI system has been described as "staggering," indicating a significant growth opportunity for the company [5].

Key TakeawaysSeveral analysts lowered their price targets for Nike's stock Friday, concerned its turnaround could take longer than expected after the athletic apparel giant offered a sluggish outlook. Morgan Stanley analysts said Nike's weaker-than-expected forecast for the current quarter suggested its trajectory could "get worse before it can get better," with fiscal 2026 likely to be a "reset year."Nike shares have lost close to 30% of their value since the start of the year. Several analysts lowered the ...

Core Insights - Nvidia stock experienced a decline in nine of the last eleven trading sessions, closing at $145.14 on December 4, but saw a recovery of approximately 2.5% on Friday [1][2][4] - The stock was down about 10% entering Friday and approximately 12% from its last record close of $148.88 in early November [2] Acquisition Approval - The European Commission has cleared Nvidia's acquisition of Israeli software company Run:AI Labs, which was announced in April [3][5] - Nvidia has been a "close collaborator" with Run:AI since 2020, and the acquisition is expected to enhance customer efficiency in using Nvidia's products [3] - The deal is reported to be valued at around $700 million, although financial terms were not officially disclosed [3] - Regulators concluded that the acquisition would not negatively impact competition, as Run:AI is not a dominant player in the market and competing software will still be available for Nvidia products [6]

Key TakeawaysUnionized Starbucks baristas in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle have gone on strike in a pay dispute with the giant coffee retailer.Starbucks Workers United said the walkouts would expand throughout the country and run until Christmas Eve.The company argued the union has made unrealistic demands, and said the strike has had little impact on its operations. Starbucks' (SBUX) unionized baristas in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle have walked off the job in a pay dispute, with the union represe ...