Group 1: Earnings Reports and Consumer Sentiment - Big-box retailers Walmart and Target are set to report earnings next week, providing insights into consumer health and sentiment as retail data shows increased spending in October ahead of the holiday season [1] - Walmart and Target together accounted for approximately $140 billion in U.S. sales in their latest quarters, with expectations of over $470 billion in holiday-quarter revenue according to Visible Alpha estimates [1] - Walmart serves around 255 million customers weekly, with a noted increase in high-income consumers utilizing its Walmart+ membership and delivery services [1] Group 2: Retail Sales Trends - October retail sales increased by 0.4% from September, with core spending rising at the fastest monthly rate since January 2023, indicating a potential momentum for retailers as the holiday season approaches [1][5] - Eight out of thirteen retail categories reported gains in spending, with consumers directing more funds towards electronics and discretionary items as price increases slow down [5] - The National Retail Federation noted that lower energy prices have contributed to healthier retail sales, despite ongoing inflation concerns [5] Group 3: Holiday Sales Forecast - Wells Fargo economists predict a 3.3% growth in holiday retail sales, excluding cars, gas, and restaurant bills, indicating consumers are in "pretty average shape" for the gift-giving season [6] - Despite robust overall spending, the pace of sales growth for included retailers is expected to be the slowest since before the pandemic [6]

Key Takeaways Disney shares were rising early Friday, adding to the big gains recorded yesterday after the entertainment giant topped Wall Street's quarterly estimates and provided an upbeat long-term outlook. Monitor these key chart levels. The stock broke out above a pennant pattern last week, with upside momentum accelerating this week after the company's better-than-expected quarterly results. Investors should watch key overhead levels on Disney's chart around $123, $137, and $153, while monitoring a ma ...

Key TakeawayswAlibaba Group shares traded in the U.S. were lower Friday morning. The Chinese ecommerce giant posted higher-than-expected quarterly earnings on the back of cloud operations growth, but revenue was lower than expected.The company said that net income in its September quarter soared 63% year-over-year, beating the expectations of analysts polled by Visible Alpha.Revenue, up 5% year-over-year, undershot analysts' estimates. Alibaba Group's (BABA) US-traded shares were down around 3% in Friday mo ...

Key TakeawaysEli Lilly has joined Johnson & Johnson in filing a lawsuit against the federal government over a decades-old drug discounting program.The companies have said the 340B program, which requires drugmakers to sell discounted medications to certain medical facilities, needs changes.The Health Resources and Services Administration, however, has rejected the companies' proposed changes to the program. Eli Lilly (LLY) became the second drugmaker in recent days to sue the U.S. government for rejecting t ...

Core Points - Palantir Technologies is shifting its listing from the New York Stock Exchange to the Nasdaq Global Select Market, with trading set to begin on November 26 [1][2] - The company's Class A common shares will continue to trade under the "PLTR" symbol [2] - Palantir anticipates meeting the eligibility requirements for inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 Index following the transfer [3] Industry Context - The Nasdaq 100 includes the 100 largest and most actively traded companies on the Nasdaq, featuring major players like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia, which are significant in the AI sector [4] - Palantir has a strong retail investor following, which is noted to be more entrenched compared to other companies [5] - The company recently reported quarterly results that exceeded expectations, although some analysts have expressed concerns about its valuation [5]

Applied Materials (AMAT) reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings that missed analysts’ expectations, sending shares lower after the bell Thursday despite a revenue beat. The semiconductor equipment maker saw revenue grow 5% year-over-year to $7.05 billion, above the analyst consensus from Visible Alpha. However, net income at $1.73 billion or $2.09 per share was down from $2 billion or $2.38 per share a year earlier and fell short of expectations.  Looking ahead, Applied Materials said it anticipates first ...

Regulatory Fine and Antitrust Issues - Meta has been fined 797 72 million euros ($843 31 million) by European regulators for tying its Facebook Marketplace service to Facebook, which allegedly gives it an unfair advantage over European competitors [1][2] - The European Commission argues that this integration provides Marketplace with a "substantial distribution advantage which competitors cannot match" as all Facebook users are automatically exposed to Marketplace [3] - This fine is part of a broader trend of European regulators challenging the dominance of Big Tech companies like Meta, Alphabet, and Microsoft [3] Meta's Response and Appeal - Meta plans to appeal the decision, stating that it "ignores the realities of the thriving European market" for classified providers and protects incumbent European companies from competition [4] - The company argues that it does not force Marketplace on users, as many Facebook users choose to ignore the service, and the commission's case is based on potential future harm rather than actual harm [4] Context of FTC Lawsuit - The European fine follows a US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawsuit against Meta, which aims to break up the company due to its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, allegedly stifling competition [5] - Meta maintains that these acquisitions have been beneficial for competition and consumers, and the FTC's actions are unjustified given the competitive landscape with platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Apple's iMessage [6] Market Performance - Meta's shares were trading at $579 85 on Thursday afternoon, reflecting a 63% increase since the start of 2024 [6]

Shares of The Walt Disney Company (DIS) rose in premarket trading Thursday as revenue and adjusted profit topped analysts' estimates. The entertainment giant reported $22.57 billion in revenue, up from $21.24 billion last year and narrowly above the $22.50 billion analysts expected, according to Visible Alpha. Disney posted net income of $460 million, or 25 cents per share, well below estimates of $1.74 billion, or $0.96 per share. After accounting for about $1.5 billion in one-time charges like restructur ...

Cisco Systems (CSCO) reported fiscal first-quarter earnings that exceeded analysts’ expectations and raised its full-year forecast, despite declining revenues. The networking-equipment provider reported first-quarter net income of $2.7 billion or 68 cents per share, down from $3.6 billion or 89 cents per share a year earlier but above analysts' projections. Cisco delivered revenue of $13.8 billion, down 6% year-over-year and roughly in line with the analyst consensus compiled by Visible Alpha. For the seco ...

Key TakeawaysTesla shares have surged since Donald Trump's election last week, amid investor hopes that CEO Elon Musk's close ties with the president-elect will benefit the company.Trump has tapped Musk to co-lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency, an agency tasked with reducing government expenditure and slashing excess regulations.The stock broke out above the top trendline of a cup and handle pattern last week on the highest trading volume since early July, indicating the potential for ...