Key TakeawaysThe S&P 500 dropped 0.3% on Wednesday, Feb. 12, as hotter-than-expected inflation data in the January CPI report weighed on the interest-rate outlook.Shares of Wabtec, a provider of braking systems and other transport industry technologies, lost ground after its results and guidance missed forecasts.CVS Health shares took off after the drugstore operator beat quarterly estimates, boosted by its pharmacy and consumer wellness business. Major U.S. equities indexes were mixed on Wednesday as the l ...

Some big tech shares were holding up Wednesday afternoon as inflation data and questions about the path ahead for interest rates weighed on U.S. stocks. Tesla (TSLA), Intel (INTC) and Palantir (PLTR) were recently among the top gainers in the S&P 500, which was more broadly edging lower. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite was ticking lower, but its retreat was less pronounced than that of the other leading indexes. It's not exactly full-steam ahead for tech today, but there were a few standout names. Tesla, ...

Key TakeawaysThe S&P 500 eked out a gain of less than 0.1% on Tuesday, Feb. 11, as investors digested testimony from the chair of the Federal Reserve and awaited Wednesday's CPI report.DuPont shares surged after the chemicals giant topped quarterly forecasts, highlighting strength in electronics end markets.Shares of financial technology firm Fidelity National Information Services tumbled following weaker-than-expected guidance. Major U.S. equities indexes were mixed and little changed as Federal Reserve Ch ...

Core Insights - Apple is partnering with Alibaba to develop artificial intelligence features for iPhones in China, which could serve as a growth catalyst for the company [2][5] - The partnership aims to enhance iPhone upgrades in a market where Apple has faced sales challenges, particularly in Greater China [3][4] - Analysts from Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan view this partnership as a critical factor for improving Apple's competitive position in China and addressing the iPhone sales slump [5][6] Company Performance - Apple's iPhone sales in Greater China declined year-over-year, marking the only region with a sales drop in the first quarter [4] - The AI features, which are a key selling point for the iPhone 16, have been unavailable in China since their launch in October, impacting sales during the holiday season [4][6] - Following the news of the partnership, Apple shares rose over 2%, while Alibaba's U.S.-listed shares gained 1% [5]

Core Insights - Business travel has largely returned to pre-pandemic levels, with the exception of early weekdays [2][7] - Marriott International reported that overall occupancy is higher than 2019 levels, but Monday to Wednesday occupancy has not fully recovered [3][7] - The return of business travel is uneven, with small- and medium-sized businesses recovering faster than larger corporates [5][6] Business Travel Trends - The traditional business travel model, characterized by consultants traveling from Monday to Thursday, has not returned due to flexible work policies [4] - Key segments of business travel remain below pre-COVID levels, particularly among the largest companies [4][5] - Marriott's revenue per available room (RevPAR) increased by 5% year-over-year in Q4, exceeding expectations, but group RevPAR growth was lower at 3% [5][6] Financial Performance - Marriott's Q4 results surpassed analysts' estimates, but the company's shares fell approximately 5% due to a cautious outlook on room growth and profitability [6][7] - Group RevPAR, which accounted for 23% of room nights, experienced its lowest growth quarter of the year, influenced by fewer group events and a decline in Greater China [6]

Key TakeawaysMarriott International gave weaker-than-expected guidance, and shares fell from their record closing high set yesterday.The hotelier's current-quarter profit and room-growth outlook were below analysts' forecasts.The news offset better-than-anticipated fourth-quarter earnings and revenue. Marriott International (MAR) shares fell 4% Tuesday as the hotel operator's guidance missed forecasts on slower room growth. The company sees current-quarter adjusted earnings per share (EPS) in the range of $ ...

Key TakeawaysDuPont said higher volumes lifted sales of its electronics products, sending shares higher Tuesday.The chemicals and materials company beat profit forecasts, and gave solid current-quarter and full-year earnings outlooks.DuPont will spin off its Electronics unit in November. DuPont (DD) shares jumped Tuesday as the chemicals and materials firm posted better-than-expected profit and solid guidance on rising sales of its electronics products. The company reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings ...

Core Insights - Reddit (RDDT) is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings with anticipated revenue growth of 64% year-over-year, reaching $408.92 million, and earnings of $47.6 million, significantly up from $18.53 million in the same quarter last year [1] - Analysts project an increase in daily active users to 103.24 million, up from 73.10 million a year ago [1] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Among 11 analysts tracking Reddit, eight have a "buy" rating while three have a "hold" rating, with an average price target of approximately $206, indicating a 9% decline from the recent closing price of $224.93 [2] - The stock has increased nearly 40% since the beginning of the year, surpassing most targets set in January [2] Price Target Upgrades - Deutsche Bank raised its price target for Reddit to $235 from $195, citing potential revenue growth from increased daily active users and advertising revenue [3] - The introduction of Reddit Answers, an AI tool for summarizing posts, is expected to enhance advertising revenue by attracting search budgets through promoted links [3] Growth Potential - Morgan Stanley highlighted that Reddit could leverage multiple growth opportunities by 2025, including a partnership with Alphabet's Google to direct searches to Reddit links [4] - A larger user base spending more time on the platform would make Reddit more appealing to advertisers, potentially aligning its ad pricing with competitors like Google and Meta Platforms [4] Stock Performance - Reddit's shares experienced slight changes after reaching an all-time high, with the stock price increasing nearly sevenfold from its IPO price of $34 in March 2024 [5]

Market Overview - Major U.S. equities indexes increased, with the S&P 500 rising by 0.7%, the Dow gaining 0.4%, and the Nasdaq closing 1.0% higher, as markets reacted to President Trump's announcement of additional tariffs on steel and aluminum imports [2][9] - Investors are awaiting a series of quarterly earnings reports, including those from Coca-Cola and McDonald's, as well as the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data [2] Company Performances - Super Micro Computer (SMCI) shares surged by 17.6% ahead of a business update, with analysts optimistic about the company's ability to file its delayed annual report by the February 25 deadline [3] - Rockwell Automation (ROK) shares increased by 12.6% after reporting better-than-expected profits for its fiscal first quarter, showcasing progress in cost-reduction and margin-expansion initiatives [4] - Western Digital (WDC) shares rose by 7.1% following an overweight rating from Cantor Fitzgerald, amid management changes related to the planned spinoff of its flash business [5] Negative Performances - ON Semiconductor (ON) shares fell by 8.2% after missing profit and sales estimates for the fourth quarter, with year-over-year sales declines across all segments and a below-forecast guidance for 2025 [6] - Incyte (INCY) reported lower-than-expected adjusted profits for the fourth quarter, with a disappointing sales outlook for 2025, leading to a 7.9% drop in its shares [7] - Deckers Outdoor (DECK) shares decreased by 3.9%, despite a recent upgrade to "buy" from Citi analysts, as concerns about the impact of China tariffs on the company emerged [8]

Key TakeawaysNvidia shares gained Monday, leading other chip stocks higher. The surge helped lift the broader tech sector and the major U.S. indexes, after losing ground Friday.The gains for Nvidia came after partner TSMC reported a jump in sales, and Evercore ISI analysts issued a bullish note Monday ahead of the chipmaker's earnings later in the month. Nvidia (NVDA) shares gained Monday, leading other chip stocks higher in a boost to the tech sector as the major U.S. indexes looked to rebound from Friday ...