Company Overview - Proactive provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The news team operates from key finance and investing hubs including London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, and Perth [2] Market Focus - The company specializes in medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - Proactive delivers news and insights across various sectors including biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging digital and EV technologies [3] Technology Utilization - Proactive is committed to adopting technology to enhance workflows and content production [4] - The company employs automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

Earnings Overview - More than half of the S&P 500 companies have reported Q4 earnings, with 79% of the 293 companies beating expectations [1] - S&P earnings growth is projected to increase by +8.4% in Q4, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth [1] - Excluding the Magnificent Seven technology stocks, Q4 earnings are expected to rise by +4.6% [1] Economic Indicators - The Q4 employment cost index is expected to rise by 0.8% [2] - December retail sales are anticipated to increase by +0.4% month-over-month [2] - January nonfarm payrolls are expected to rise by +69,000, with the unemployment rate remaining at 4.4% [2] - January average hourly earnings are projected to increase by +0.3% month-over-month and +3.7% year-over-year [2] - Initial weekly unemployment claims are expected to decrease by -7,000 to 224,000 [2] - January CPI is expected to rise by +2.5% year-over-year [2] Market Movements - The S&P 500 Index is up +0.46%, the Dow Jones is up +0.09%, and the Nasdaq 100 is up +0.61% [6] - Overseas markets are also showing positive movements, with the Euro Stoxx 50 up +0.66% and Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 up +3.89% [7] Sector Performance - Chip makers and AI-infrastructure stocks have rebounded, with Nvidia up more than +3% and AMD, Broadcom, and Western Digital up more than +2% [12] - Mining stocks are performing well, with gold prices up more than +1% and silver prices up more than +6% [13] - AppLovin is up more than +13% after positive client performance news [13] - Oracle is up more than +9% following an upgrade to buy from neutral [14] Company-Specific News - Dynatrace reported Q3 revenue of $515.5 million, exceeding consensus estimates, and raised its full-year revenue forecast [15] - Kyndryl Holdings is down more than -54% after reporting lower-than-expected Q3 revenue and cutting its profit estimate [16] - Hims & Hers Health is down more than -23% after halting sales of a new product [17] - Monday.com is down more than -21% after forecasting lower Q4 revenue [17]

Company Leadership - Kroger has appointed Greg Foran, a former Walmart executive, as its new CEO, succeeding Ron Sargent, who served as interim CEO since March [2][3] - Foran previously served as CEO of Walmart U.S. from 2014 to 2019, where he oversaw a business turnaround and led a digital overhaul, including online ordering and pickup [3] Strategic Focus - Foran emphasized Kroger's strong foundation and talented leadership team, expressing confidence in the company's direction and commitment to customers and communities [4] - His appointment comes at a critical time as Kroger seeks to enhance its brick-and-mortar presence following the collapse of a $20 billion deal for rival Albertsons in 2024 and is addressing challenges related to food inflation [5] Consumer Behavior Trends - The grocery sector is experiencing shifts in consumer behavior due to financial pressures, with a notable increase in online grocery shopping among consumers facing high financial stress [6] - Consumers under financial stress are 6 percentage points more likely to purchase groceries online compared to those with lower stress levels, indicating a targeted shift rather than a general increase in online shopping [6]

Core Viewpoint - Kroger Co has appointed former Walmart executive Greg Foran as its new CEO, leading to a 7.7% increase in its share price to $72.67, following the ousting of former CEO Rodney McMullen due to ethical concerns [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - Kroger's shares are on track for their largest single-day percentage gain since June, with a year-to-date increase of 16.3% [2] - The stock reached its highest level since August, surpassing the resistance of its 200-day moving average, which had previously limited gains in November and December [2] - The increase in stock price may be partially due to short covering, with 31.33 million shares sold short, representing 5.4% of the available float, equating to nearly a week's worth of buying power [2] Group 2: Options Activity - At the International Securities Exchange, Cboe Options Exchange, and NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Kroger's 50-day call/put volume ratio of 4.93 indicates a significantly more bullish sentiment among options traders compared to the past year [3] - Today's options activity shows 2,314 puts traded, which is three times the intraday average volume, against 3,779 calls [3] - The most actively traded contract is the April 65 put, with new positions being sold to open [3]

Core Viewpoint - Kroger's stock is experiencing a rally following the appointment of a new CEO, which resolves nearly a year of leadership uncertainty [1] Company Summary - The new CEO announcement is expected to be made as soon as Monday, indicating a proactive approach to leadership changes [1]

Group 1 - Kroger appointed former Walmart executive Greg Foran as the new CEO, leading to a 7% increase in its stock price [1]

Market Overview - US stocks experienced a positive turn on Monday, with the S&P 500 rising approximately 0.5% and the Nasdaq Composite gaining nearly 1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average remained above 50,000 for the first time [1] - Wall Street is currently debating the impact of AI disruptions on software companies, highlighted by a significant drop in shares of Monday.com, which fell as much as 22% due to disappointing revenue and profit guidance [2][12] Company Earnings and Performance - Cleveland-Cliffs stock dropped 19% after the steel producer's fourth-quarter revenue of $4.3 billion fell short of estimates of $4.5 billion, with a net loss per share of $0.44, which was better than the expected loss of $0.60 [5][6][7] - Monday.com reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.04, exceeding estimates of $0.92, but its first-quarter revenue guidance of $338 million to $340 million was below expectations of $342 million, leading to a 15% drop in stock price [19][20][21] - Kroger's stock surged over 8% after announcing the appointment of former Walmart executive Greg Foran as CEO, aiming to capture market share following a blocked acquisition [9][10] Economic Data and Trends - Investors are awaiting the delayed January jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a focus on potential signs of weakness in the labor market following a disappointing ADP payroll update [4] - Gold futures rose above $5,000 an ounce, while Bitcoin fell below $69,000 after experiencing significant volatility [3][26][27] Strategic Developments - STMicroelectronics announced a multiyear, multibillion-dollar deal with Amazon to supply chips for its data centers, resulting in an 8% increase in STMicroelectronics' stock [13][14][15] - QuantumScape's stock rose 14% following the launch of its "Eagle Line" battery production factory in San Jose [28]

Market Overview - US stocks experienced a positive turn on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing above 50,000 for the first time, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both rose approximately 0.5% [1] - The market remains cautious as investors await significant earnings reports and economic data releases later in the week [1][4] Software Sector - The software sector is under scrutiny due to concerns about AI disruption, highlighted by a significant drop in shares of Monday.com, which fell as much as 23% after providing disappointing revenue and profit guidance [2][8] - Monday.com reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.04 for the fourth quarter, exceeding estimates, but its first-quarter revenue guidance of $338 million to $340 million fell short of expectations [14][15][16] Economic Data - Investors are anticipating the delayed January jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a focus on potential signs of weakness in the labor market following a disappointing ADP payrolls update [4] Earnings Reports - ON Semiconductor is set to release its earnings results after the market close on Monday, with other major companies like Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Cisco expected to report later in the week [5] Kroger Leadership Change - Kroger's stock surged over 8% after announcing the appointment of former Walmart executive Greg Foran as CEO, as the company aims to increase market share following a blocked acquisition of Albertsons [5][6] STMicroelectronics and Amazon Partnership - STMicroelectronics announced a multiyear, multibillion-dollar deal with Amazon to supply chips for AWS data centers, resulting in an 8% increase in STMicroelectronics' stock [9][10] - This partnership is part of STMicroelectronics' strategy to enhance its position in the AI market and reduce reliance on other sectors [10][11] Cryptocurrency and Gold - Bitcoin fell below $70,000 after experiencing significant volatility, while gold futures rose above $5,000 an ounce as dip-buyers returned to the market [3][21][22]

Group 1 - iREIT+HOYA Capital focuses on income-producing asset classes that provide sustainable portfolio income, diversification, and inflation hedging [1] - The investment group targets high-yield, dividend growth opportunities, offering portfolios with dividend yields up to 10% [2] - The service provides research on various investment vehicles including REITs, ETFs, closed-end funds, preferred stocks, and dividend champions [2]

Core Viewpoint - Kroger's stock experienced a rally following the appointment of Greg Foran, the former leader of Walmart U.S., as its new CEO after a nearly yearlong search [1] Company Summary - The appointment of Greg Foran is seen as a strategic move to enhance Kroger's leadership and operational effectiveness in the competitive grocery sector [1] - Foran's previous experience at Walmart U.S. is expected to bring valuable insights and strategies to Kroger, potentially improving its market position [1] Industry Summary - The grocery industry is undergoing significant changes, with companies seeking strong leadership to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities [1] - Leadership transitions in major grocery chains like Kroger can influence market dynamics and investor confidence [1]