Do you see merit in the president trying to restructure trade relationships with the major powers from the EU to China to the smaller ones like Vietnam. Do you see merit. It it's got to happen. It's got to happen for a couple of reasons.First of all, it's one of the reasons we're also getting into a lot of debt, but partially it could also contribute to uh tax revenues, but also these imbalances are not uh sustainable. Not they're not sustainable not only because of the debt issue and the trade issue to mak ...

Lowe’s (LOW) FY Conference June 11, 2025 01:30 PM ET Speaker0 Well, good afternoon. Thank you all for joining us. My name is Brian Nagel. I'm a senior equity research analyst here at Oppenheimer covering consumer growth and ecommerce. So this is day three of our twenty fifth annual Oppenheimer consumer growth and ecommerce conference. So, again, thank you all for joining us. I am very pleased to have with us our next presenting company, Lowe's, and three of the company's executives. That's CEO, Marvin Ellis ...

Core Insights - The global Net Employment Outlook (NEO) for Q3 2025 stands at +24%, indicating stable hiring intentions despite trade uncertainties [2][4][8] - Companies investing in technology, AI, and automation show the most optimistic hiring plans, highlighting a connection between innovation and workforce confidence [1][4][8] Global Hiring Trends - 40% of employers plan to increase hiring, 42% will maintain current staff levels, 16% anticipate cuts, and 2% are uncertain about their hiring plans [1][8] - Asia Pacific leads with a hiring outlook of 29%, followed by the Americas at 27%, and Europe and the Middle East at 19% [6][8][10] Impact of Trade Uncertainty - 89% of companies report that trade uncertainty has influenced their hiring decisions, with many still planning for steady hiring in Q3 [3][8] - The trade situation has caused some companies to pause or slow their hiring plans, but overall hiring outlooks have stabilized [4][8] Sector-Specific Insights - The Information Technology sector has the strongest hiring outlook at 36%, followed by Financials & Real Estate at 28%, and Industrials & Materials at 26% [8] - Companies heavily investing in technology report more optimistic hiring plans compared to those not planning such investments [8] Regional Highlights - The United Arab Emirates tops global hiring intentions at 48%, followed by India at 42% and Costa Rica at 41% [9][17] - Argentina has the weakest global outlook at 3%, while countries like Israel and Sweden show significant year-over-year improvements [9][17]

Core Insights - Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) is experiencing significant volume challenges, marking six consecutive quarters of decline, particularly in its Construction Industries segment [2][9] - The decline in total volume for CAT was $3.5 billion in 2024 and $1.1 billion in Q1 2025, primarily due to weak demand and dealer inventory drawdowns [3][9] - Broader macroeconomic uncertainties and global trade policy concerns are negatively impacting demand prospects, with the U.S. manufacturing sector contracting for three consecutive months [4][9] Financial Performance - CAT's revenues have declined for five consecutive quarters, and earnings have fallen in the last three quarters [4][9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a year-over-year decline of 14.6% in earnings for 2025 and a 2.4% drop in revenues [12] Industry Comparison - Industry peers such as Terex Corporation and Komatsu Ltd. are also facing similar volume declines, with Terex experiencing five straight quarters of negative organic growth [6][7] - Komatsu's Construction, Mining & Utility Equipment segment has seen volume declines, while its Industrial Machinery & Others division has shown growth due to strong demand in specific sectors [7] Market Performance - CAT shares have lost 2.9% year-to-date, underperforming the industry average growth of 1.9% [8][10] - The current forward 12-month price/earnings (P/E) ratio for CAT is 17.90X, compared to the industry average of 17.06X, indicating that CAT stock does not present a compelling value proposition at current levels [10]

Payoneer Global (PAYO) FY Conference June 04, 2025 01:40 PM ET Speaker0 Alright. Thanks everyone for joining us today both in person and online. My name is Chris Kennedy. I'm the research analyst at William Blair covering the fintech and payment space. For a complete list of research disclosures and or potential conflicts of interest, please visit our website at williamblair.com. Next up, we have Payoneer. From the company, we have the CEO, John Kaplan, and the CFO, Pete Ordonez. Payoneer does a lot of thin ...

OKOTOKS, Alberta, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX: MTL) Mullen Group Ltd. ("Mullen Group", "We", "Our" and/or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the closing of the acquisition of Cole Group Inc., Cole International Inc., Abco International Freight Inc. and all related entities (collectively the "Cole Group") effective June 1, 2025. Founded in the 1920s, the Cole Group is an industry leading full spectrum logistics services company specializing in customs brokerage, freight forwarding and trade ...

Core Viewpoint - Best Buy has adjusted its revenue and profit guidance for fiscal 2026 due to the impact of higher tariffs, reflecting a challenging retail environment [2][3] Financial Performance - Best Buy's net income for the three-month period ending May 3 declined by approximately 18% to $202 million from $246 million in the same period last year [5] - First-quarter revenue dropped from $8.85 billion in the year-ago period [5] - Comparable sales fell by 0.7% year-on-year in the U.S., with declines in categories like home theaters and appliances, although there was growth in computing, cell phone, and tablet categories [6] Revenue Guidance - The company downgraded its revenue expectations for fiscal 2026 to a range of $41.1 billion to $41.9 billion, down from a previous range of $41.4 billion to $42.2 billion [2] Tariff Impact and Strategy - Best Buy has increased prices on some items due to higher costs from tariffs, with changes implemented by mid-May [2] - The company has reduced its reliance on Chinese imports, with China now accounting for 30% to 35% of its merchandise, down from 55% [7][8] - About 25% of merchandise comes from the U.S. or Mexico, which are not subject to tariffs, while the remaining 40% is sourced from other countries like Vietnam, India, South Korea, and Taiwan, which face a 10% tariff [7][8] Operational Adjustments - Best Buy has encouraged vendors to manufacture in multiple countries, negotiated lower costs, and adjusted its merchandise mix [9] - The company is focusing on improving customer experience, enhancing digital and in-store integration, and expanding its third-party marketplace and retail media businesses [9] Market Trends - Following a pandemic-related boost in sales for home offices and entertainment centers, Best Buy has faced declining sales over the past three years [10] - The lack of hit tech products has been a challenge, but new product launches, such as the Nintendo Switch 2, are anticipated to attract customers [11] - Smartphone sales have shown strength, with increased staffing at Best Buy stores by Verizon and AT&T to meet demand [12]

Core Viewpoint - Prologis offers a dividend yield of 3.8%, which is high compared to its historical range, and despite current tariff tensions, the long-term outlook remains positive due to a significant internal growth opportunity valued at $42 billion [1][10]. Company Overview - Prologis is a real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in industrial properties, particularly warehouses in key international trade hubs, with a market capitalization of approximately $100 billion, making it one of the largest publicly traded REITs [2][5]. Asset and Operations - The company owns over 5,800 buildings, encompassing more than 1.3 billion square feet of space across 20 countries, serving around 6,500 customers, and managing $198 billion in assets for institutional investors [4]. Market Position and Strategy - Prologis's size provides advantageous access to capital markets and positions it as an industry consolidator, although its focus on global distribution hubs ties it to global trade dynamics, which are currently affected by tariff issues [5][6]. Growth Opportunities - The undeveloped land owned by Prologis is estimated to support a build-out worth $42 billion, representing a significant long-term growth opportunity relative to its market cap [8][9]. - The company plans to utilize this growth opportunity over time, ensuring that capital investment aligns with tenant demand, thus providing sustained growth potential [9][10].

Gates Industrial (GTES) FY Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Gates Industrial Corporation (GTES) - **Conference Date**: May 21, 2025 Key Industry Insights - **Automotive Replacement**: Strong performance noted, particularly in North America and China, driven by new customer acquisitions and high used car sales prices [2][9] - **Mobility Sector**: Experienced double-digit growth, especially in e-bikes, with a positive outlook for continued strength [3][4] - **Industrial Recovery**: Gradual recovery observed, particularly in Asia, but tempered expectations for growth due to global trade uncertainties [6][12] - **Geographical Performance**: - **North America**: Positive trends in automotive replacement; industrial side expected to be challenging [11] - **EMEA**: Slight decline of 1% in Q1, but mobility business expected to provide tailwinds [3][11] - **Asia**: Positive core growth in China and India, with signs of industrial recovery [12][14] Financial Performance and Guidance - **Q1 Performance**: Exceeded expectations with a 1.5% organic growth; Q2 guidance remains flattish [1][5] - **Full Year Guidance**: Targeting approximately 1.5% organic growth for the year, with expectations for acceleration in the second half [17][21] - **Pricing Strategy**: Implemented $40 million in price increases to offset tariffs, anticipating some demand headwinds [20][27] Operational Challenges and Strategies - **Inventory Levels**: Destocking in agriculture and construction sectors is nearing completion, with confidence in distribution inventory levels [22][23] - **Tariff Impact**: Ongoing adjustments to pricing strategies in response to tariffs, with a focus on maintaining margin neutrality [29][34] - **Debt Management**: Aiming to reduce gross debt below $2 billion while balancing stock buybacks and potential M&A opportunities [46][48] M&A and Growth Opportunities - **M&A Strategy**: Open to strategic acquisitions that align with growth objectives, particularly in underrepresented segments or geographies [49][52] - **Data Center Market**: Targeting $100 to $200 million in incremental revenue by 2027, focusing on organic growth through existing product lines [41][42] Conclusion - **Outlook**: Gates Industrial remains optimistic about its growth trajectory, particularly in automotive replacement and mobility sectors, while navigating challenges in industrial recovery and global trade dynamics. The company is committed to strategic pricing, operational efficiencies, and exploring M&A opportunities to enhance its market position [35][54]

Market Overview - Wall Street experienced a strong bull run in 2023 and 2024, but 2025 has shown mixed results due to concerns over persistent inflation and the Federal Reserve's uncertain stance on interest rates after a 1% cut in the benchmark lending rate last year [1] - Severe volatility has affected Wall Street since early April, primarily due to the implementation of reciprocal tariff policies by the Trump administration, with baseline tariffs at 10% but actual rates exceeding 70% for several major trading partners [2] - Retaliatory tariffs from other countries have raised fears of a global trade war, although some trade negotiations have been settled and others are ongoing [3] Company Highlights Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) - Philip Morris has shown strong pricing power and is expanding its smoke-free product portfolio, aiming to become substantially smoke-free by 2030 [7] - The company anticipates robust growth in 2025, with a projected 2% increase in volume and smoke-free products expected to grow by 12-14% [8] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 8.1% and 13.7%, respectively, with a stock price increase of 44.7% year to date [9] Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (SFM) - Sprouts Farmers is focusing on product innovation, e-commerce, and private label offerings, which have contributed to better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2024 results [10] - The company expects net sales to rise between 10.5% and 12.5% in 2025, with comparable sales anticipated to increase by 4.5-6.5% [11] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 13.7% and 35.5%, respectively, with a stock price surge of 32.2% year to date [12] Newmont Corp. (NEM) - Newmont is progressing with growth projects, including the Tanami expansion and the acquisition of Newcrest, which enhances its portfolio and synergies [13] - The Ahafo North project has received full funding approval, with commercial production expected to start in the second half of 2025, involving an investment of $950 million to $1,050 million [14] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 2% and 12.6%, respectively, with a stock price increase of 40.5% year to date [15]