U.S. stocks traded lower midway through trading, with the Nasdaq Composite falling more than 400 points on Thursday.The Dow traded down 0.92% to 47,811.37 while the NASDAQ fell 1.89% to 22,964.17. The S&P 500 also fell, dropping, 1.20% to 6,769.03.Check This Out: Jim Cramer: Don’t Buy This Health Care Stock Yet, It Is ‘Still Too Expensive’Leading and Lagging SectorsHealth care shares jumped by 1% on Thursday.In trading on Thursday, information technology stocks fell by 2.1%.Top HeadlineJD.com (NASDAQ:JD) re ...

Market Overview - U.S. stocks exhibited mixed trading, with the Dow Jones index increasing by over 400 points, up 0.87% to 48,343.46, while NASDAQ decreased by 0.23% to 23,414.10, and S&P 500 rose by 0.13% to 6,855.64 [1] - Financial shares experienced a notable increase of 1.2%, while communication services stocks fell by 1% [1] Company Performance - IHS Holding Limited reported third-quarter earnings of 44 cents per share, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of 10 cents per share, and quarterly sales of $455.1 million, exceeding the consensus estimate of $424.395 million [2] Commodity Market - Oil prices decreased by 2.1% to $59.74, while gold prices increased by 0.6% to $4,139.70. Silver rose by 1.9% to $51.71, and copper increased by 1.4% to $5.1370 [4] European Market - European shares showed positive movement, with the eurozone's STOXX 600 rising by 0.7%, Spain's IBEX 35 Index gaining 1.4%, London's FTSE 100 up by 0.1%, Germany's DAX 40 increasing by 1.1%, and France's CAC 40 climbing by 1.2% [5] Asian Market - Asian markets closed mostly higher, with Japan's Nikkei 225 gaining 0.43%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng surging 0.85%, China's Shanghai Composite declining by 0.07%, and India's BSE Sensex rising by 0.71% [6] Mortgage Applications - The volume of mortgage applications rose by 0.6% from the previous week during the first week of November [7] Notable Stock Movements - Leap Therapeutics, Inc. shares surged by 87% to $0.8153 following better-than-expected third-quarter EPS results [8] - Creative Media & Community Trust Corporation shares increased by 65% to $7.91 after announcing an agreement to sell its lending division [8] - Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. shares rose by 46% to $1.4201 after pricing a $7 million underwritten public offering [8] - VisionSys AI Inc. shares dropped by 77% to $0.2932 after announcing a $12 million registered direct offering [8] - Leifras Co., Ltd. shares fell by 33% to $7.59 after a significant surge of 576.79% in regular trading on Tuesday [8] - Graphjet Technology shares decreased by 27% to $2.8473 [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q3 2025, consolidated total revenue reached $203 million, with an Adjusted EBITDA of $174 million, resulting in an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 85% [17][18] - Free cash flow increased by 15% year-over-year to $123 million [18] - Oil and gas royalty production achieved a record of approximately 36,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day, representing a 9% sequential increase and a 28% year-over-year increase [4][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Water sales revenue reached a record $45 million, reflecting a 74% sequential growth and a 23% year-over-year increase [4] - Produced water royalty revenues were $32 million, showing a 5% sequential growth and a 16% year-over-year increase [4] - The portfolio of acquired minerals and royalties contributed to 18% of consolidated royalty production, generating a mid-teens pre-tax cash flow yield [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Despite weak benchmark oil and gas prices, production volumes benefited from robust activity in northern Culberson, northern Reeves, and central Midland subregions [5] - The average lateral lengths for wells in 2025 are approximately 7% longer than last year and 23% longer compared to 2019 [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company focuses on an active management and consolidation strategy aimed at growing oil and gas royalties, surface, and water assets [4] - TPL is positioned to capitalize on low commodity prices to consolidate high-quality Permian assets, with a belief that longer-term oil prices will be higher than current levels [9][12] - The company announced acquisitions of Permian oil and gas royalties and surface acreage, with a total purchase price of approximately $474 million [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term growth potential of the Permian Basin, despite current low commodity prices [10][12] - The company believes that global liquids demand continues to grow steadily, and that the U.S. oil supply will rationalize in response to pricing signals [10] - TPL's recent credit facility of $500 million enhances liquidity and allows for greater flexibility in funding growth opportunities [12][22] Other Important Information - The company plans to begin commissioning a 10,000 bbl per day desalination facility by the end of the year [18] - A three-for-one stock split of the company's common stock was approved and is expected to be completed in December 2025 [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is a good run rate for the business, and how much of your water sales are recycled barrels versus water from source? - Management indicated that they are working to minimize volatility in water sales and are focused on maximizing recycled water usage, which is influenced by availability and demand [35][36] Question: Can you provide details on the royalty acquisition announced? - Management stated that the acquisition is expected to provide a strong growth outlook and is operated by well-capitalized operators in the Permian [26][28] Question: How does TPL feel about its position in the power and data center market in West Texas? - Management expressed confidence in TPL's positioning, noting that they have significant available land and are in discussions for potential opportunities [29][30] Question: How is the competitive landscape in the Permian for M&A opportunities? - Management noted that while lower commodity prices create challenges, there are still healthy opportunities in the pipeline across various regions in the Permian [43][45]

Core Market Performance - The core markets of copper, gold, and iron ore are performing strongly, driven by customers' efforts to maximize production and favorable commodity prices [3] - Positive activity levels are observed in both original equipment and aftermarket segments [3] Demand Influences - Demand in the quarter was slightly affected by disruptions in certain copper mines and a decline in demand for diamonds, platinum group metals, and mineral sands [4] - Despite these short-term effects, overall activity levels in global mining markets remain positive [4] Business Resilience - The diversified and resilient nature of the business continues to deliver growth, supported by strong performance in the Minerals and ESCO divisions [4][5]

Core Viewpoint - Hershey's stock has experienced a significant decline, dropping from a high of $196 to around $169, with further declines following disappointing earnings reports and cautious management outlooks [2][4][10]. Financial Performance - Hershey reported net sales of $3.18 billion, a 6.5% year-over-year increase, surpassing Wall Street's expectation of $3.12 billion [7]. - Organic sales growth was 6.2%, primarily driven by price increases, exceeding the analyst expectation of 3.6% [8]. - Adjusted gross margin fell to 31.8%, down 85 basis points year-over-year, attributed to higher commodity and tariff costs [8][9]. - Earnings per share were $1.30, down 44% year-over-year but better than the anticipated $1.07 [9]. Management and Strategic Changes - A new CEO, Kirk Tanner, took over in mid-August, bringing experience from Wendy's and PepsiCo [5]. - Management raised the full-year earnings forecast slightly, increasing the low end by 9 cents, which was viewed as disappointing given the earnings beat [10][11]. - The management's cautious tone during the earnings call indicated challenges in the Halloween season and a slower-than-expected start [11][12]. Market Reaction and Analyst Sentiment - The stock has been volatile, with significant sell-offs following earnings reports, reflecting investor concerns about the company's future [14]. - Analysts have begun to upgrade the stock, citing reduced uncertainty and potential moderation in cocoa prices as 2026 approaches [16]. - Despite the current challenges, there is a belief that the stock may be close to a bottom, with potential for future growth under new leadership [19].

Core Viewpoint - APA Corporation is facing significant challenges due to weak commodity prices and adverse industry conditions, leading to underperformance compared to broader market indices [2][4]. Company Overview - APA Corporation is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company based in Houston, Texas, with a market capitalization of approximately $8 billion [1]. Stock Performance - APA's stock has declined 4.6% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by 17.4%. Year-to-date, APA shares have dropped 3%, compared to a 16% rise in the S&P 500 [2]. - The company's shares have also underperformed relative to the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund, which experienced a marginal dip over the past 52 weeks and a 2.1% gain year-to-date [3]. Market Conditions - The decline in APA's stock is attributed to weak commodity prices, with oil prices affected by OPEC+'s potential decision to lift production cuts earlier than anticipated. This situation dampens the outlook for producers like APA [4]. - The oil and gas sector is facing systemic challenges, including sluggish global demand growth, elevated supply levels, and a shift in investor preference towards higher-growth industries [4]. Earnings Outlook - For the fiscal year ending in December 2025, analysts project a 9.3% year-over-year decrease in APA's EPS to $3.42. The company's earnings surprise history is mixed, with two beats and two misses in the last four quarters [5]. - Among 29 analysts covering APA, the consensus rating is a "Hold," with a distribution of ratings including four "Strong Buys," one "Moderate Buy," 21 "Holds," one "Moderate Sell," and two "Strong Sells" [5]. Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - The current analyst configuration is less bullish than three months ago, when there were five "Strong Buy" ratings. UBS recently raised its price target on APA to $25 from $23 while maintaining a "Neutral" rating, citing strong Q3 cash flow and performance in the Permian and Egypt operations, but also highlighting industry risks [6]. - The mean price target for APA is $24.74, indicating an upside potential of 10.4%. The highest price target of $37 suggests a possible increase of 65.2% from current levels [7].

Market Overview - U.S. stocks traded higher, with the Dow Jones index gaining approximately 250 points, up 0.55% to 47,970.89, NASDAQ rose 0.65% to 23,982.73, and S&P 500 increased by 0.33% to 6,913.53 [1] - Asian markets closed higher, with Japan's Nikkei 225 surging 2.17%, China's Shanghai Composite gaining 0.70%, and India's BSE Sensex up 0.44% [6] - European shares were mixed, with the eurozone's STOXX 600 gaining 0.1%, while Germany's DAX 40 fell 0.3% and France's CAC 40 decreased by 0.2% [5] Company Financials - Verizon Communications reported mixed third-quarter results, with a revenue growth of 1.5% year-over-year, reaching $33.8 billion, which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $34.3 billion. Adjusted EPS was $1.21, exceeding the consensus estimate of $1.19 [2] Commodity Prices - In commodity news, oil traded up 0.3% to $60.31, gold increased by 1% to $4,022.90, silver rose 1.6% to $48.075, and copper was up 1% to $5.2205 [4] Stock Movements - Cambium Networks Corp shares surged 209% to $1.91 after announcing integration with Starlink satellite Internet services [8] - Purple Biotech Ltd shares increased 118% to $1.27 following the achievement of a commercially viable yield for IM1240 [8] - Founder Group Ltd shares rose 54% to $0.69 [8] - Advent Technologies Holdings Inc shares dropped 51% to $1.33 [8] - Stride Inc shares fell 47% to $82.04 after providing second-quarter sales guidance below analyst estimates [8] - Varonis Systems Inc shares decreased 44% to $35.14 after reporting third-quarter revenue below estimates and providing fourth-quarter guidance below expectations [8] Economic Indicators - U.S. mortgage application volume jumped by 7.1% from the previous week in the period ending October 17 [7]

Security Concerns - Soaring commodity prices have made museums everywhere a target for robbery [1] - The brazen robbery at the Louvre highlights increased security risks for museums [1]

Core Insights - Targa Resources Corp. is a significant player in the midstream energy sector, focusing on the collection, treatment, transportation, storage, and export of natural gas and natural gas liquids [1] - The company has a market capitalization of $32.5 billion and operates primarily in the Gulf Coast and other high-production regions across North America [2] Financial Performance - Analysts project Targa's profit for the third quarter to grow by 26.9% year-over-year to $2.22 per diluted share, with expectations for the current fiscal year profit to increase by 38.9% to $7.97 per diluted share and further rise by 23% to $9.80 in fiscal 2026 [3] - Targa has a mixed record of meeting consensus bottom-line estimates, having beaten estimates in two of the last four quarters while missing in the other two [4] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, Targa's stock has declined by 10%, and 18% year-to-date, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 index, which rose by 13.5% and 12.7% respectively during the same periods [5] - The stock has faced pressure due to shifting commodity prices and broader economic conditions, alongside concerns regarding the growth rate of Permian oil output [6] Strategic Investments - Targa is investing $3.30 billion in the Permian Basin, which includes the construction of the 500-mile Speedway NGL Pipeline and new gas processing plants, expected to be operational by 2027-2028, aimed at enhancing infrastructure and meeting customer needs [7]

Market Overview - U.S. stocks traded lower, with the Dow Jones index falling more than 100 points, down 0.30% to 46,113.98, NASDAQ down 0.21% to 22,622.73, and S&P 500 down 0.34% to 6,648.52 [1] - Real estate shares increased by 0.5%, while financial stocks decreased by 1.5% [1] Commodities - Oil prices rose by 0.1% to $58.32, gold increased by 2.3% to $4,296.60, silver surged by 4.2% to $53.515, while copper fell by 0.1% to $5.0115 [5] European Markets - European shares showed positive movement, with the eurozone's STOXX 600 up 0.69%, Spain's IBEX 35 up 0.48%, London's FTSE 100 up 0.12%, Germany's DAX 40 up 0.38%, and France's CAC 40 up 1.38% [6] Asian Markets - Asian markets closed mostly higher, with Japan's Nikkei 225 up 1.27%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng down 0.09%, China's Shanghai Composite up 0.10%, and India's BSE Sensex up 1.04% [7] Company Performance - Praxis Precision Medicines Inc shares surged 208% to $176.74 following positive Phase 3 results for ulixacaltamide [9] - J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. shares rose 20% to $166.65 after better-than-expected quarterly results and multiple price target increases [9] - Mira Pharmaceuticals Inc shares increased by 57% to $2.07 after announcing new preclinical data [9] - UTime Ltd shares dropped 88% to $0.1496 after a $25 million registered direct offering [9] - Theriva Biologics Inc shares fell 46% to $0.4495 due to a $4 million warrant inducement agreement [9] - Hyperfine Inc shares decreased by 41% to $1.3050 after announcing a $17.5 million public offering [9] Economic Indicators - The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index declined to -12.8 in October from 23.2 in the previous month, missing market estimates of 10 [11] - U.S. crude oil inventories surged by 3.524 million barrels, significantly exceeding market estimates of a 0.12 million gain [11] - U.S. natural-gas stocks rose by 80 billion cubic feet [11]