Barclays has hired a new global head of its aerospace and defense investment banking team. Tim Alden is joining from Macquarie as a managing director based in New York https://t.co/ElJBEM2kpS ...

Core Insights - The article compiles significant research calls from Wall Street, highlighting upgrades and downgrades of various companies that investors should be aware of [1] Upgrades - Wells Fargo upgraded Merck (MRK) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $125, increased from $90, citing business development and pipeline progress as key factors for revenue growth in the early 2030s [2] - Wolfe Research upgraded Morgan Stanley (MS) to Outperform from Peer Perform with a price target of $198, anticipating accelerated revenue growth from investment banking share gains and organic growth in wealth management [3] - HSBC upgraded Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $228, reduced from $265, viewing the recent share selloff as a buying opportunity [3] - BofA upgraded Booking Holdings (BKNG) to Buy from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $6,000, believing that concerns regarding disintermediation risks from Google and OpenAI are overstated [4] - Wedbush upgraded Carvana (CVNA) to Outperform from Neutral with a price target of $400, increased from $380, suggesting that the recent share pullback is overdone [5] Downgrades - UBS downgraded JFrog (FROG) to Neutral from Buy with a price target of $65, up from $48, indicating that while AI-related benefits are significant, the larger revenue impact is likely 12-18 months away [6] - Jefferies downgraded Exact Sciences (EXAS) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $105, up from $90, due to the pending acquisition by Abbott, which is seen as a win for Exact Sciences [6] - Evercore ISI downgraded QuantumScape (QS) to In Line from Outperform with a price target of $12, up from $8, citing valuation concerns as shares have risen 200% year-to-date [6] - UBS downgraded Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ) to Neutral from Buy with a price target of $188, up from $163, stating that the stock appears fairly valued after a strong Phase 3 GEA update and a 25% stock increase [6] - TD Cowen downgraded PureCycle Technologies (PCT) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $9, down from $16, due to delays in orders and growth plans, prompting a more cautious stance [6]

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE: PIPR), a leading investment bank, has named Michael Piper as the head of fixed income, effective in the first quarter of 2026. He will report to Deb Schoneman, president at Piper Sandler. The previous head of fixed income, John Beckelman will transition to vice chairman of fixed income capital markets. He will continue to serve as a senior advisor to the business while focusing almost exclusively on client engagement. "Mike has proven. ...

Core Viewpoint - Jefferies Financial Group Inc. and its trade finance arm, Point Bonita Capital, are under investigation for potential violations of federal securities laws following a significant drop in stock price after revealing substantial exposure to First Brands Group, which recently filed for bankruptcy [2][4][6]. Group 1: Company Overview - Jefferies Financial Group Inc. is an investment banking and capital markets firm, with Point Bonita Capital serving as its trade finance division [4]. - Point Bonita Capital and Jefferies were closely associated with First Brands Group, an auto parts supplier that declared bankruptcy in September 2025 [4]. Group 2: Financial Exposure - On October 8, 2025, Jefferies disclosed that it and Point Bonita had approximately $715 million in exposure to First Brands' receivables, accounting for about 25% of Point Bonita's trade finance portfolio [5]. - Following this announcement, Jefferies' stock price fell by $4.66 per share, or approximately 8%, from $59.10 on October 7, 2025, to $54.44 on October 8, 2025 [5]. Group 3: Legal Investigation - Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is investigating whether Jefferies and/or Point Bonita made materially false and misleading statements to investors regarding their exposure to First Brands [6]. - Investors are reportedly seeking redemptions from Point Bonita in light of the situation [5].

Group 1 - Growth is stalling in the retail sector, with no growth in core product lines such as equities and fixed income [1] - Wholesale business remains flat, while corporate services, particularly investment banking, are leading the growth [1] - The focus is on long-only investment strategies, evaluating companies from an operational and buy-and-hold perspective [1] Group 2 - Quipus Capital emphasizes understanding the long-term earnings power of companies and the competitive dynamics of their industries [1] - Most recommendations from Quipus Capital will be holds, indicating a cautious approach to market dynamics [1] - A small fraction of companies are deemed suitable for a buy recommendation at any given time, highlighting a selective investment strategy [1]

Group 1 - Growth in retail is stalling, with no growth in core product lines such as equities and fixed income, while wholesale remains flat [1] - Corporate services, particularly investment banking, are leading the growth [1] - The focus is on long-only investment strategies, evaluating companies from an operational and buy-and-hold perspective [1] Group 2 - The articles emphasize operational aspects and long-term earnings power of companies rather than market-driven dynamics [1] - Most recommendations will be holds, indicating a cautious approach to investment opportunities [1] - A small fraction of companies are deemed suitable for a buy at any given time, highlighting a selective investment strategy [1]

Market Overview - Markets will be closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving and will close early on Friday at 1 pm ET, leading to a shortened trading week with lower volumes expected [6] - Major indexes remain under pressure, with the S&P 500 declining 2% last week and 3.5% for November, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 2.7% last week and is down 6.1% month-to-date [6] Federal Reserve Insights - Investor expectations for a December rate cut have surged, with futures markets now assigning nearly a 70% probability for a quarter-point cut at the December 10 Fed meeting, up from about 44% a week earlier [6] - Goldman Sachs Research supports the case for a December cut, anticipating the Fed's proactive approach to managing potential economic risks and forecasting two additional rate cuts in 2026 amid a cooling labor market [4][6] Economic Data and Market Sentiment - The Bureau of Labor Statistics canceled its October consumer price index (CPI) report and postponed November's CPI release until after the Fed's December meeting, adding to market uncertainty [5][6] - Investor sentiment remains cautious, particularly regarding high valuations in AI-linked stocks that have driven much of the year's market gains, with a noted desire for certainty in the current noisy market environment [5][7] Nvidia and AI Chip Sales - Reports indicate that the US government may allow Nvidia Corp. to resume sales of its advanced AI chips to China after a prior suspension due to export controls, although the review is still ongoing [6]

M Global Insight November 16, 2025 06:00 PM GMT 2026 Global Economics Outlook At the Crossroads Global growth and inflation have an unusually wide range of outcomes in 2026, so we use scenarios to frame the picture. The base case sees continued disinflation and growth settling near potential in 2027… but potential itself might improve. We show two upside scenarios contrasting the forces of stronger spending and rising productivity, while the downside scenario is mild. Morgan Stanley does and seeks to do bus ...

Group 1 - The current year has seen limited asset classes outperforming, despite high figures associated with the S&P 500 [1] - Binary Tree Analytics (BTA) aims to provide transparency and analytics in capital markets, focusing on Closed-End Funds (CEFs), Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), and Special Situations [1] - BTA has over 20 years of investment experience and seeks to deliver high annualized returns with low volatility [1]

Core Insights - Liquidity is crucial for a company's ability to meet debt obligations and can drive business growth, making it a key factor for investors [1] - Four top-ranked stocks identified for potential investment are EverQuote, Inc. (EVER), Innodata Inc. (INOD), PJT Partners Inc. (PJT), and GigaCloud Technology Inc. (GCT) [1][9] Liquidity Measures - Current Ratio: Measures current assets against current liabilities; a ratio below 1 indicates more liabilities than assets, while a range of 1-3 is ideal [3] - Quick Ratio: Indicates ability to pay short-term obligations, with a desirable ratio of more than 1 [4] - Cash Ratio: The most conservative measure, focusing on cash and equivalents relative to current liabilities; a ratio greater than 1 is desirable but may indicate inefficiency [5] Screening Parameters - Asset Utilization: A measure of efficiency, calculated as total sales over the last 12 months divided by the average total assets; a higher ratio than the industry average indicates efficiency [6] - Growth Score: A proprietary metric ensuring that selected stocks have solid growth potential; stocks with a Growth Score of A or B tend to outperform others [10] Company-Specific Insights - **EverQuote, Inc. (EVER)**: Online insurance marketplace with Q3 revenues of $173.9 million, a 20% year-over-year increase; projected Q4 revenues between $174-$180 million [12][13] - **Innodata Inc. (INOD)**: Data engineering company with Q3 revenues of $62.6 million, up 20% year-over-year; expects significant revenue growth from new contracts [15][16] - **PJT Partners Inc. (PJT)**: Advisory-focused investment bank with Q3 revenues of $447 million, a 37% year-over-year increase; management anticipates strong M&A activity due to favorable market conditions [16][17] - **GigaCloud Technology Inc. (GCT)**: Provides B2B e-commerce solutions with Q3 revenues of $333 million, a 10% year-over-year increase; expects Q4 revenues between $328 million and $344 million [19][20]