Market Analysis for February 27th, 2025

STA Research
February 27th, 2025
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Global Market Update

Canadian Markets

Canada’s TSX dropped on Thursday as the American government confirmed tariffs on Canada will commence on March 4th, which sent traders and investors to the sidelines as risk aversion set in. RBC Capital Markets warns that tariffs could rapidly increase Canada’s productivity decline across the board.  As a result of the impending trade war, the Canadian government looks to re-establish their Commonwealth ties in a means to boost trade relations with the association.

American Markets

U.S. stocks were down right across the board as  optimism surrounding Nvidia’s forecast for their strong performance in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector waned, with concerns focusing on market valuation and margin weakness.  Markets were also examining any fallout and implications from the tariffs which are rattling business and consumer sentiment.

European Markets

The latest threat of imposing a 25% tariff on European Union imports weighed on European markets, sending stock indices across the continent lower. The proposed tariffs raised concerns about escalating trade conflicts, which could disrupt the global supply chain and hurt economic growth. The potential tariffs added a layer of uncertainty to the market, prompting cautious sentiment in Europe.

UK markets was the lone index that saw gains, after Rolls Royce posted strong earnings with a strong forecast, and also issued a stock buyback scheme.  The pound dropped which also supported the move higher for equities.

Corporate Stock News

  • Agilent Technologies Inc: Lowered its annual revenue forecast due to soft demand from smaller biotech companies, expecting revenue of $6.68 billion to $6.76 billion, below previous guidance.

  • Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc: Canada’s company sees a fresh opportunity to acquire Seven & i Holdings after the Ito family failed to secure financing for a $58 billion buyout.

  • Amazon.com Inc: Amazon unveiled a quantum computing chip, “Ocelot,” hoping it will significantly shorten the timeline to develop a commercially viable quantum computer. Additionally, an Indian court ordered Amazon to pay $39 million for infringing on the “Beverly Hills Polo Club” trademark.

  • APA Corp: The U.S. shale producer fell short of profit expectations due to weak commodity prices, despite a rise in production. The company is targeting $350 million in annual savings by 2027.

  • Beyond Meat Inc: Forecasted annual revenue below estimates due to persistent demand weakness. The company is cutting costs and laying off workers to improve its financial position.

  • BlackRock Inc: The world’s largest asset manager is considering shifting its focus from Australia due to high valuations and weak growth, favoring opportunities in the U.S. and Japan.

  • BRF SA: Brazil’s largest chicken exporter reported strong revenue growth, with a 15% rise in Q4 profit, and a 297.5% increase in annual profit.

  • Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce: Reported a rise in first-quarter profit, driven by strong performance in its capital markets unit. Adjusted net income rose to C$2.18 billion.

  • Citigroup Inc: Citigroup appointed Chris Biotti as head of its North American private bank. Biotti will join Citi from Bank of America in May.

  • CRH Plc: Forecasted core profit growth of 6% to 12% in 2025 after posting a 12% growth in 2024, with revenues rising by 2%.

  • eBay Inc: Forecasted Q1 revenue below expectations due to economic uncertainty and competition from Amazon and Alibaba, with expected revenue of $2.52 billion to $2.56 billion.

  • Eni SpA: Reported a 46% decline in Q4 adjusted net profit, due to lower energy prices and weakness in refining, biofuels, and chemicals.

  • Expand Energy Corp: Surpassed Q4 profit estimates after higher production and a slight rebound in gas prices. The company is targeting $400 million in annual synergies by 2025.

  • FirstEnergy Corp: Forecasted downbeat earnings for the current year after missing Q4 profit expectations due to mild weather, despite a 49% increase in net income.

  • Goldman Sachs Group Inc: Goldman Sachs added its President and COO, John Waldron, to its board, signaling his potential as CEO successor.

  • Haleon Plc: Disappointed investors with a revenue growth forecast of 4-6% for 2025, lower than analysts’ estimate, despite strong Q4 sales.

  • HSBC Holdings Plc: HSBC is reducing its staff in its China digital wealth business, Pinnacle, by about 900 employees, signaling a reversal of its expansion efforts in China.

  • Indivior Plc: The British drugmaker appointed Joe Ciaffoni as CEO, replacing Mark Crossley, and projected a 17% decline in 2025 net revenue due to weak sales of its medication-assisted therapy.

  • Invitation Homes Inc: Reported a 5.6% rise in Q4 revenue, driven by higher demand for rentals over home purchases amid volatile interest rates.

  • Mercedes-Benz: Mercedes-Benz plans to cut up to 15% of its workforce in China, according to Bloomberg, amid ongoing cost-cutting efforts.

  • Meta Platforms Inc: Meta is considering launching a separate app for its short-form video feature, Reels, as well as a new video-editing app, Edits, to compete with TikTok and its parent company ByteDance.

  • Microsoft Corp: Microsoft is urging President Trump’s team to ease restrictions on AI chip exports, which have impacted its ability to service key markets, including its allies.

  • Moderna Inc: U.S. officials are reevaluating a $590 million contract given to Moderna for its bird flu vaccine as part of a broader review of mRNA-based vaccine spending.

  • Nvidia Corp: Forecasted strong demand for AI chips with a 78% surge in quarterly revenue, despite concerns about overspending in the industry.

  • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd: Forecasted lower-than-expected annual profit, though it beat Q4 profit estimates, with strong demand for its cruise offerings.

  • Paramount Global: Fell short of Q4 revenue expectations, hurt by declining cable TV revenues, though its Paramount+ streaming platform added 5.6 million subscribers.

  • Rumble Inc: Brazil pushed back against U.S. criticism regarding a court order to remove U.S.-based accounts of a Bolsonaro supporter from Rumble, asserting the application of Brazilian law.

  • Royal Bank of Canada: Reported higher Q1 profits, boosted by strong performance in its wealth management unit, with net income up 48% to C$980 million.

  • Salesforce Inc: Forecasted lower-than-expected fiscal 2026 revenue due to slower adoption of its Agentforce platform, with Q4 revenue of $9.99 billion missing estimates.

  • Snowflake Inc: Forecasted higher-than-expected fiscal 2026 product revenue, driven by cloud service growth and advancements in AI, with Q4 revenue beating estimates.

  • Synopsys Inc: Forecasted Q2 revenue above estimates due to growing demand for software used in chip design, with Q1 revenue slightly below analysts’ forecasts.

  • Tesla Inc: Tesla convinced a Florida appeals court to limit damages in a wrongful death lawsuit related to the company’s Autopilot system, with the court overturning a decision that would have allowed punitive damages.

  • Toronto-Dominion Bank: TD reported a fall in Q1 profit, impacted by compliance failures in its U.S. business. Net income decreased slightly to C$2.79 billion.

  • UniCredit: The European Central Bank is set to approve UniCredit’s plan to increase its stake in Germany’s Commerzbank, potentially paving the way for a major cross-border banking deal.

  • Wells Fargo & Co: Wells Fargo has ended a policy requiring diverse candidate slates for senior roles, making it the latest financial institution to scale back diversity initiatives after political pressure.

  • WPP Plc: Reported a worse-than-expected decline in organic revenue due to weaker discretionary spending, forecasting flat revenue growth in 2025.

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