Top Stock News
- TC Energy’s Coastal GasLink is seeking C$1.2 billion from a main contractor for construction delays, putting a spotlight on the challenges faced by the Canadian natural gas pipeline project.
- Scotiabank’s new CEO, Scott Thomson, is under scrutiny as he addresses shareholders for the first time, facing expectations to outline a comprehensive plan to address challenges in the bank’s Latin American units and spur domestic profit growth. Fiscal 2023 saw a 21.5% decline in net income, accompanied by a doubling of bad debt provisions to C$3.42 billion. Thomson, who has a background as the CEO of Finning International, where he successfully expanded business in Latin America, has already implemented significant job cuts to position the bank for a challenging environment.
- Occidental Petroleum’s $12 billion acquisition of CrownRock is a significant move in the energy sector, signaling a strategic expansion in the Permian basin. The deal includes a mix of cash, stock, and debt financing.
- Tesla is under pressure from Nordic pension funds to respect collective bargaining for its employees in the region. This comes as part of a broader global discussion on workers’ rights in the tech industry.
- Boeing has appointed Stephanie Pope as its Chief Operating Officer, positioning her as a top contender to succeed CEO David Calhoun. Pope’s 30-year tenure with the company and experience in leading Boeing Global Services make her a strong candidate for the future leadership role.
- Cigna’s decision to abandon the pursuit of a Humana acquisition reflects challenges in reaching an agreement on price. Instead, Cigna plans a $10 billion share buyback, emphasizing a focus on returning value to shareholders.
- Macy’s faces a $5.8 billion buyout bid from an investor group led by Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital, indicating interest in taking the department store chain private. The potential deal could involve leveraging Macy’s extensive real estate portfolio.
- Chinese chip designers, including Tencent, are aggressively promoting their AI chips as alternatives to Nvidia’s, capitalizing on U.S. export restrictions to gain market share in China.
- Mistral AI, a French artificial intelligence company, has raised 385 million euros in its second funding round. The funds will support the development of its AI platform, including Mixtral 8x7B, positioning itself as a competitor to platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard.
- HireRight Holdings may undergo a buyout as Stone Point Capital and General Atlantic propose to acquire the shares they do not already own. The proposed transaction is valued at $12.75 per share in cash.
- BP’s decision to sell a 75% stake in a power plant in Bilbao, Spain, to energy trader Gunvor aligns with its strategy to transition into an Integrated Energy Company (IEC) and reduce reliance on traditional oil and gas assets.
- Tellurian’s removal of Charif Souki as an executive officer reflects challenges in covering future expenses, highlighting the importance of its Driftwood LNG project for the company’s prospects.
- Tucker Carlson’s subscription-based streaming service, priced at $9 per month, demonstrates the growing trend of media personalities leveraging their popularity for direct-to-consumer content.
- Nasdaq’s $4 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Treasury over apparent violations of sanctions against Iran underscores the regulatory challenges faced by financial institutions operating globally.
- Nvidia’s commitment to expanding its partnership with Vietnam’s tech firms aligns with the country’s efforts to enter the chip design and manufacturing industry amid U.S.-China trade tensions.
- Wells Fargo’s appointment of Darlene Goins as head of Philanthropy and Community Impact reflects a growing emphasis on corporate social responsibility and philanthropic initiatives.
- Britain’s manufacturing sector shows signs of recovery, supported by restocking and a pickup in export orders. This positive development provides hope for the sector facing challenges in 2024.
- Europe’s provisional deal on AI regulations, covering issues such as biometric surveillance and the regulation of AI systems, marks a significant step toward governing the use of artificial intelligence across the European Union.
- Bosch’s decision to cut up to 1,500 jobs reflects the ongoing adjustments needed in the automotive sector to align staffing levels with changing demand and technologies.
- Signa Development Finance’s statement about potential insolvency proceedings for its parent company highlights the financial challenges faced by Signa Development Selection AG.
Top Analyst Ratings
Apple Inc (AAPL):
- Recommendation: Wedbush raises the target price to $250 from $240.
- Rationale: Anticipates robust sales growth for iPhone 15 during the holiday season, driven by strong upgrade activity in both the U.S. and China markets.
Best Buy Co Inc (BBY):
- Recommendation: Jefferies raises the target price to $89 from $69.
- Rationale: Reflects confidence in an upcoming replacement cycle for purchases made during the pandemic period and reaffirms faith in market share.
Cigna Group (CI):
- Recommendation: Jefferies upgrades the rating to Buy from Hold.
- Rationale: Cites the company’s decision to end the pursuit of Humana and announces a $10 billion share buyback plan.
Landstar System Inc (LSTR):
- Recommendation: JPMorgan initiates coverage with a Neutral rating.
- Target Price: $186.
- Rationale: Highlights the company’s unique agent sales model, securing substantial truckload capacity, enabling market share growth, and generating significant free cash flow.
Pinterest Inc (PINS):
- Recommendation: RBC raises the target price to $46 from $32.
- Rationale: Believes Pinterest can capitalize on a shift from intent-based ad platforms like Amazon and Google by reducing purchase friction and adding new product supply.
Canadian Western Bank (CWB.TO):
- Recommendation: CIBC raises the target price to C$32 from C$30.
- Rationale: Points to a significant slowing in the company’s expense growth, net interest margin expansion, and no need to issue common shares.
Lithium Americas Corp (LAC.TO):
- Recommendation: JPMorgan initiates coverage with a Neutral rating.
- Target Price: C$10.
- Rationale: Notes the company’s plans to develop vertically integrated lithium carbonate conversion capabilities, expecting meaningful value through offtake agreements with end customers.
Surge Energy Inc (SGY.TO):
- Recommendation: Stifel cuts the target price to C$12 from C$12.5.
- Rationale: Cites headwinds from the recent pullback in oil prices affecting the company.
Transat AT Inc (TRZ.TO):
- Recommendation: CIBC cuts the target price to C$3 from C$4.25.
- Rationale: Reflects the company’s structurally higher debt levels.
