Nasdaq Stocks

A financial product that enables banks to shed risk from loan portfolios is gaining more popularity among lenders in the United States, with investors and lawyers devising new structures to broaden its appeal.

Immunocore Holdings PLC Sponsored ADR (IMCR) shares ended the last trading session 6.9% higher at $72.29. The jump came on an impressive volume with a higher-than-average number of shares changing hands in the session. This compar

Cardinal Health CAH is a multinational healthcare services and products company based in the United States. It operates as a crucial player in the pharmaceutical and medical supply chain, providing a range of services to healthcar

RH RH, also known as Restoration Hardware, is a luxury home furnishings company known for its high-end and curated collections of furniture, lighting, textiles, and décor. RH is well known for its impressive retail locations and c

Indonesian markets, after a period of relative calm, are showing signs of concern about the prospect of a drawn out national election and the possibility of the country's highly regarded finance minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, departing.

Just five months before elections to the European Parliament, the revolt is fuelling a narrative that the EU is riding roughshod over farmers, who are struggling to adapt to stringent environmental regulations amid an inflation shock.

A financial product that enables banks to shed risk from loan portfolios is gaining more popularity among lenders in the United States, with investors and lawyers devising new structures to broaden its appeal.

Tankers carrying Russian oil have continued sailing through the Red Sea largely uninterrupted by Houthi attacks on shipping and face lower risks than competitors, according to shipping executives, analysts and flows data.

Investors hoping for imminent rate cuts by the Federal Reserve received a sobering reminder of the U.S. central bank’s focus on fighting inflation, after Chairman Jerome Powell poured cold water on bets policymakers would lower borrowing costs in March.

Wendy’s ( NASDAQ:WEN ) stock has underperformed the market, but the stock has a lot of potential, starting with its 5.2% dividend yield. Contrarian investors will find that there’s quite a bit to like here. I’m bullish on the $3.9 billion fast food stock, given its juicy dividend yield, its relatively inexpensive valuation compared to its restaurant stock peers, and several catalysts that could lead to a turnaround, such as a new CEO taking over and new involvement from activist investors who could push for further changes. New CEO, New Activist Investors  Wendy's stock has slumped to a 14.0% loss over the past year, at a time when the S&P 500 ( SPX ) surged to a 21.8% gain, so some changes are likely needed, and changes are coming. Wendy’s recently announced that a new CEO, Kirk Tanner, will take the helm on February 5. Tanner has been at Pepsi ( NASDAQ:PEP ) for over 30 years and is currently leading the company’s massive North American beverage business. While it’s too early to say what Tanner’s strategy will be, he appears to have the right kind of background for this role, and a fresh start under a new CEO could help to reinvigorate the business and the stock price.  There’s certainly precedent for this in the restaurant industry. For example, former Taco Bell CEO Brian Niccol took over as Chipotle ( NYSE:CMG ) CEO in 2018 and has created tremendous value for shareholders in that time. Chipotle's stock price has more than tripled since he took over. I’m not saying that this move by Wendy's will necessarily have the same level of impact, but the example shows that a change in leadership can be a catalyst for stocks in this industry. In terms of other potential catalysts (or wildcards), Wendy’s is also facing renewed pressure from activist investors, which could benefit shareholders.  While legendary investor Nelson Peltz (who is now Wendy's Chairman of the Board) dropped his efforts to take the company private, a new activist is engaging in saber-rattling of its own. In December, Reuters reported that Blackwells Capital, an activist hedge fund, has plans to challenge Wendy’s Board of Directors (namely Peltz) and to push for various improvements, although it's unclear what they are at this time.  It’s too early to say what the dynamic between the new CEO, Peltz, and the new activists will be, but with all of these new elements in play, more changes are likely on the horizon.    Tasty Dividend  What I really like about Wendy’s stock is that it packs a punch with its dividend. Shares of Wendy’s currently yield an attractive 5.2%.  This yield is well above that of the average yield for the S&P 500 ( SPX ), which currently sits at 1.5%.  Not only that, but Wendy’s also yields significantly more than its closest peers like McDonald’s ( NYSE:MCD ) and Restaurant Brands International ( NYSE:QSR ) ( TSE:QSR ), the parent company of Burger King, which yield 2.1% and 2.8%, respectively. Wendy's yield is also significantly higher than that of Taco Bell parent Yum! Brands ( NYSE:YUM ), which currently yields just 1.9%. Wendy’s doubled its dividend payout in 2023 (from $0.125 per quarter to $0.25), a strong signal that it is committed to creating value for its shareholders. In addition to this big-time dividend, Wendy’s is also returning capital to shareholders via share repurchases. In 2023, Wendy’s committed to buying back $500 million worth of shares through 2027, a significant amount for a company with a $3.9 billion market cap.  Cheaper Than the Market and Fast Food Peers  Trading at 19.3 times earnings and 17.3 times projected 2024 earnings, shares of Wendy’s aren’t so cheap that value investors are going to be pounding the table over it, but they are cheaper than the broader market and those of its closest peers.  The S&P 500 currently trades at 22.1 times earnings. McDonald’s trades at 24.7 times trailing earnings and 23.3 times forward earnings. Meanwhile, Restaurant Brands International trades at 23.7 times trailing earnings and 22.4 times forward earnings. Similarly, YUM! Brands trades at 24.3 times trailing earnings and 22.2 times forward earnings. These comparisons illustrate that there is plenty of room for Wendy’s to attain a higher multiple in line with its restaurant peers and for shares to trade higher if the new management team can right the ship.     Is WEN Stock a Buy, According to Analysts? Turning to Wall Street, WEN earns a Hold consensus rating based on three Buys, 11 Holds, and zero Sell ratings assigned in the past three months. The average WEN stock price target of $21.73 implies 13.9% upside potential. The Takeaway: Wendy’s Stock Looks Attractive   Shares of Wendy’s look attractive based on its 5.2% dividend yield and the possibility that changes driven by its new CEO or by activist investors could help bring its valuation more in line with those of its peers.  Disclosure

After falling in 2022, the S&P 500 ( SPX ) staged an impressive comeback last year, rising over 20%. As investor optimism improved on the possibility of multiple interest rate cuts and resilient consumer spending, several stocks outpaced the S&P 500 in the past 12 months. For instance, Skechers ( NYSE:SKX ) stock gained close to 50% in 2023. Valued at $9.6 billion, let's see why Skechers should continue to deliver market-beating returns in 2024. I am bullish on the mid-cap stock due to its cheap valuation, strong brand value, and improving profit margins. An Overview of Skechers Founded in 1992, Skechers designs, develops, markets, and distributes footwear for men, women, and children. It has two primary business segments, including Wholesale and Direct-to-Consumer (DTC). Skechers sells its products through a variety of distribution channels ranging from department stores, sporting goods retailers, company-owned stores, big-box club stores, and third-party store operators. Skechers opened its first retail store in 1994 and went public in 1999. It opened its 100 th store in 2003 and touched $1 billion in annual sales in 2005. Today, it operates more than 4,900 stores, reporting $7.9 billion in sales in the last four quarters. How Did Skechers Perform in Q3 2023? Skechers increased sales by 7.8% year-over-year to $2 billion in Q3 2023. International sales rose by 9%, accounting for 61% of the top line, while domestic sales grew by 7%. Similar to other retail companies, Skechers has increased its DTC or online sales significantly post the COVID-19 pandemic. In the September quarter, DTC sales were up 24%, while Wholesale revenue was down 1% due to lower distributor sales. Skechers emphasized that DTC sales stood at $850.4 million in Q3 as international online sales grew by 33% year-over-year. Skechers attributed revenue growth in Q3 to strong performance in retail stores as well as its high-margin international e-commerce platforms. However, it experienced a slowdown in online sales in the U.S. as consumers chose to shop at retail outlets. A Focus on Partnerships Skechers continues to expand its product portfolio, strengthening its position in the global footwear market. In Q3, it released three capsules from its new Snoop Dogg collaboration in North America and Europe, allowing it to gain traction among fans of the entertainer. In addition to Snoop Dogg, collaborations with Martha Stewart and the Rolling Stones improved brand awareness and customer engagement. The footwear company also launched an expansion to its Skechers performance division called Skechers Football (or soccer in the U.S.). Here, it onboarded Harry Kane, the captain of England’s national football team and a leading striker for Bayern Munich. In addition to Kane, several other athletes part of the English Premier League have tested the product prior to its launch. Skechers expects these big-ticket partnerships to result in stellar growth for the company in the upcoming decade. Skechers Continues to Grow Skechers continues to target growth in international markets. In Q3, it opened 43 stores in China, five in Vietnam, four in South Korea, and three in Chile and India. Comparatively, it opened five big-box stores in the U.S. Skechers expects to end Fiscal 2023 with sales between $7.95 billion and $8.05 billion, up from $7.44 billion in Fiscal 2022. It also forecasts adjusted earnings at $3.37 per share in 2023, up from $2.38 per share in 2022. A Strong Balance Sheet Skechers ended Q3 with $1.27 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and investments, an increase of $591.5 million year-over-year due to improvements in working capital and operating efficiency. In 2022, Skechers was wrestling with capacity challenges and processing constraints at distribution centers, resulting in higher inventory. Compared to 2022, its inventory decreased by 22% to $1.38 billion, helping it boost profit margins in the near term. Skechers lowered its inventory levels in the Americas and EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Asia) by 33%, or more than $400 million, in the last 12 months. It claimed that current inventory levels are healthy and positioned to support demand during the key holiday season. What is the Target Price for SKX Stock? Out of the six analysts covering SKX stock, five recommend a Buy, one recommends a Hold, and none recommend a Sell, giving it a Strong Buy consensus rating. The average SKX stock price target is $70.50, 12.9% above the current price. Analysts tracking SKX stock expect adjusted earnings to expand to $3.47 per share for Fiscal 2023 and $4.19 per share for Fiscal 2024. So, priced at 15 times forward earnings, the footwear stock is very cheap, given its stellar growth estimates. For instance, the PEG ratio for SKX stock is 0.67x, much lower than the sector median multiple of 1.68x. The Takeaway Skechers stock has returned over 600% to shareholders in the past decade. Despite its robust returns, the stock trades at a reasonable valuation while growing at an enviable pace. Its strong liquidity position, improving margins, and collaborations with global celebrities make SKX one of the best stocks to own right now, in my view. Disclosure

Sony and Zee disagreed over more than 20 compliance issues, including the Indian firm's failure to dispose of some Russian assets and its $1.4 billion Disney cricket rights deal, before their India merger was scrapped, according to internal emails reviewed by Reuters.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) reported its Q2’24 results (P&G’s fiscal ends in June) last week, with revenues falling below and earnings beating the street estimates. Despite its mixed performance, we believe PG stock is appropriately priced, as discussed below.

Sirius XM (NASDAQ: SIRI), a leading provider of satellite radio, is scheduled to announce its fiscal fourth-quarter results on Thursday, February 1. We expect Sirius XM stock to likely trade lower with revenues missing but earnings matching market expectations in the fourth qua

BlackRock’s stock (NYSE: BLK) has gained roughly 11% since the beginning of 2023, as compared to the 27% rise in the S&P500 index over the same period. Further, at its current price of $789 per share, the stock is trading 8% below its fair value of $853 – Trefis&r

The Magnificent Seven group, which was crafted by Mad Money host Jim Cramer, is renowned for its impressive growth potential and its ability to roll with the economic punches. With shares of Tesla ( NASDAQ:TSLA ) now on the outside looking in (Cramer removed it from the Magnificent Seven) following its brutal quarterly flop, questions linger as to which other growth companies are more deserving of a spot in the group. Therefore, in this piece, we'll check in with TipRanks' Comparison Tool to stack up two candidates that I believe are deserving of consideration now that Tesla is no longer magnificent enough to stay in the Magnificent Seven. Netflix ( NASDAQ:NFLX) Remember the days when the FAANG (also a term and cohort created by Jim Cramer) group was dominating the financial headlines, powering broader markets higher? If you're a new investor who jumped into the market waters within the past two years, you're probably more familiar with the Magnificent Seven group. Either way, I do think the "N" — Netflix — in the original FAANG is starting to prove its potential once again, and this has me incredibly bullish about its future. The stock took a massive beating back in late 2021 and early 2022, crashing by around 75% from peak to trough. The implosion caused Netflix stock to be scratched out of the conversation, ultimately marking the beginning of the end of FAANG and the beginning of the Magnificent Seven group. Today, Netflix is making an epic comeback, proving its doubters wrong, with a handful of impressive quarters that have helped fuel a more than 220% gain off its 2022 lows. Indeed, competition in the streaming space was getting intense, and as the pandemic lockdown winners reversed course in violent fashion, it was natural to think that Netflix was on its way out of the conversation. After the latest impressive number, though, Netflix has proven to us all that it is still magnificent and that the 2021-22 crash was a blunder made by Mr. Market. The original streaming kingpin remains king, with its impressive content that's kept users coming back, even following substantial price hikes. Additionally, the ad-based tier and gaming expansion have made the firm more of a growth stock again. Only time will tell if Netflix is headed for new heights as it continues adding to its strength in the new year. Unbelievably, shares are down around 18% from their peak in 2021. With co-founder Reed Hastings slashing his stake by $1.1 billion, gains will be harder to come by in the new year. The stock's already endured quite a bit of multiple expansion in recent quarters. So much so that some analysts have been downgrading it due to valuation concerns. At 46.8 times trailing price-to-earnings (P/E), the stock is pricier than its historical average and that of its peer group. While Netflix stock deserves a premium, I believe the company will need to keep releasing high-quality content and experience more success with its gaming push if it's to keep growth at the level that warrants inclusion into the "Magnificent Seven." Can it be done? I think it can. Management has really executed, and the stock reflects a massive rebound in investor confidence. What Is the Price Target for NFLX Stock? Netflix stock is a Moderate Buy, according to analysts, with 27 Buys, 13 Holds, and one Sell assigned in the past three months. The  average NFLX stock price target of $574.01 implies 1.8% upside potential. Adobe ( NASDAQ:ADBE) Adobe stock is another tech titan that's been scorching hot in 2023, blasting off nearly 70% in the past year. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is a huge reason why Adobe stock has been able to turn the tide so fast. With impressive AI technologies (think Firefly and Sensei) ingrained into the company's already impressive creative suite, the firm may have the means of charging its users even more. If it's adding more value, users should be more than willing to pay the higher price. As Adobe continues embracing the AI age, I can't help but stay bullish on the stock. In fact, I view AI as the catalyst that could propel ADBE stock right back to all-time highs. Recently, BakerAvenue's King Lip stated that the company's AI business is "extremely compelling." With such a sizeable and loyal installed user base, upselling AI offerings is likely to be no issue for the firm. It's not just about putting profound AI power into creative hands that has me most intrigued. Given the horrific headlines surrounding AI-generated deep fakes of Taylor Swift that went viral, I believe more attention ought to be placed on AI guardrails to ensure the responsible use of AI products. In that regard, I believe Adobe is a firm that can put the appropriate guardrails in place to prevent (or minimize) misuse of AI tools. As the company moves on from its abandoned Figma acquisition, look for the firm to become as much of an AI innovator as it is a major player in AI safety and ethics. All things considered, Adobe stock stands out as a magnificent tech firm worthy of more investor (and Cramer) praise. What Is the Price Target for ADBE Stock? Adobe stock is a Moderate Buy, according to analysts, with 24 Buys, four Holds, and two Sells assigned in the past three months. The  average ADBE stock price target of $653.43 implies 5.8% upside potential. The Takeaway Undoubtedly, there are a slew of high-growth companies that are doing incredibly well, with drivers that could help keep growth elevated for some time. That alone doesn't guarantee a spot with the now six magnificent companies (the so-called Super Six, if you will). However, I do think Netflix and Adobe are companies worthy of the most exclusive and enviable high-growth cohort out there. Between the two, analysts expect more upside from Adobe (5.8%) for the year ahead. Disclosure

The midweek lean hog trading session left the board on both sides of UNCH. Feb was 50c higher at the bell, while April faded by 15 cents on the day. The Feb contract printed a $1.25 range so far through Wednesday. USDA’s National Average Base Hog price was up by...

Corn firmed up through the afternoon portion of Wednesday trading and ended the day fractionally mixed. Basis tightened on Wednesday with a national average cash corn rally. Traders are looking for the weekly Export Sales report to have between 800k MT and 1.3 MMT of old crop corn sales in...

After initial weakness starting the midweek session, soybean futures firmed up through the afternoon and ended the day with gains of as much as 5 ½ cents. Soymeal futures ended the day up by as much as 1.5% across the nearby contracts. Soy oil futures also firmed up but closed...

Wheat futures finished the midweek session with losses of over 1% across the domestic markets. Chicago closed near the lows for the day with 10 to 1 ¼ cent losses. KC wheat was down by 7 ¾ to 8 ¾ cents at the bell. Front month MGE wheat futures settled...