-- 摩根士丹利在周五发布的一份报告中指出，西部数据（WDC）在公布“出色”的第三财季业绩后，预计将进一步受益于硬盘驱动器需求的加速增长。 报告称：“人工智能训练、推理和智能体工作流程正在推动硬盘驱动器需求的加速增长，这增强了西部数据对未来近线业务长期复合年增长率超过25%的信心。” 报告还指出，随着一些超大规模数据中心运营商锁定产能至2029年，市场可见性也在不断提高。 报告补充道，西部数据此前给出的6月季度毛利率预期为51%至52%，表面上看略显疲软，但这反映的是其保守的预期，而非任何疲软的价格或成本趋势。 报告称：“本季度业绩进一步巩固了我们对硬盘驱动器整体市场以及西部数据前景的乐观态度。”摩根士丹利将西部数据的目标股价从380美元上调至488美元，并重申了其“增持”评级。
Price: $427.61, Change: $-6.91, Percent Change: -1.59%
Crude oil futures slipped in midday trading on Friday as Iran delivered a fresh proposal for peace talks to the US through Pakistani mediators, fueling hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough that could eventually reopen the Strait of Hormuz.Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude futures dropped by 2.94% to $101.96 per barrel, while Brent futures were down by 2.04% to $108.12/bbl."With Hormuz remaining largely shut, oil prices have surged more than 25% over the past two weeks, driven by tightening supply and heightened geopolitical risk," Soojin Kim, research analyst at MUFG, said.Tensions between the US and Iran remain elevated despite a ceasefire. President Trump expressed displeasure with the current state of peace talks with Iran on Friday, blaming the country's disjointed leadership for preventing a deal to end the conflict that has roiled global energy markets.Iran sent its latest proposal for negotiations with the US to Pakistani mediators on Thursday, according to media reports, as Trump threatens to maintain the blockade of Iranian ports amid behind-the-scenes diplomacy to end the Middle East conflict.US envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly sent a list of amendments on Monday to reinsert the nuclear issue into the agreement under discussion, with one of the amendments demanding that Iran commit to not attempting to move any enriched uranium.On Friday, the US Department of the Treasury said it could sanction vessels that pay tolls to Iran for safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, even if those payments are made as charitable donations to Iranian NGOs.The Department said Iranian demands for toll payments may include fiat currency, digital assets, offsets, informal swaps, or charitable donations made to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Bonyad Mostazafan, or Iranian embassy accounts.Traffic through the Hormuz was cut by half on Apr. 30 to seven crossings from the previous day, with traffic split between four commercial and three non-commercial movements, according to Kpler.OPEC+ is expected to agree at the group's meeting over the weekend on another symbolic production increase of 188,000 barrels per day for June, following the UAE's surprise departure.Rystad analysts said the departure removes one of the few producers in the alliance with meaningful spare capacity and a strong compliance record, undermining OPEC+'s role as a coordinated supply manager.
Cargo traffic at the Port of Los Angeles is expected to rise in the week ending May 16, according to data from the ship-tracking system Port Optimizer.A total of 124,885 20-foot equivalent units, a standardized measure of cargo capacity, are projected to reach the port in the week, the data showed. That volume reflects a roughly 18% increase from the previous week and a 48% rise from a year earlier.Twenty-three freight vessels are scheduled to arrive at the port in the week ending May 16, the data showed. That is more than the 19 vessels each during this week and the week ending May 9.President Donald Trump said Friday he will raise tariffs to 25% next week on European Union cars and trucks being exported to the US, as the EU is not fully complying with their trade deal.Trump said Thursday on Truth Social he is removing tariffs and restrictions on whiskey "having to do with Scotland's ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon," in honor of the UK's King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
L3Harris Technologies' (LHX) 2026 outlook seems "incrementally conservative," given the strong Q1, with the company expected to raise guidance with its Q2 results, RBC Capital Markets said in a note emailed Friday.For 2026, the company raised its earnings outlook to a range of $11.40 to $11.60 per share from $11.30 to $11.50. It continues to expect full-year revenue of $23 billion to $23.5 billion.L3Harris' management sounded confident in the full-year revenue outlook and suggested the strong current momentum could lead to a 2026 guidance update with Q2 results, RBC analysts said. The company also indicated that the new chief financial officer's short tenure contributed to the decision not to raise guidance after the strong Q1, they added."We believe investors will continue to view the guide as conservative even after raising the revenue guide for 2026 after the Q4 2025 results," the analysts said.The analysts said the company could benefit from mid-single-digit organic growth, while a stronger focus on execution should help support confidence in its 2026 margin targets. Improved capital allocation, including debt reduction, may also act as a positive catalyst, they said.RBC maintained its sector perform rating and $365 price target on L3Harris.Price: $314.10, Change: $-6.45, Percent Change: -2.01%