-- 摩根士丹利在周五發布的一份報告中指出，西部數據（WDC）在公佈「出色」的第三財季業績後，預計將進一步受益於硬碟需求的加速成長。 報告指出：“人工智慧訓練、推理和智能體工作流程正在推動硬碟需求的加速成長，這增強了西部數據對未來近線業務長期複合年增長率超過25%的信心。” 報告也指出，隨著一些超大規模資料中心營運商鎖定產能至2029年，市場可見度也不斷提高。 報告補充道，西部數據先前給出的6月季度毛利率預期為51%至52%，表面上看略顯疲軟，但這反映的是其保守的預期，而非任何疲軟的價格或成本趨勢。 報告指出：「本季業績進一步鞏固了我們對硬碟整體市場以及西部數據前景的樂觀態度。」摩根士丹利將西部數據的目標股價從380美元上調至488美元，並重申了其「增持」評級。
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.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We lower our 12-month target by $12 to $266 on an EV/EBITDA of 16.0x our 2026 EBITDA estimate, a discount to its five-year forward average of 16.4x. We lower our 2026 EPS by $0.12 to $9.13 and our 2027 EPS by $0.07 to $10.72. Diesel costs are expected to be a headwind, with an estimated $25M direct impact in Q2. Elevated fuel costs over a sustained period could lead to construction budget constraints and prohibitive financing costs in a higher-for-longer interest rate environment. Labor challenges remain a concern in terms of both availability and cost. While Vulcan markets are seeing much more favorable public construction trends than national averages, the September 2026 IIJA expiration carries spillover risk even to the most favorable markets. If reauthorization faces delays or results in a continuing resolution, states may slow new project lettings despite having access to remaining funds. We think valuation is far too stretched and does not fully reflect macro risks despite strong company fundamentals.