-- Boston Scientific (BSX) shares fell 3.4% in Wednesday afternoon trading after Daiwa Securities downgraded the stock to neutral from outperform, and lowered its price target to $60 per share from $83 earlier.
Trading volume stood at about 12.9 million shares, compared with a daily average of over 17.6 million.
Price: $56.49, Change: $-1.96, Percent Change: -3.35%
Europe has stepped up legal action against several member states over failures to implement key energy laws, including new electricity market reforms and renewable energy rules, the European Commission said on Wednesday.The Commission, in its latest monthly infringement package, issued reasoned opinions to Croatia, Poland, and Portugal for failing to fully transpose updated EU electricity market design rules into national law.The reforms are intended to make power prices more stable and less tied to volatile fossil fuel costs, while strengthening consumer protections and expanding contract choices.EU countries were required to implement the rules by Jan. 17, 2025, with some provisions extending to mid-2026.The bloc said Croatia, Poland, and Portugal have two months to respond or risk referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union, potentially facing financial penalties.The Commission also sent a reasoned opinion to Hungary over breaches of EU rules prohibiting intra-EU investor-state arbitration.The case relates to actions by Hungarian oil and gas company MOL Group, which sought to enforce an arbitral award and initiated new arbitration proceedings under the Energy Charter Treaty.The EU's executive body said such actions contravene the bloc's laws as clarified by the EU court's Komstroy ruling, which bars such disputes between member states. Hungary has two months to comply or face possible referral to the EU court.Meanwhile, the Commission referred Greece, Malta, and Portugal to the Court of Justice for failing to fully implement updated renewable energy rules.The legislation is designed to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy across sectors, including transport, industry and buildings, while supporting the bloc's climate goals and reducing reliance on imported fuels.The three countries had already received formal notices and reasoned opinions in 2025, but failed to adequately address the concerns, the Commission said. It is now seeking financial sanctions.
Energy stocks were higher late Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index adding 1.8% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) rising 2.2%.The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was increasing 0.6%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was shedding 1.3%.Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil jumped 7.6% to $107.47 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract climbed 7.2% to $119.22 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 0.4% to $2.56 per 1 million BTU.In corporate news, Entergy (ETR) shares rose 1.4% after it reported Q1 adjusted earnings Wednesday of $0.86 per share, up from $0.82 a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet expected $0.84.
Planet Fitness' (PLNT) first-quarter member net adds and same-store sales could fall short of Wall Street's estimates, while the company could "slightly" lower its full-year outlook amid high macro uncertainty, RBC Capital Markets said in a note e-mailed Wednesday.The brokerage lowered the fitness center operator's first-quarter net adds estimates to 680,000 from 990,000 and its same-store sales growth outlook to 3.1% from 4.4%. The Street expects net adds of 790,000 and a 3.5% increase in same-store sales, according to the RBC note to clients."Our RBC Elements app data tracker suggested (first-quarter) downloads were only up 0.3% (year over year), and the company called out elevated churn to start the year, given it was the first (first-quarter) with click-to-cancel," RBC analyst Logan Reich said. "While (Planet Fitness) may be a relative trade-down beneficiary in times of macro volatility, the elevated uncertainty in March could have been an incremental headwind to net member growth."The brokerage said the company could guide down its 2026 views "slightly" amid elevated macro pressures due to the Middle East conflict, worsening consumer sentiment, and the absence of a permanent chief financial officer.Last month, Planet Fitness said it appointed Tom Fitzgerald as interim CFO following the departure of Jay Stasz. Fitzgerald previously served as the company's finance chief. At the time, the fitness center operator reaffirmed its 2026 financial outlook.RBC reduced its price target on Planet Fitness' stock to $85 from $120 with an outperform rating. The brokerage cut its 2026 and 2027 top- and bottom-line projections for the company.Planet Fitness shares were down 1.1% in Wednesday late-afternoon trade. The stock has slumped 41% so far this year."We continue to believe all the medium- and long-term secular, demographic, and idiosyncratic drivers remain intact," Reich said. "However, we think the key factor to investors potentially getting more constructive following the print is what the company's commentary on the (long-term algorithm) is."Planet Fitness is scheduled to report its latest financial results May 7.Price: $63.98, Change: $-0.48, Percent Change: -0.74%