-- The euro area's manufacturing sector saw renewed growth in April, supported by an increase in production levels on the back of higher new orders, according to final data from S&P Global published Monday.
The S&P Global Eurozone Manufacturing PMI rose to a 47-month high of 52.2 in April, matching the flash estimate, compared with the previous month's 51.6.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We raise our target price by $5 to $185, 16.6x our 2027 EPS estimate, a premium to CFR's five-year forward P/E average of 14.5x given its superior balance sheet growth. We increase our 2026 EPS view by $0.70 to $10.54 and raise 2027's by $0.57 to $11.17. CFR has grown rapidly, but this growth has been accompanied by expense increases that outpaced revenue growth, resulting in negative operating leverage. This trend is now reversing. CFR raised its net interest margin and loan guidance this quarter while keeping expense guidance unchanged, which means CFR is now on pace for positive operating leverage and record EPS in 2026, a year earlier than we previously anticipated. Additionally, despite industry-wide concerns about commercial real estate, lower-income consumers, and non-bank financial institutions, CFR maintains excellent credit quality. Its net charge-offs are running at half the peer average in recent quarters. The company is also well-capitalized to weather a downturn, with a CET1 ratio of 14.1%.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We adjust our 12-month target price for CNH Industrial (CNHI) to $12 (cut from $14 on May 4), implying a 2026 P/E multiple of 30x, above its five-year average forward P/E of 12.4x, justified by expected margin recovery, in our view. We leave our EPS forecasts unchanged. We view management's reaffirmed 2026 guidance as a modest positive, as it suggests confidence in cost actions and inventory discipline. That said, we remain cautious because the recovery still depends on stabilizing agriculture demand, reducing dealer inventories, and offsetting tariff-related cost pressure. Looking ahead, we forecast CNHI's revenue to decline 1.9% Y/Y in 2026, reflecting continued weakness in agriculture equipment demand, lower production volumes, and ongoing dealer inventory normalization. However, we expect revenue to recover by 7.5% Y/Y in 2027, supported by a gradual improvement in end-market demand, and potential benefits from cost discipline and pricing actions. Hence, we maintain our Hold rating.
Philippine manufacturing turned contractionary in April as the war in the Middle East reduced buying activity, new orders, and staffing numbers.S&P Global's Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index for the Philippines posted 48.3 in April compared with an expansion of 51.3 in March.A reading of above 50 denotes expansion, while a reading below 50 means a contraction.The indicator fell to negative territory for the first time since November due to a decline in new orders.New export orders plunged to their steepest since the middle of 2020 amid closures of trade routes, which caused shipping halts, causing consumers to hesitate, S&P said.Deteriorating export market demand also dragged down total new sales, S&P Global Market Intelligence economist Maryam Baluch said."The decline in total new sales led Filipino manufacturers to see a stagnation in production levels in April," the debt watcher said in its report.Exporters have also reduced their working days to as short as three days per week from six on a shortage orders in the garment, food, handicrafts and furniture sectors, The Philippine Star reported April 16, citing a survey by the Philippine Exporters Confederation.Staffing levels slipped due to "modest" job cuts during the month, according to S&P.Philippine manufacturers have turned to inventory to keep up with production requirements amid a decline in new orders and an increase in input and shipping prices, S&P said.Despite the shortfalls, business confidence rose to a 17-month high as investors are bullish about a growing client base and improvements in underlying demand trends, the debt watcher said.