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Alphabet Inc. (Class C)

Alphabet Inc. (Class C)

$GOOG
NASDAQTechnology

318 stories mentioning Alphabet Inc. (Class C)Updated just now

Alphabet's Google announced a $1.5 billion 2026-27 expansion of its Alabama data center campuses, funding its own power and infrastructure costs.

Asia Markets

Potential Middle East Peace Agreement, Oil Price Declines Drive US Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell

US equity futures were higher pre-bell Wednesday as oil prices slipped and a peace agreement between the US and Iran was reportedly close to being finalized.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.9% higher, S&P 500 futures were up 0.8%, and Nasdaq futures were 1.3% higher.The White House believes it is nearing an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the conflict and establish a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations, according to an Axios report, citing two US officials and two other sources briefed on the issue.In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump said he had paused "Project Freedom," a military operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, to see if an agreement with Iran can be signed.Traders kept an eye on the latest round of earnings, with AMD (AMD) reporting stronger-than-expected fiscal Q1 results and issuing an upbeat Q2 revenue outlook. Walt Disney (DIS) posted higher fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue that also surpassed analysts' estimates.Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 6.9% at $102.28 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 7.7% lower at $94.45 per barrel.ADP's national employment report showed that private-sector employment increased by 109,000 in April, compared with expectations for a 120,000 gain in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.Federal Reserve St. Louis President Alberto Musalem is slated to speak at 9:30 am, and Chicago President Austan Goolsbee speaks at 1 pm ET.In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei was closed due to a public holiday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 1.2% higher and China's Shanghai Composite finished 1.2% higher. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was up 2.2%, and Germany's DAX index was 1.8% higher in Europe's early afternoon session.In equities, AMD and Disney shares rose 16% and 5.5%, respectively, after the companies reported their latest quarterly financial results. Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) stock was up 1.7% after the company's Google Cloud secured a $200 billion commitment from Anthropic for computing capacity and processors, according to a report from The Information citing a person with knowledge of the matter.On the losing side, Arista Networks (ANET) stock was down 9.1% despite the company posting higher Q1 non-GAAP earnings and revenue. Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) shares were down 3.6% and 3.7%, respectively, as energy majors saw stock price declines amid the dip in oil prices.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AMD$ANET$CVX$DIS$GOOG$GOOGL$XOM
Commodities

Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell Wednesday Amid Potential US-Iran Truce

The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 1% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 1.7% higher in Wednesday's premarket activity amid news of a potential US-Iran truce.US stock futures were mixed, with S&P 500 Index futures up 1%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures falling 1.2%, and Nasdaq futures advancing 1.6% before the start of regular trading.US mortgage applications fell in the week ended May 1 amid higher mortgage rates, according to data released by the Mortgage Bankers Association early Wednesday.ADP's monthly measure of private payrolls showed a 109,000 increase in April, below expectations compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:20 am ET for an increase of 120,000.State-level unemployment data for March is slated for a 10 am ET release, followed by the weekly petroleum stocks at 10:30 am ET.Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee is due to speak on Wednesday.In premarket activity, bitcoin was down by 1.3%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1.3% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 2%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) fell over 14%.Power Play:FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.6%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 2%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 1.9% lower.Hut 8 (HUT) shares were up more than 24% pre-bell after the company reported higher Q1 revenue.Winners and Losers:TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) gained 2.1%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 2.4% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 2.3%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) rose 3.6%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) increased by 4.3%.Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) shares were up more than 18% in premarket activity after the company overnight posted stronger-than-expected fiscal Q1 results and issued an upbeat Q2 revenue outlook.Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.1%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.3%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was flat. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 1% higher.Novo Nordisk (NVO) stock was up more than 6% premarket after the company posted higher-than-expected Q1 earnings and revenue in addition to raising its 2026 adjusted sales growth guidance.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was down 4.2%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) fell by 4.8%.Equinor (EQNR) stock was down more than 9% before Wednesday's opening bell after the company reported lower Q1 revenue.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 1.8%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was up 2.3%, and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.Ametek (AME) stock was up more than 2% before the opening bell after the company agreed to acquire Indicor Instrumentation from Indicor in an all-cash deal valued at about $5 billion.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was down 0.4%, and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was up 0.2%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was flat. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 1.3%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was 1.2% lower.Amazon (AMZN) shares were up more than 1% a day after The Information reported the company-backed Anthropic will pay Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) Google Cloud about $200 billion over five years for computing capacity and processors.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated by 10% to $91.80 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was down by 2.5% at $2.72 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) fell by 9.6%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1.6% lower.Gold futures for May rose by 3.1% to $4,711.90 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures advanced by 5.7% to $77.79 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 3% higher, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) rose by 5.4%.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AMD$AME$AMZN$BETH$BITO$EEM$EETH$EQNR$EXI$FAS$FAZ$GLD$GOOG$GOOGL$HUT$IBB$IGM$IGV$IPK$IVV$IWM$IYE$IYH$IYJ$IYK$IYW$NVO$PMR$QQQ$RTH$SLV$SOXX$SPY$UNG$USO$VDC$VHT$VIS$XLE$XLF$XLI$XLK$XLP$XLV$XLY$XRT$XSD
Wire

Market Chatter: Blackstone, KKR in Talks With Alphabet to Give Portfolio Companies Access to AI Models

Blackstone (BX) and KKR (KKR) are in talks with Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) to allow their portfolio companies access to Google's artificial intelligence models, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.The talks come after OpenAI and Anthropic announced deals on Monday with alternative asset managers to create AI consultancies that would turn private equity-backed firms into a new revenue stream for AI companies, according to the report.Blackstone and KKR will negotiate omnibus agreements with Google that would give their portfolio companies access to AI models, Bloomberg said, adding that Alphabet would gain access to companies it previously had limited ways to sell to.Blackstone, KKR and Alphabet did not immediately respond to a request for comment by.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)Price: $123.61, Change: $+0.52, Percent Change: +0.42%

$BX$GOOG$GOOGL$KKR
Wire

Top Midday Stories: PayPal Q2 EPS Guide Undershoots Expectations, Plans 20% Workforce Cut; Palantir Shares Fall Despite Strong Earnings, Guidance

All three major US stock indexes were up in late-morning trading Tuesday, as oil prices slid despite new attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.In company news, PayPal (PYPL) reported Q1 non-GAAP earnings Tuesday of $1.34 per diluted share, up from $1.33 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus estimate of $1.27. Net Q1 revenue was $8.35 billion, up from $7.79 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $8.05 billion. For Q2, the company said it expects to post a roughly 9% decline in non-GAAP EPS from $1.40 a year earlier to about $1.27. Analysts polled by FactSet expect $1.34. Additionally, PayPal is planning to cut around 20% of its workforce over the next two to three years, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing a person familiar with the matter. PayPal shares were down 8.1% around midday.Palantir Technologies (PLTR) reported Q1 adjusted earnings late Monday of $0.33 per diluted share, up from $0.13 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $0.28. First-quarter revenue was $1.63 billion, up from $883.9 million a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $1.54 billion. For Q2, Palantir said it expects revenue of $1.797 billion to $1.801 billion, above the FactSet consensus of $1.68 billion. For full-year 2026, the company said it expects revenue of $7.65 billion to $7.66 billion, above the FactSet consensus of $7.24 billion. Palantir shares were down 6.3%.Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) will raise at least 9 billion euros ($10.5 billion) from its biggest ever euro-denominated bond sale, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing a person familiar with the matter. Separately, Alphabet's Google DeepMind, Microsoft (MSFT) and xAI signed new agreements with the Center for AI Standards and Innovation to assess AI security issues before they are released, CAISI said Tuesday. Alphabet's Class C shares were up 1.4%, while its Class A shares were up 1.5%. Microsoft shares were down 0.8%.Apple (AAPL) has held early talks with Intel (INTC) and Samsung Electronics on producing key device processors in the US, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Apple shares were up 1.1%, and Intel shares were up 13.8%.Shopify (SHOP) reported a Q1 loss Tuesday of $0.45 per diluted share, narrowing from a loss of $0.53 a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected earnings of $0.24. First-quarter revenue was $3.17 billion, up from $2.36 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $3.11 billion. Shopify shares were down 11%.Pfizer (PFE) reported Q1 adjusted earnings Tuesday of $0.75 per diluted share, down from $0.92 a year earlier but above the FactSet consensus of $0.72. First-quarter revenue was $14.45 billion, up from $13.72 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $13.84 billion. The company reaffirmed its full-year 2026 EPS and revenue guidance ranges of $2.80 to $3.00 and $59.5 billion to $62.5 billion, respectively. Analysts polled by FactSet expect $2.96 and $61.38 billion, respectively. Pfizer shares were down 0.7%.Price: $46.33, Change: $-4.06, Percent Change: -8.06%

$AAPL$GOOG$GOOGL$INTC$MSFT$PFE$PLTR$PYPL$SHOP
Wire

Google DeepMind, Microsoft, xAI Sign AI Security Agreements With CAISI

Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) Google DeepMind, Microsoft (MSFT), and Tesla (TSLA) Chief Executive Elon Musk's xAI signed new agreements with the Center for AI Standards and Innovation to assess artificial intelligence security issues before they are released, CAISI said Tuesday.The expanded collaborations allow the government to test the models before public release to improve security and establish best practices, the center said.The organization has completed more than 40 software assessments to date and frequently receives unrestricted versions of the programs to thoroughly investigate potential national security risks, according to a statement.The partnerships support information sharing and classified environment testing while remaining flexible enough to adapt to rapid technological advancements, CAISI said.These expanded industry collaborations will help the CAISI scale its work in the public interest at critical moments, CAISI Director Chris Fall said.Price: $383.25, Change: $+3.61, Percent Change: +0.95%

$GOOG$GOOGL$MSFT$TSLA
Asia Markets

US Equity Indexes Scale New Peaks This Week Amid Lift From Mega-Cap Earnings, Crude Oil

US equity indexes jumped this week as communications services and energy topped sector charts in a broad-based rally, reflecting the positive impact of mega-cap earnings and crude oil.* The S&P 500 closed at 7,230.12 on Friday versus 7,153.06 a week ago. The Nasdaq Composite stood at about 25,114.44, compared with 24,774.11 a week earlier. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended at 49,499.27, versus 49,153.47 at the end of last week.* All but one sector, basic materials, rose this week. The top five sectors included financials, consumer defensive, and real estate, which shows a broadening of leadership to value-oriented areas.* Three Magnificent-7 stocks ended the week lower -- Meta Platforms (META), Nvidia (NVDA), and Microsoft (MSFT), according to data compiled by Finviz. Of the remaining four mega-caps, Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) led the pack with a gain of almost 12%. Except for Nvidia, all Mag-7 companies have so far reported quarterly results, with four of the six firms trading higher this week.* Among companies with a market capitalization of more than $200 billion, the top gainer was Intel (INTC), whose strong quarterly results translated into a weekly gain of almost 21%.* Brent crude oil futures soared to a four-year high this week before retreating, and West Texas Intermediate futures remained above the psychologically important $100 mark.* On Friday, Iran handed Washington a new proposal for ending the war, offering hints of compromise, The Wall Street Journal reported. The two sides remain far apart, however, on substantive issues of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program, people familiar with the matter told the WSJ.* "They want to make a deal but I'm not satisfied with it," Trump told reporters at the White House Friday, according to Bloomberg. "We just had a conversation with Iran. Let's see what happens. But I would say that I am not happy."

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$GOOG$GOOGL$INTC$META$MSFT$NVDA
Wire

Apple's iPhone Supercycle, Strong Outlook Drive Momentum, Wedbush Says

Apple's (AAPL) iPhone 17 "supercycle" continues to gain momentum across nearly every major geography, supported by stronger-than-expected results and robust guidance for the June quarter, Wedbush Securities said in a Friday research note.The company reported strong quarterly results, with revenue, iPhone sales and services all exceeding expectations, the firm said.The company's guidance for the June quarter exceeded Street expectations. It bakes in continued supply constraints across several Mac models. Supply and demand balance is expected to take several months to materialize, according to the note.Analysts said the Worldwide Developers Conference at Apple Park in early June is highly consequential. Updates are expected on personalized Siri and expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities. Additional details on the collaboration with Alphabet's (GOOG) Google Gemini are also expected, they said.The firm also highlighted a leadership transition, with John Ternus expected to take on a larger role, signaling continuity in strategy.Wedbush raised its 2026 earnings estimate for Apple to $8.64 a share from $8.50. Analysts polled by FactSet expect $8.66.The firm reiterated its outperform rating on the stock with a $350 price target.Price: $283.99, Change: $+12.64, Percent Change: +4.66%

$AAPL$GOOG
Wire

Top Midday Stories: Apple Tops Fiscal Q2 EPS, Revenue Estimates, Raises Dividend; Pentagon Strikes Deals With 7 AI Companies

All three major US stock indexes were up in late-morning trading Friday, as The Street looks to close out a tumultuous week of trading on a high note.In company news, Apple (AAPL) reported fiscal Q2 earnings late Thursday of $2.01 per diluted share, up from $1.65 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $1.95. Fiscal Q2 revenue was $111.18 billion, up from $95.36 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $109.46 billion. Apple's board raised its quarterly dividend by a cent to $0.27 per share, payable May 14 to stockholders of record as of May 11. The board also authorized an additional program to repurchase up to $100 billion of common shares. Apple shares were up 4.5% around midday.The US Department of Defense said Friday it has entered into agreements with seven of the largest artificial intelligence companies to deploy their AI capabilities on its classified networks. The Pentagon said it reached deals with Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) Google, Nvidia (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon's (AMZN) Amazon Web Services, SpaceX, OpenAI and Reflection. Alphabet's Class C and Class A shares were down 0.1% and up 0.1%, respectively. Shares of Nvidia, Microsoft and Amazon were down 0.3%, up 1.7% and up 1.7%, respectively.Exxon Mobil (XOM) reported Q1 adjusted earnings Friday of $1.16 per diluted share, down from $1.76 a year earlier but above the FactSet consensus of $0.98. First-quarter revenue and other income was $85.14 billion, up from $83.13 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus estimate of $81.13 billion. Exxon Mobil shares were down 0.8%.Chevron (CVX) reported Q1 adjusted earnings Friday of $1.41 per diluted share, down from $2.18 a year earlier but above the FactSet consensus of $0.97. First-quarter revenue and other income was $48.61 billion, up from $47.61 billion a year ago but below the FactSet consensus of $51.86 billion. Chevron shares were down 1.2%.SanDisk (SNDK) reported fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings late Thursday of $23.41 per diluted share, up from a loss of $0.30 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $14.62. Fiscal Q3 revenue was $5.95 billion, up from $1.70 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $4.72 billion. For fiscal Q4, the company said it expects adjusted EPS of $30 to $33 on revenue of $7.75 billion to $8.25 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet expect $23.38 and $6.62 billion, respectively. SanDisk shares were down 0.5%.Price: $284.89, Change: $+13.54, Percent Change: +4.99%

$AAPL$AMZN$CVX$GOOG$GOOGL$MSFT$NVDA$SNDK$XOM
US Markets

S&P 500, Nasdaq Notch New Peaks, Log Best Month Since 2020

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite hit new closing highs on Thursday, with the two equity indexes recording their biggest monthly gains since 2020.The S&P 500 rose 1% to 7,209, while the Nasdaq climbed 0.9% to 24,892.3, both logging record closing highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.6% to 49,652.1. Barring technology, all sectors were in the green, led by communication services' 4% jump.This month, the Nasdaq jumped 15.3%, logging its best monthly performance since April 2020. The S&P 500 gained 10.4%, the biggest monthly gain since November 2020. The Dow climbed 7.1%.In company news, Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) first-quarter results exceeded Wall Street's estimates late Wednesday as revenue for Google's cloud and services businesses climbed. Alphabet increased its 2026 capital expenditure guidance to up to $190 billion. Shares climbed 10%.Caterpillar (CAT) surged 9.9%, the best performer on the Dow. The heavy equipment manufacturer raised its full-year sales outlook as its first-quarter results exceeded market expectations.Eli Lilly (LLY) lifted its full-year outlook, while the drugmaker reported first-quarter results above market estimates. The stock advanced 9.8%.Meta Platforms (META) shares plunged 8.6%, among the steepest declines on the S&P 500. The Facebook parent late Wednesday raised its full-year capital expenditure guidance mainly due to higher component pricing.Microsoft (MSFT) shares declined 3.9%, the second-worst performer on the Dow, as the tech giant said late Wednesday its capital expenditure will be about $190 billion in 2026. The company's aggressive capital expenditure will likely keep free cash flow under pressure in the near term, Truist Securities said in a note.Brent crude fell 3.3% at $114.09 per barrel, having topped $126 earlier in the day. West Texas Intermediate fell 1.8% to $105.01.On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve kept its benchmark lending rate steady, saying the Iran war is fueling uncertainty around the US economic outlook.The most recent policy statement had an implied easing bias, but that could soon be removed amid a growing divide among policymakers over the direction of interest rates, Stifel said in a note Thursday.US Treasury yields were lower, with the 10-year rate down 2.4 basis points at 4.41% and the two-year rate falling 7.8 basis points to 3.89%.US economic growth fell short of Wall Street's expectations in the first quarter as spending slowed amid inflationary pressures that economists said will likely keep consumers under pressure."The core of the economy remained solid in (the first quarter), driven by the (artificial intelligence) buildout and the tax cuts beginning to feed through," Oxford Economics Chief US Economist Michael Pearce said in remarks emailed to. "Those factors will continue to drive growth over the rest of the year, but the jump in energy prices will take some of the shine off what would otherwise have been a strong year for the economy."Separate official data showed that US inflation, as measured by the personal consumption expenditure price index, accelerated in March to the fastest pace since mid-2022 as the Middle East conflict sent energy prices soaring."Inflationary pressures continued to percolate," Ksenia Bushmeneva, economist at TD Economics, said in a report. "The situation around the energy crisis remains uncertain and gas prices are likely to remain elevated for some time."Gold rose 1.6% at $4,635 per troy ounce, while silver advanced 2.9% to $74.18 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$CAT$GOOG$GOOGL$LLY$META$MSFT
International

US Equity Indexes Jump as Tech Earnings, Q1 Economic Growth Help Trigger Broad-Based Rally

US equity indexes rose in a broad-based rally as the impact of artificial intelligence showed in corporate earnings, and a preliminary Q1 economic growth estimate helped investors put ongoing geopolitical tensions on the back burner.The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1.6% to 49,652.14, with the S&P 500 up 1% to 7,209.01 and the Nasdaq Composite higher by 0.9% to 24,892.31 on Thursday. Communication services, industrials, and utilities led the gainers, while technology emerged as the sole decliner.Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) shares jumped 10%, among the leaders on the Nasdaq, after the company late Wednesday reported Q1 earnings and revenue above market expectations. Qualcomm's (QCOM) shares soared 15%, among the top performers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the firm posted better-than-expected fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and sales. Caterpillar (CAT) raised its full-year sales growth outlook as Q1 results exceeded consensus. Its shares soared 9.9%, the Dow's leader.Meta Platforms' (META) shares sank 8.6%, among the worst performers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company overnight raised its forecast for 2026 capital expenditures, overshadowing its Q1 earnings and revenue beat.Microsoft (MSFT) said Wednesday that it expects capital expenditures of $190 billion for the 2026 calendar year, including roughly $25 billion from higher component pricing. Shares were down 3.9%, among the steepest decliners on the Nasdaq and the Dow.In economic news, gross domestic product rose by 2.0% annualized in Q1 following a 0.5% gain in Q4, according to an advance estimate of economic growth, slower than the 2.3% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.Non-residential investment was "very strong overall, driven by investment in information processing equipment, software, and R&D, overwhelming declines in both residential and non-residential structures," Thomas Simons, Jefferies Chief US Economist, said in a note. "The impact of AI infrastructure investment is clearly evident in the data, driving growth beyond the strength of the consumer."The personal consumption expenditures price index increased by 0.7% in March, as expected, lifting the year-over-year rate to 3.5% from 2.8%. The price index increased by 0.4% month-over-month in February. The core PCE price index increased by 0.3%, as forecast, following a 0.4% gain in February. The year-over-year rate accelerated to 3.2%, in line with expectations, from 3.0% in the previous month.Initial jobless claims fell to 189,000 in the week ended April 25 from an upwardly revised 215,000 in the previous week, compared with expectations for an increase to 212,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The four-week moving average declined by 3,500 to 207,500.In geopolitics, US President Donald Trump will hear about updated military options for Iran from Pentagon officials on Thursday, as a possible way of forcing Tehran into an agreement, CNN reported. Trump's current strategy is to inflict economic pain on Iran.Iran's new supreme leader gave a rare statement Thursday, vowing not to give up the country's nuclear or missile technologies and signaling Tehran would keep control of the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported. Iran will "guard" its "advanced technologies" like it does its own borders, Mojtaba Khamenei was cited as saying in a written statement. It will "secure the Persian Gulf region and dismantle the hostile enemy's exploitation of this waterway," he added, referring to the strait.Nevertheless, West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 1.4% to $105.41, and Brent crude futures dropped 3.4% to $114.01.Most US Treasury yields declined, with the 10-year down 3.8 basis points to 4.38%, and the two-year slumped 5.9 basis points to 3.87%.In precious metals, gold futures climbed 1.5% to $4,629.3, and silver futures jumped 3.1% to $73.81.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$CAT$GOOG$GOOGL$META$MSFT$QCOM
International

US Equity Indexes Jump as Earnings Help Trigger Broad-Based Rally

US equity indexes surged in a broad-based rally led by communication services and industrials ahead of the close on Thursday, whistling past a worsening geopolitical environment.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.8% to 49,733.1, with the S&P 500 up 1.1% to 7,216.5 and the Nasdaq Composite higher by 1% to 24,923.8. Technology was the sole decliner, but was off session lows in the final leg of trading.Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) shares jumped 7%, among the leaders on the Nasdaq, after the company overnight reported higher Q1 earnings and revenue that topped market expectations. Qualcomm's (QCOM) shares soared 14%, the top performer on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company posted better-than-expected fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue late Wednesday. Caterpillar (CAT) raised its full-year sales growth outlook as Q1 results exceeded market expectations. Its shares soared 8.7%, the Dow's leader.US President Donald Trump will hear about updated military options for Iran from Pentagon officials on Thursday, as a possible way of forcing Tehran into an agreement, CNN reported. Trump's current strategy is to inflict economic pain on Iran.Iran's new supreme leader gave a rare statement Thursday, vowing not to give up the country's nuclear or missile technologies and signaling Tehran would keep control of the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported. Iran will "guard" its "advanced technologies" like it does its own borders, Mojtaba Khamenei was cited as saying in a written statement. It will "secure the Persian Gulf region and dismantle the hostile enemy's exploitation of this waterway," he added, referring to the strait.Nevertheless, West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 1.6% to $105.22, and Brent crude futures dropped 3.4% to $114.01.In economic news, the US core personal consumption expenditures price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, rose to 3.2% year-on-year in March from 3%, meeting expectations. Core PCE climbed 0.3% month-over-month, as expected, but down from the 0.4% reported in February.Most US Treasury yields dropped, with the 10-year down 3.2 basis points to 4.38%, and the two-year slumped 5.3 basis points to 3.88%.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$CAT$GOOG$GOOGL$QCOM
Wire

Uniti's Kinetic Launches YouTube TV Bundle With Monthly Discount

Uniti's (UNIT) business unit Kinetic said Thursday it is offering eligible residential customers a $10 monthly discount for a year when they pair Alphabet's (GOOGL, GOOG) YouTube TV with its fiber internet service.Price: $11.61, Change: $+0.40, Percent Change: +3.57%

$GOOG$GOOGL$UNIT
International

US Equity Indexes Rise as Communication Services Tops Sectors Amid Iran's Retaliation Warning Shots

US equity indexes rose after midday Thursday as investors weighed mega-cap corporate earnings and a warning from Iran's new supreme leader that Tehran won't give up its nuclear stockpile.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.4% to 49,552.2, with the S&P 500 up 0.5% to 7,170.3. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.1% to 24,700.5. All sectors except technology and consumer discretionary rose. Communication services, industrials, and health care led the gainers.Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) shares jumped 7%, among the leaders on the Nasdaq, after the company overnight reported higher Q1 earnings and revenue that topped market expectations. Qualcomm's (QCOM) shares soared 14%, the top performer on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company posted better-than-expected fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue late Wednesday. Caterpillar (CAT) raised its full-year sales growth outlook as Q1 results exceeded market expectations. Its shares soared 8.7%, the Dow's leader.Meta Platforms' (META) shares sank 9%, among the worst performers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company overnight raised its forecast for 2026 capital expenditures, overshadowing its Q1 earnings and revenue beat. Microsoft (MSFT) said Wednesday that it expects capital expenditures of $190 billion for the 2026 calendar year, including roughly $25 billion from higher component pricing. Shares were down 4.6%, among the steepest decliners on the Nasdaq and the Dow.Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump will hear about updated military options for Iran from Pentagon officials on Thursday, as a possible way of forcing Tehran into an agreement, CNN reported. Trump's current strategy is to inflict economic pain on Iran.Iran's new supreme leader gave a rare statement Thursday, vowing not to give up the country's nuclear or missile technologies and signaling Tehran would keep control of the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported. Iran will "guard" its "advanced technologies" like it does its own borders, Mojtaba Khamenei was cited as saying in a written statement. It will "secure the Persian Gulf region and dismantle the hostile enemy's exploitation of this waterway," he added, referring to the strait.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 2.2% to $104.49, and Brent crude futures dropped 3.3% to $114.09.In precious metals, gold futures climbed 1.3% to $4,621.5, and silver futures jumped 2.1% to $73.07.Most US Treasury yields dropped, with the 10-year down 1.8 basis points to 4.4% and the two-year slumped 4.3 basis points to 3.89%.In economic news, the personal consumption expenditures price index increased by 0.7% in March, as expected, lifting the year-over-year rate to 3.5% from 2.8%. The price index increased by 0.4% month-over-month in February. The core PCE price index increased by 0.3%, as expected, following a 0.4% gain in February. The year-over-year rate accelerated to 3.2% from 3.0% in the previous month.US economic growth, measured by gross domestic product, rose by 2.0% in Q1 after a 0.5% gain in Q4, slower than a 2.3% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.US initial jobless claims fell to 189,000 in the week ended April 25 from an upwardly revised 215,000 in the previous week, compared with expectations for an increase to 212,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The four-week moving average declined by 3,500 to 207,500.

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Wire

Alphabet's Q1 Highlights Search, Cloud Strength While Costs Climb, UBS Says

Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) Q1 search and cloud results point to a stronger revenue contribution from generative AI, while rising investment costs and valuation concerns are shifting attention to margins, UBS Securities said Thursday in a report.UBS raised ad-revenue estimates by about 1% for 2027 and 2% for 2028 and increased cloud revenue projections by 23% for 2027 and 7% for 2028. As growth expectations reset, the focus is turning to costs, with Google expecting 2027 to be another heavy investment year, the report said."It may take several quarters for the right level of 2027 capital expenditure to be added to estimates as Google does not generally give outer-year guidance, and that leaves potential for earnings per share print risks going forward," the report said. Given Google's elevated valuation, better risk-reward opportunities are seen in other internet megacap names, UBS said.The firm raised GAAP diluted earnings-per-share estimates to $3.07 from $3 for Q2, to $3.07 from $3.06 for Q3, to $14.42 from $12.05 for 2026, to $15.78 from $13.96 for 2027, and to $16.70 from $16.15 for 2028.UBS boosted its price target on Alphabet stock to $410 from $375 and maintained its neutral rating.Price: $376.19, Change: $+28.88, Percent Change: +8.32%

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International

US Equity Indexes Mixed Following Big-Tech Earnings, Iran's Retaliatory Warning

US equity indexes traded mixed at midday Thursday as investors weighed mega-cap corporate earnings and a warning shot from Iran's new supreme leader amid declining crude oil prices after midday Thursday.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.5% to 49,591.6, with the S&P 500 up 0.5% to 7,169.1. The Nasdaq Composite was slightly down at 24,673.1. All sectors except technology and consumer discretionary rose. Industrials, health and communication services led the gainers.Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) shares jumped 7%, among the leaders on the Nasdaq, after the company overnight reported higher Q1 earnings and revenue that topped market expectations. Meta Platforms' (META) shares sank 9%, among the worst performers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company overnight raised its forecast for 2026 capital expenditures, overshadowing its Q1 earnings and revenue beat.Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump will hear about updated military options for Iran from Pentagon officials Thursday, as a possible way of forcing Tehran into an agreement, CNN reported. Trump's current strategy is to inflict economic pain on Iran.Iran's new supreme leader gave a rare statement Thursday, vowing not to give up the country's nuclear or missile technologies and signaling Tehran would keep control of the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported.In economic news, the core personal consumption expenditures price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, rose to 3.2% year-on-year in March from 3%, meeting expectations. It climbed 0.3% month-over-month, down from the 0.4% reported in February.

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Wire

Top Midday Stories: Tech Giants' Earnings Top Estimates, Reactions Mixed; Eli Lilly Lifts Outlook After Estimate-Beating Q1 Earnings

All three major US stock indexes were up in late-morning trading Thursday, as investors digest a slew of earnings reports from the giant tech companies as well as the Federal Reserve's decision Wednesday to leave interest rates unchanged.In company news, Meta Platforms (META) reported Q1 earnings late Wednesday of $10.44 per diluted share, up from $6.43 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus analyst estimate of $6.67. Meta Q1 revenue was $56.31 billion, up from $42.31 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $55.56 billion. For Q2, Meta said it expects revenue of $58 billion to $61 billion, compared to the FactSet consensus of $59.48 billion. Full-year 2026 capital expenditures are expected to be between $125 billion and $145 billion, up from the prior outlook of $115 billion to $135 billion, Chief Financial Officer Susan Li said on a call with analysts. The daily active people average for March was 3.56 billion, up 4% year over year but down slightly quarter over year due to internet disruptions in Iran and WhatsApp restrictions in Russia, the company said. After the earnings report, Meta commenced a US investment-grade bond sale in as many as six parts through which it is looking to raise up to $25 billion. Meta shares were down 9.5% around midday.Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) reported Q1 earnings late Wednesday of $5.11 per diluted share, up from $2.81 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus estimate of $2.63. Alphabet Q1 revenue was $109.9 billion, up from $90.2 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $106.96 billion. The tech giant raised it quarterly cash dividend to $0.22 per share from $0.21 per share, payable June 15 to shareholders of record as of June 8. Alphabet's Class C and Class A shares were up 7.2% and 7.3%, respectively.Amazon (AMZN) reported Q1 earnings late Wednesday of $2.78 per diluted share, up from $1.59 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $1.63. Amazon Q1 revenue was $181.52 billion, up from $155.67 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $177.28 billion. For Q2, the company said it expects revenue of $194 billion to $199 billion, above the FactSet consensus of $188.96 billion. Amazon shares were down 1.2%.Microsoft (MSFT) reported fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings late Wednesday of $4.27 per diluted share, up from $3.54 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $4.05. Fiscal Q3 revenue was $82.89 billion, up from $70.07 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $81.40 billion. Microsoft shares were down 4.5%.Eli Lilly (LLY) reported Q1 non-GAAP earnings Thursday of $8.55 per diluted share, up from $3.34 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $6.97. Lilly Q1 revenue was $19.80 billion, up from $12.73 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $17.82 billion. For full-year 2026, the company said it expects adjusted EPS of $35.50 to $37.00, up from its previous guidance of $33.50 to $35.00 and above the FactSet consensus of $34.51. Full-year revenue is expected to be between $82 billion and $85 billion, up from its previous outlook of $80 billion to $83 billion and compared to the FactSet consensus of $82.07 billion. Eli Lilly shares were up 8.1%.Qualcomm (QCOM) reported fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings late Wednesday of $2.65 per diluted share, down from $2.85 a year earlier but above the FactSet consensus of $2.56. Fiscal Q2 revenue was $10.60 billion, down from $10.97 billion a year ago but above the FactSet consensus of $10.69 billion. For fiscal Q3, the company said it expects adjusted EPS of $2.10 to $2.30, below the FactSet consensus of $2.42. Fiscal Q3 revenue is expected to be between $9.20 billion to $10 billion, below the FactSet consensus of $10.19 billion. CFO Akash Palkhiwala said on the company's earnings call that the company expects shipments to Chinese Android customers to recover after inventory corrections. Qualcomm also said it has secured a "multi-generation engagement" with a leading hyperscaler, with initial shipments expected to begin later this year. Qualcomm shares were up 18.0%.Caterpillar (CAT) reported Q1 adjusted profit Thursday of $5.54 per share, up from $4.25 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $4.65. Total Q1 sales and revenue were $17.42 billion, up from $14.25 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $16.53 billion. For full-year 2026, the company said it expects low double-digit sales and revenue growth, higher year-over-year free cash flow in its primary operating segment of machinery, power and energy, and adjusted operating profit margin near the bottom of the target range. Caterpillar shares were up 8.6%.Mastercard (MA) reported Q1 adjusted earnings Thursday of $4.60 per diluted share, up from $3.73 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $4.41. Net Q1 revenue was $8.40 billion, up from $7.25 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $8.26 billion. Mastercard shares were down 3.6%.Stellantis (STLA) reported Q1 adjusted earnings Thursday of 40.21 per diluted share, upf rom $0.04 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $0.19. Net Q1 revenue was $38.13 billion, up from $25.81 billion ay ear ago but below the FactSet consensus from four analysts of $44.95 billion. For full-year 2026, the company said it expects mid-single-digit net revenue growth. Stellantis shares were down 4.9%.Price: $606.15, Change: $-62.97, Percent Change: -9.41%

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Wire

Alphabet Seen Delivering Strong AI Driven Growth and Margins, BofA Says

Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) reported a strong Q1, with upside in Search and Cloud pointing to artificial intelligence driven growth and higher margins, BofA Securities said in a Thursday note.BofA said Q1 net revenue of $94.7 billion and EPS of $5.11 beat street estimates, while search revenue rose 19% year over year and cloud revenue was 63% higher.Cloud backlog grew 90% quarter over quarter to $462 billion, with about 50% expected to be recognized over the next 24 months, the firm said.BofA raised its 2026 revenue estimate to $424.12 billion from $407.92 billion and its 2027 revenue estimate to $521.99 billion from $474.86 billion.The firm also raised its 2026 EPS estimate to $14.43 from $11.45 and said the growing mix of recurring and higher durability cloud revenue supports a higher valuation multiple.BofA reiterated its buy rating on Alphabet and raised its price objective to $430 from $370.Price: $369.78, Change: $+22.47, Percent Change: +6.47%

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Wire

Oppenheimer Adjusts Price Target on Alphabet to $425 From $360, Maintains Outperform Rating

Alphabet (GOOG) has an average rating of buy and mean price target of $408.49, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://finwires.com/en/contact)Price: $365.22, Change: $+17.91, Percent Change: +5.16%

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Wire

Roth Capital Partners Adjusts Price Target on Alphabet to $435 From $395, Maintains Buy Rating

Alphabet (GOOGL) has an average rating of buy and mean price target of $407.88, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://finwires.com/en/contact)Price: $368.64, Change: $+18.70, Percent Change: +5.34%

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Wire

BofA Securities Adjusts Price Target on Alphabet to $430 From $370, Maintains Buy Rating

Alphabet (GOOGL) has an average rating of buy and mean price target of $407.88, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://finwires.com/en/contact)Price: $369.35, Change: $+19.41, Percent Change: +5.55%

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