$SHOP.TO

TSX Falls 185 Points at Midday

The Toronto Stock Exchange is down 185 points at midday with most sectors in the red.The biggest decliners are the technology and materials sectors, both down 2.8%, while energy and utilities, up 1.9% and 0.9%, are the best performers. Shopify (SHOP.TO) which late on Tuesday said t it is upping its share buyback program by US$3 billion, is down 2.5%.On the economics front, home sales jumped in Canada's largest real estate market last month, BNN noted. Sales in Toronto rose by the most in 10 months as lower prices began to lure back buyers. Sales rose by 10% in May from April, the biggest month-to-month increase since last July. But the seasonally adjusted benchmark price of a home dipped 0.2% from the previous month. Housing markets across Canada have been slumping, with prices falling 20% on average since 2022, it also noted.Statistics Canada reported that labor productivity fell 0.5% in the first quarter, led by goods-producing sectors (-1.7%). Services edged up 0.3%. Hours worked rose 0.4% even as output contracted, pushing unit labour costs +1.4% (the fourth straight quarterly increase), the agency said.In stocks, Canadian telecom stocks under CIBC coverage returned an average of 8% in May, outperforming the TSX (+2%). Quebecor (QBR-B.TO) led the group, returning 17% in May after reporting its second consecutive quarter of ARPU growth, with wireless service revenue growth of 9% vs. 22 bps growth at the Big 3 on average. The remaining telecom companies generated low- to high-single-digit returns as the group exited Q1 earnings, CIBC said.

Shopify Board Approves Expanding Share Repurchase Program to US$5 Billion

Shopify (SHOP.TO, SHOP) rose 1.1$ in after-hours Nasdaq trading after the company on Tuesday said its board approved an additional US$3 billion share buyback authorization, increasing the company's total repurchase program to US$5 billion.As of June 1, Shopify had already repurchased about US$1.45 billion worth of shares under its existing authorization, according to the statement."Consistent operating cash flow, a balance sheet built for the long-term, and strong results quarter after quarter - these give us the ability to prioritize building products that drive merchant success while also returning capital to shareholders, especially during periods of market volatility, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Hoffmeister said.The company said it will continue buying back shares through pre-arranged trading programs and may make purchases in the open market or through private transactions. Shopify added that the program does not require it to repurchase a specific number of shares and can be changed, suspended, or ended at any time.The company's shares were last seen up US$1.30 to US$117.01 after hours. They closed down C$9.72 to C$161.95 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

TSX Closer: Index Down In All But 1 of the Last 8 Sessions; Morningstar Cites 10 Top-Performing Dividend Stocks

The Toronto Stock Exchange has closed lower in all but one of the last eight sessions, with the latest losses on this Tuesday coming as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US-Iran ceasefire "is not over" despite attacks in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday.The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed down 71.96 points, or 0.2%, at 33.566.91, even as most sectors were higher, led by Health Care, up 2.5%, followed By Base Metals, up 2%, and Energy, up 1.4%. Information Technology was down near 4.2% and the Battery Metals Index was down 2.6%.Among individual stocks, BNN Bloomberg TV cited Ero Copper, up more than 5% today and up just short of 100% over one year. The company reported first-quarter results earlier Tuesday. BNN also cited Parex Resources (PXT.TO), up near 5% as Frontera (FEC.TO) obtained a final order approving their plan of arrangement.On the negative side, BNN cited Shopify (SHOP.TO), down more than 15% after its Q1 results, and Keyera (KEY.TO), which lost more than 7% as the Competition Bureau moved to block its $5.15-billion acquisition of Plains All American Pipelines Canadian natural-gas liquids business.Still on individual stocks, Morningstar Canada said the top performing dividend payers in April included engineering and construction company Aecon (ARE.TO), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM.TO), and asset management firm IGM Financial (IGM.TO). Morningstar noted dividend-paying stocks that "combine healthy balance sheets with hefty yields" can provide investors with "steady incomes, cushion against market downturns, and grow investments at a healthy clip".A screening of the Morningstar Canada Index, which measures the performance of Canada's broad regional markets, targeting the top 97% of stocks by market capitalization, for companies with a forward dividend yield of at least 1.5%, excluding real estate investment trusts, showed the best performing Canadian dividend stocks last month. This included the aforementioned Aecon, CIBC and IGM. The list also included National Bank of Canada (NA.TO), TD Bank Group (TD.TO), Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services (IAG.TO), Power Corporation of Canada (POW.TO), TMX Group (X.TO), Sun Life Financial (SLF.TO) and Superior Plus (SPB.TO).Of commodities, gold traded higher by midafternoon, rising off a five-week low as treasury yields weakened. Gold for June delivery was up US$35.60 to US$4,568.90 per ounce.But West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 3.9% with the ceasefire between the United States and Iran seen holding, calming Monday's gains as violence in the Persian Gulf eased. WTI crude oil for June delivery closed down US$4.15 to settle at US$102.27 per barrel, after rising 4.4% on Monday, while July Brent oil was down US$4.24 to US$110.20.

TSX Edges up 16 Points at Midday With Most Sectors Higher, Info Tech Falls

The Toronto Stock Exchange is up 15 points at midday with most sectors higher.The best performers are miners and healthcare, both up 2%, followed by energy, up 1.3%.Offsetting gains is info tech, which is down 3.9%. Shopify (SHOP.TO) which reported its first-quarter earnings this morning, is down 12.5% to $151.60, with 2.4 million shares being traded. The company's second-quarter profit outlook missed expectations as it projected operating expenses of between 35% and 36% of revenue.In other news, focus was on the release of Canadian trade data for March, which CIBC described as "surging and glittering". The bank noted a $1.8 billion goods trade surplus compared with a $5.1 billion deficit in the prior month and consensus expectations for a $2.5 billion shortfall. Total exports surged by 8.5%, driven almost exclusively by metals and energy. Excluding those two areas, exports were up by a much more modest 1.1%. Auto exports rebounded further from January's low (+4.5%) but remained roughly 20% down on a year-over-year basis. Adding in services trade, which was fairly balanced in March, Canada's total trade balance with the world moved from a deficit of $5.0 billion in February to a $1.7 billion surplus.CIBC said: "While a trade surplus in March was unexpected, it was mainly driven by price fluctuations rather than any signs that real economic activity was stronger than anticipated. Combined with signs last week that higher gasoline prices may already be having a negative impact on consumer spending, we continue to expect only modest GDP growth this year and little evidence that slack within the economy is being absorbed. That should see the Bank of Canada look through a near-term spike in headline inflation, keeping interest rates on hold this year."

Shopify Q1 Net Loss Narrows as Revenue Advances

Shopify's (SHOP.TO), down 5.5% in U.S. pre-market trade, Tuesday reported a narrower first quarter net loss as revenue increased.Net loss narrowed to US$581 million, or US$0.45 per share, from US$682 million, or US$0.53 per share, in the prior year period.Adjusted net income, which excludes the impact of equity investments, rose to US$360 million, from US$226 million.Revenue jumped 34% to US$3.17 billion, from US$2.36 billion, narrowly beating the US$3.1 billion forecast by analysts polled by FactSet.Gross merchandise volume (GMV) which represents the total dollar value of orders facilitated through the Shopify platform including certain apps and channels, reached slightly above US$1 billion, a statement added.For the June quarter, Shopify is guiding for revenue to grow at a high-twenties percentage rate and for gross profit dollars to grow at a mid-twenties percentage rate."Q1 delivered broad-based growth across geographies, merchant sizes, and channels, with over $100 billion of GMV in the first quarter alone," said chief financial officer Jeff Hoffmeister,. "That is the platform compounding. The durability of this model allows us to invest strategically in growth, both in the merchant-facing tools that drive commerce innovation and in the internal capabilities that let us build and ship faster. "Shopify shares were last seen down US$6.45, to US$121.10, in New York trade.

Shopify Highlights Merchants Cleared US$100 Billion in Q1 GMV

Shopify Q1 Revenue US3,170M

RBC Provides its Canadian Technology Q1/CY26 Preview

RBC Capital Markets provided a first-quarter earnings preview for stocks in its Canadian Technology coverage universe on Friday.The S&P/TSX Info-Tech sub-sector had its "worst start to the year" since 2022, due to the continued downward re-rating of software stocks on concerns regarding AI disruption, noted RBC.While RBC expects Q1 results to be "largely in line" with consensus and believes the "magnitude of the pullback in software valuations is an overreaction," it believes sentiment is unlikely to materially change in the short term.Even though RBC anticipates "slightly improved organic growth" for the average stock in its coverage this quarter, the market appears "risk-averse and may largely ignore positive surprises and disproportionately penalize negative surprises," in light of the market sensitivity regarding AI disruption and uncertainty regarding the macro environment, said RBC.Among its covered stocks, RBC believes the "best-positioned stocks" for calendar Q1 results are Celestica (CLS.TO), Shopify (SHOP.TO), Constellation Software (CSU.TO), and Kinaxis (KXS.TO).RBC believes Celestica will report Q1 earnings above consensus and increase FY26 guidance, given hyperscaler capex continues to increase, along with strong network switch and AI server demand, against Celestica's historically conservative outlook, added RBC."Given the strong 36% YTD rally in Celestica's shares, Q1 results may not be a catalyst for the stock," said RBC. "Even so, we believe Celestica's strong growth momentum, ongoing margin expansion, and mix shift to more structurally attractive segments of the market are likely to help sustain Celestica's valuation to remain above peers and toward the high end of its historical range."For Shopify, RBC expects "solid" Q1 results and Q2 guidance slightly above consensus estimates.U.S. e-commerce spending strengthened through Q1, noted RBC which it believes implies revenue growth accelerates sequentially, with Q1 revenue and adj. EPS likely slightly above consensus."While the valuation of Shopify's shares has re-rated down with the YTD pullback in software stocks, Shopify's fundamentals remain solid, in our view, and we expect strong growth to drive shareholder returns over the long term," said RBC.RBC expects Constellation's shares to modestly rally following Q1 results."With the stock trading near multi-year valuation lows, we see investor sentiment improving, given Q1 slightly ahead of consensus, TTM free cashflow up 25%, and annualized Q1 capital deployed on acquisitions likely tracking to a new record," said RBC. "We see Constellation's valuation as compelling, compared to our forecast for a 17% adj. EBITDA CAGR over the next 3 years."RBC believes Kinaxis's shares may "slightly rally" following Q1 results. It expects Kinaxis to report "solid" Q1 results, slightly above consensus, with continued growth re-acceleration and likely healthy bookings."With Kinaxis seeing reaccelerating growth, but trading at discounted valuation levels, we see compelling risk-reward on the shares," added RBC. "Moreover, ramping share buybacks may provide a floor for the stock."Price: $565.60, Change: $+28.12, Percent Change: +5.23%

RBC Keeps Shopify's Outperform Rating, US$170 Price Target, Ahead of Q1 Results

RBC Capital Markets on Wednesday maintained its outperform rating on the shares of Shopify (SHOP.TO, SHOP) and its US$170 price target ahead of the company's first-quarter results.RBC believes that Shopify's first-quarter results and second-quarter guidance may exceed consensus, as data from several third-party sources suggest the company's continued growth momentum and market share gains in the first quarter.While the valuation of Shopify's shares has re-rated down with the pullback in software stocks, RBC said Shopify's fundamentals remain solid.RBC expects Shopify's strong growth to drive shareholder returns over the long term.Price: $180.12, Change: $+0.93, Percent Change: +0.52%

CIBC Provides Q1 Preview for Shopify; Says Strong Quarter And 2026 Outlook Expected

CIBC Capital Markets reiterated its outperformer rating and its US$185 price target on the shares of Shopify (SHOP.TO, SHOP), as it provided first quarter preview for the company.Shopify reports Q1 results on May 5 followed by a conference call, said CIBC.CIBC expects SHOP to meet or beat Q1 consensus and provide constructive Q2 guidance, supported by strength in payments, new merchant adds, and Europe."Our alt data reinforces this view and suggests Q1 momentum is extending into early Q2: Plus merchants we track saw web-traffic growth accelerate to ~25% Y/Y in April (vs. 20% in Q1 and ~17% last quarter; through Apr 11)," said CIBC.It added that this supports upside to GMV and positions SHOP to exceed revenue growth and FCF margin expectations."Our outlook assumes faster Merchant Solutions growth (offsetting slower Subscription Solutions), supported by CIBC alt-data trends for Plus merchants, EMEA momentum, enterprise and retail POS adoption, and AI integrations," added CIBC. "Key offsets include mix-driven gross margin pressure (Payments) and higher opex from reinvestment in R&D and S&M; we also assume a higher tax rate in Q1 that normalizes later in 2026."It noted that, since March 2025, SHOP has beaten consensus by ~3% on revenue and ~4% on FCF, on average. CIBC said that a key risk remains execution against FCF margin guidance in the low-to-mid-teens, with FactSet aligned currently implying it will be below Q1/25."Our price target is (US)$185, based on 12x our 2027E sales forecast plus cash and its equity stake in Flexport," added CIBC. "SHOP's Rule of X (2x growth + FCF margin) continues to screen near the top of comparable constituents in the BVP NASDAQ Emerging Cloud Index, supporting a premium multiple."Price: $176.40, Change: $+1.21, Percent Change: +0.69%