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Wire

Update: BofA Securities Cuts Price Target on Walmart to $144 From $150, Maintains Buy Rating

(Updated with BofA's commentary).BofA Securities lowered its price target on Walmart (WMT) to $144 from $150, while defending the stock on the pullback following its fiscal Q1 results.Walmart's share gains are expected to accelerate with a price-conscious consumer and drive a return to a beat/raise cycle assuming the freight environment doesn't worsen, analyst Christopher Nardone wrote in a Thursday note.There is continued strength expected in e-commerce and alternative revenue streams, and expects membership to accelerate given focus on value, improving delivery speeds, and gas saving, Nardone said.Walmart has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $140.37, 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://www..com/contact-us)Price: $119.53, Change: $-1.82, Percent Change: -1.50%

$WMT
Wire

BofA Securities Cuts Price Target on Walmart to $144 From $150, Maintains Buy Rating

Walmart (WMT) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $140.37, 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://www..com/contact-us)Price: $119.99, Change: $-1.36, Percent Change: -1.12%

$WMT
Dow Hits Record High Despite Nvidia's Decline; Oil Prices Fall
US Markets

Dow Hits Record High Despite Nvidia's Decline; Oil Prices Fall

The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit an all-time peak on Thursday even as Nvidia's (NVDA) shares declined, while oil prices headed for their third straight day of decline.The Dow rose 0.6% to settle at 50,285.7, logging a record closing high and marking the second consecutive day of gains. The S&P 500 added 0.2% to 7,445.7, while the Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.1% to 26,293.1. Most sectors ended in the green, led by utilities, while consumer staples saw the biggest drop.Shares of Nvidia fell 1.8%, the third-worst performer on the Dow.The chipmaking giant late Wednesday reported fiscal first-quarter revenue above Wall Street's estimates as data center sales outperformed expectations amid an artificial intelligence boom.For the current quarter, Nvidia said it anticipates revenue of $91 billion, plus or minus 2%. The consensus indicated $87.29 billion."Nvidia has become so important that good is not enough," Saxo Bank said in a report. "Investors want proof that the cycle extends into 2027 and beyond, that margins can stay high, and that customers are not simply ordering ahead before the next chip transition."West Texas Intermediate crude oil was last down 0.3% at $97.82 a barrel and Brent fell 0.5% to $104.55, both on course for their third consecutive decline."The oil market remains overly sensitive to Iran-related headlines, with participants continuing to pin considerable hope on reports that talks between the US and Iran are progressing," ING Bank said in a report."We've been in this situation multiple times before, which ultimately led to disappointment," ING said. "Yet the market is still reactive, likely reflecting the significance of ongoing supply disruptions."Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued a directive that the country's uranium should remain within the country, Reuters reported Thursday, citing two senior Iranian sources.President Donald Trump reportedly said Thursday that the US will eventually recover Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Retrieving the uranium is a key objective of Trump's war on Iran.Trump told reporters on Wednesday that negotiations with Iran had reached the final stages, though he warned of further attacks if Tehran backed out, according to several media outlets.Iran is discussing setting up a permanent toll system with Oman to formalize its control of the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg News reported Thursday.Treasury yields were mixed, with the two-year rate last up 1.1 basis points at 4.08% and the 10-year yield rate falling 2.3 basis points to 4.57%.Switching to monetary policy, Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin said lifting interest rates may not be an appropriate response to curb price pressures."Raising rates to weaken demand doesn't address the root cause behind supply shock-driven inflation. It doesn't free up trade routes, reopen factories or melt ice," he said in prepared remarks for an event in North Carolina. "That said, I've been asking myself whether we've entered an era where supply shocks will become more frequent.""With inflation above our 2% target for over five years now, it's worth asking whether the cumulative impact of so many waves risks loosening the anchor," Barkin said.At their April policy meeting, Federal Reserve officials flagged the possibility of higher interest rates if the Middle East conflict drags on and keeps inflation above the 2% goal, minutes from the meeting showed on Wednesday.In other corporate news, Ralph Lauren (RL) jumped nearly 14%, the top gainer on the S&P 500. The luxury apparel maker outlined a full-year revenue guidance that implied a slowdown annually, while the company reported better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results.Spotify (SPOT) advanced 13% after the audio-streaming platform outlined its long-term financial targets and signed licensing agreements with Universal Music Group for fan-made remixes.Walmart (WMT) shares slumped 7.3%, the steepest decline on the Dow and third-biggest on the S&P 500. The retail giant issued a fiscal second-quarter earnings outlook below market estimates, while it reported better-than-expected revenue in the previous three-month period.Intuit's (INTU) stock plunged 20%, the worst performer on the S&P 500. The financial technology platform late Wednesday reported better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results and disclosed plans to reduce its workforce by about 17%.Deere's (DE) fiscal second-quarter results exceeded analysts' expectations, while the company on Thursday affirmed its soft full-year earnings outlook amid continued pressure in global agricultural markets. The stock lost 5.2%, among the worst performers on the S&P 500.Gold was last up 0.2% at $4,544.70 per troy ounce, while silver rose 1.1% to $77.01 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$DE$INTU$NVDA$RL$SPOT$WMT
Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Mixed Late Afternoon

Consumer stocks were mixed late Thursday afternoon, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) decreasing 1% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) adding 0.7%.In corporate news, Stellantis (STLA) is targeting revenue of 190 billion euros ($220.8 billion) by 2030, versus 154 billion euros in 2025. The shares eased 0.1%.Walmart (WMT) issued a fiscal Q2 earnings outlook below market estimates after reporting better-than-expected revenue in Q1. The shares fell 6.8%.Ralph Lauren (RL) outlined full-year revenue guidance implying a slowdown after reporting better-than-expected fiscal Q4 results. The shares jumped 14%.Advance Auto Parts (AAP) cautioned that demand for auto parts and vehicle maintenance may fluctuate amid high gasoline prices after Q1 results came in stronger than expected. The shares rose 14%.

$AAP$RL$STLA$WMT
Wire

Top Midday Decliners

Intuit (INTU) posted a fiscal Q3 beat and raised its fiscal 2026 guidance, but weaker TurboTax trends and a 17% workforce reduction are likely to weigh on the stock, Oppenheimer said in a note Thursday.Shares slumped 20% as intraday trading volume advanced to over 17.6 million from a daily average of about 3.62 million.Walmart (WMT) released fiscal Q2 earnings outlook below market estimates on Thursday, taking the shine off the retail giant's better-than-expected revenue in the previous three-month period.Shares dropped 6.6%, with intraday trading volume rising to over 37.8 million from a daily average of about 18.6 million.Deere's (DE) fiscal Q2 results exceeded Wall Street's expectations, and the firm reaffirmed its soft full-year earnings outlook amid continued pressure in global agricultural markets.Shares dropped 4.5% as intraday trading volume rose to over 2.31 million versus a daily average of about 1.23 million.Price: $308.14, Change: $-75.80, Percent Change: -19.74%

$DE$INTU$WMT
Equity Markets Rise Intraday, Oil Falls as Traders Monitor Middle East Developments
US Markets

Equity Markets Rise Intraday, Oil Falls as Traders Monitor Middle East Developments

US equity markets edged higher intraday and oil prices declined as traders tracked the latest on the Iran war, while technology bellwether Nvidia's (NVDA) shares slipped despite reporting stronger-than-expected first-quarter revenue.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.5% at 50,256.6 after midday Thursday, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.3% to 26,345. The S&P 500 added 0.3% to 7,453.4. Most sectors were in the green, led by consumer discretionary, while consumer staples saw the biggest drop.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 2.4% at $95.92 a barrel intraday, while Brent fell 2.5% to $102.39.Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued a directive that the country's uranium should remain within the country, Reuters reported Thursday, citing two senior Iranian sources.President Donald Trump reportedly said Thursday that the US will eventually recover Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Retrieving the uranium is a key objective of Trump's war on Iran.Trump told reporters on Wednesday that negotiations with Iran had reached the final stages, though he warned of further attacks if Tehran backed out, according to several media outlets.Iran is discussing setting up a permanent toll system with Oman to formalize its control of the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg News reported Thursday.Treasury yields were mixed intraday, with the two-year rate up 2.4 basis points at 4.09% and the 10-year yield rate little changed at 4.59%.Shares of Nvidia (NVDA) fell 1.2% intraday, among the worst performers on the Dow.The chipmaking giant late Wednesday reported fiscal first-quarter revenue above Wall Street's estimates as data center sales outperformed expectations amid an artificial intelligence boom.For the current quarter, Nvidia said it anticipates revenue of $91 billion, plus or minus 2%. The consensus indicated $87.29 billion."Nvidia has become so important that good is not enough," Saxo Bank said in a report. "Investors want proof that the cycle extends into 2027 and beyond, that margins can stay high, and that customers are not simply ordering ahead before the next chip transition."Walmart (WMT) shares were down 6.9%, the steepest decline on the Dow and second-biggest on the S&P 500. The retail giant issued a fiscal second-quarter earnings outlook below market estimates, while it reported better-than-expected revenue in the previous three-month period.Intuit's (INTU) stock plunged 20% intraday, the worst performer on the S&P 500. The financial technology platform late Wednesday reported better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results and disclosed plans to reduce its workforce by about 17%.Deere's (DE) fiscal second-quarter results exceeded analysts' expectations, while the company on Thursday affirmed its soft full-year earnings outlook amid continued pressure in global agricultural markets. The stock was 4.6% lower intraday, among the worst performers on the S&P 500.Lifting interest rates may not be an appropriate response from the Federal Reserve to curb price pressures, Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin said in prepared remarks for an event in North Carolina."Raising rates to weaken demand doesn't address the root cause behind supply shock-driven inflation. It doesn't free up trade routes, reopen factories or melt ice," he said. "That said, I've been asking myself whether we've entered an era where supply shocks will become more frequent.""With inflation above our 2% target for over five years now, it's worth asking whether the cumulative impact of so many waves risks loosening the anchor."Fed officials at their April policy meeting flagged the possibility of higher interest rates if the Middle East conflict drags on and keeps inflation above the 2% goal, minutes from the meeting showed on Wednesday.Ross Stores (ROST), Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO), and Workday (WDAY) are among companies scheduled to release their earnings after the markets close.Gold was up 0.2% at $4,545.90 per troy ounce, while silver rose 1.1% to $77.05 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$DE$INTU$NVDA$ROST$TTWO$WDAY$WMT
Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Mixed in Afternoon Trading

Consumer stocks were mixed Thursday afternoon, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) falling 1.2% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) increasing 1%.In corporate news, Walmart (WMT) issued a fiscal Q2 earnings outlook below market estimates on Thursday, while the retail giant reported better-than-expected revenue in the previous three-month period. Its shares fell 6.9%.Ralph Lauren (RL) outlined a full-year revenue guidance that implied a slowdown annually, while the luxury apparel maker reported better-than-expected fiscal Q4 results. Its shares jumped past 15%.Advance Auto Parts (AAP) cautioned that demand for auto parts and vehicle maintenance could fluctuate amid high gasoline prices, while the company's Q1 results came in stronger than expected. Advance Auto shares rose more than 18%.

$AAP$RL$WMT
Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer

Consumer stocks were mixed Thursday afternoon, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) falling 1.3% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) increasing 0.2%.In corporate news, Walmart (WMT) issued a fiscal Q2 earnings outlook below market estimates on Thursday, while the retail giant reported better-than-expected revenue in the previous three-month period. Its shares fell past 6%.

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Research

Research Alert: CFRA Maintains Buy Recommendation On Shares Of Walmart Inc.

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We trim our 12-month target by $3 to $143, based on ~40x our FY 28 (Jan.) EPS estimate of $3.58 (down from $3.64, but still well above the current $3.29 consensus). We lower our FY 27 EPS to $3.04 from $3.14, still ahead of the current $2.92 consensus. We view WMT's Apr-Q results as fundamentally strong, but margin pressure from higher fuel costs, which reduced operating income growth by 250 bps in the quarter, coupled with a lack of a guidance raise, is fueling the pullback in shares. In our view, the reaction is reasonable given the stock's elevated valuation (~45x NTM EPS). That said, we would be buyers on weakness, as we believe WMT's core business is accelerating, not slowing. Recent exogenous and one-off headwinds, including tariffs, unexpected insurance costs, and higher fuel expenses, have obscured underlying execution and limited the company's ability to consistently deliver 10%+ operating income growth. Despite fuel headwinds, earnings growth should accelerate in the Jul-Q and remainder of the year.

$WMT
Wire

Top Midday Stories: Supreme Leader Says Enriched Uranium Must Stay in Iran; Nvidia Q1 Earnings, Q2 Guidance Top Estimates, But Shares Fall

All three major US stock indexes were down and oil prices were up after Iran's supreme leader issued a directive ordering that Iran's near-weapons-grade uranium must stay in the country, Reuters reported, citing two senior Iranian sources.In company news, Nvidia (NVDA) reported fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings late Wednesday of $1.87 per diluted share, up from $0.78 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus analyst estimate of $1.75. Fiscal Q1 revenue was $81.6 billion, up from $44.1 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $78.9 billion. For fiscal Q2, the company said it expects revenue of $91 billion, plus or minus 2%, above the FactSet consensus of $87.23 billion. The company also said it authorized an additional $80 billion share repurchase plan, and it raised its quarterly dividend to $0.25 per share from $0.01. Nvidia shares were down 1.8% around midday.Walmart (WMT) reported fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings Thursday of $0.66 per diluted share, up from $0.61 a year earlier and equal to the FactSet consensus. Fiscal Q1 revenue was $177.75 billion, up from $165.61 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $174.84 billion. For fiscal Q2, the company said it expects adjusted EPS of $0.72 to $0.74, below the FactSet consensus of $0.75. Fiscal Q2 net sales are expected to increase by 4% to 5%, the company said. Walmart shares were down 7.4%.IBM (IBM), GlobalFoundries (GFS) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) said they are set to receive billions of dollars in US government backing as part of an effort by the Trump administration to solidify the nation's lead in quantum computing. IBM said it signed an LOI with the Commerce Department to launch Anderon, the US' first pure-play quantum chip foundry backed by $1 billion in CHIPS and Science Act funding. GlobalFoundries said it plans to build a domestic quantum manufacturing ecosystem with $375 million in proposed funding, while D-Wave said it secured a proposed $100 million award under the CHIPS and Science Act. Shares of IBM, GlobalFoundries and D-Wave were up 7.3%, 11.0% and 25.2%, respectively.SpaceX (SPCX) filed an S-1 registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission late Wednesday for an initial public offering. Separately, SpaceX entered into cloud-computing agreements to provide Amazon-backed (AMZN) Anthropic access to its server infrastructure, SpaceX said in a regulatory filing. Amazon shares were down 0.1%.Stellantis (STLA) said Thursday it's launching a 60-billion-euro ($69.7 billion), five-year plan to accelerate growth and increase profits. The plan, called FaSTLAne 2030, seeks to debut more than 60 new vehicles and 50 "significant refreshes" by 2030, the company said. Stellantis shares were down 2.3%.Intuit (INTU) reported fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings late Wednesday of $12.80 per diluted share, up from $11.65 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $12.57. Fiscal Q3 revenue was $8.56 billion, up from $7.75 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $8.54 billion. For fiscal Q4, the company said it expects adjusted EPS of $3.56 to $3.62 on revenue growth of 11% to 12%. Analysts polled by FactSet expect adjusted EPS of $3.14. For fiscal 2026, Intuit said it expects adjusted EPS of $23.80 to $23.85, up from its previous guidance of $22.98 to $23.18 and above the FactSet consensus of $23.22. Fiscal 2026 revenue is expected to be between $21.34 billion and $21.37 billion, above the FactSet consensus of $21.24 billion. The company said it expects to incur $300 million to 340 million in restructuring charges from its plan to cut its full-time workforce by 17%, primarily in fiscal Q4. Intuit shares were down 19.7%.Anthropic is in talks to rent servers powered by artificial intelligence server chips designed by Microsoft (MSFT), The Information reported Thursday, citing two people who spoke to executives involved in the discussion. Microsoft shares were down 0.3%.Price: $218.96, Change: $-4.51, Percent Change: -2.02%

$AMZN$GFS$IBM$INTU$MSFT$NVDA$QBTS$SPCX$STLA$WMT
Wire

Update: Walmart Shares Fall After Weaker-Than-Expected Outlook

(Updates headline and first paragraph with stock price movement.)Walmart (WMT) shares fell more than 6% in Thursday trading after the company reported weaker-than-expected fiscal Q2 and fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guidance.The company reported fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings of $0.66 per diluted share, up from $0.61 a year earlier.Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected $0.66.Revenue for the quarter ended April 30 was $177.75 billion, compared with $165.61 billion a year earlier.Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected $174.84 billion.The company said it expects fiscal Q2 adjusted EPS of $0.72 to $0.74. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect $0.75. Net sales for the quarter are expected to increase 4% to 5%.For fiscal 2027, Walmart reiterated its adjusted EPS guidance of $2.75 to $2.85. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect $2.92. Full fiscal year net sales are still projected to be up 3.5% to 4.5%.Price: $122.12, Change: $-8.73, Percent Change: -6.67%

$WMT
Research

Research Alert: Wmt: Strong Quarter, But Higher Fuel And Lack Of Guidance Raise Disappoints

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:Adj-EPS of $0.66 (+8% Y/Y) met the consensus, though operating income growth of 7.6% to $7.7B was pressured by $175M in higher fuel costs. Excluding fuel headwinds, operating income would have grown 10.0% with margins expanding 10 bps to 4.4%. Walmart U.S. delivered strong comp sales growth of 4.1% with transactions up 3.0%, due to mid-single digit grocery growth and standout general merchandise performance reflecting the highest share gains in five years. For Q2 FY 27 (Jan.), WMT guides adj-EPS of $0.72-$0.74 (vs. consensus $0.75) and reiterated its full-year outlook of $2.75-$2.85. E-commerce remained robust with store-fulfilled delivery up about 45% and marketplace sales up nearly 50%. Alternative revenue streams now contribute roughly one-third of consolidated operating income, with global ad revenue up 37% and membership fees rising 17%. We think the lack of a more optimistic outlook will disappoint investors, as we believed WMT would hike guidance given strong underlying momentum.

$WMT
Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Lean Lower Premarket Thursday

Consumer stocks were leaning lower premarket Thursday, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) declining 0.8% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) down 0.1%.Walmart (WMT) stock was down more than 3% even after the company reported higher fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.Kroger (KR) Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran is looking to implement substantial price cuts to keep the company competitive, Bloomberg reported, citing an interview with the CEO. Kroger shares were down more than 4% pre-bell.Birkenstock Holding (BIRK) has signed a $250 million accelerated share repurchase agreement with Goldman Sachs (GS), the company said. Birkenstock Holding shares were up more than 8% premarket.

$BIRK$GS$KR$WMT$XLP$XLY
Research

Research Alert: Wmt: Strong Quarter, But Higher Fuel And Lack Of Guidance Raise Disappoints

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:Adj-EPS of $0.66 (+8% Y/Y) met the consensus, though operating income growth of 7.6% to $7.7B was pressured by $175M in higher fuel costs. Excluding fuel headwinds, operating income would have grown 10.0% with margins expanding 10 bps to 4.4%. Walmart U.S. delivered strong comp sales growth of 4.1% with transactions up 3.0%, due to mid-single digit grocery growth and standout general merchandise performance reflecting the highest share gains in five years. For Q2 FY 26 (Jan.), WMT guides adj-EPS of $0.72-$0.74 (vs. consensus $0.75) and reiterated its full-year outlook of $2.75-$2.85. E-commerce remained robust with store-fulfilled delivery up ~45% and marketplace sales up nearly 50%. Alternative revenue streams now contribute roughly one-third of consolidated operating income, with global ad revenue up 37% and membership fees rising 17%. We think the lack of a more optimistic outlook will disappoint investors, as we believed WMT would hike guidance given strong underlying momentum.

$WMT
Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer

Consumer stocks were leaning lower premarket Thursday, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) declining by 0.7% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) down 0.2%.Walmart (WMT) stock was down more than 3% even after the company reported higher fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.

$WMT
Asia Markets

US Equity Futures Edge Lower Pre-Bell as Nvidia Stock Flat Despite Earnings Beat, Middle East Peace Talks Drag

US equity futures were edging lower pre-bell Thursday despite upbeat fiscal Q1 financial results posted by Nvidia (NVDA) and amid continued lack of solid progress in the Middle East peace talks.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.3% lower, S&P 500 futures were down 0.4%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.5% lower.In addition to surpassing analysts' expectations for fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue, Nvidia raised its quarterly dividend and announced an additional $80 billion share repurchase authorization. However, the company's stock was largely flat in premarket activity.President Donald Trump said the US was ready to resume attacks on Iran if its leadership did not agree to a peace deal, but that it could wait a few days. Iran's Supreme Leader has ordered the country's highly enriched uranium to not be sent abroad, which is one of the main US demands, according to a Reuters report citing two senior Iranian sources.Traders kept an eye on the latest round of earnings, with Walmart (WMT) posting higher fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 1.7% at $106.80 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 2.4% higher at $100.62 per barrel.US initial jobless claims fell to a level of 209,000 in the employment survey week ended May 16 from an upwardly revised 212,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a smaller decrease to 210,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET.April housing starts fell by 2.8% from the previous month to a 1.465 million annual rate, compared with expectations compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET for a 1.410 million rate after an increase to a 1.507 million pace in March.The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's monthly manufacturing index fell to minus 0.4 in May after rising to 26.7 in April, compared with expectations for a smaller decrease to a reading of 17.8 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.The May S&P Global Composite Purchasing Managers' Index, due at 9:45 am ET, is seen coming in at 53.8.Richmond Federal Reserve President Thomas Barkin is scheduled to speak on Thursday.In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 3.1% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 1% lower, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 2% lower. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 0.3%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.5% lower in Europe's early afternoon session.In equities, Shell (SHEL) stock was up 1.2% and BP (BP) shares rose 1% after the companies, along with Indonesia's PT Perusahaan Gas Negara, and PT PLN Energi Primer Indonesia, signed agreements with Japan's Inpex for liquified natural gas offtake from the Abadi LNG Project at the Masela Block in offshore Indonesia. Shares of IBM (IBM), GlobalFoundries (GFS), and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) were up after the companies said they are included among the major quantum companies set to receive billions in proposed US government backing. IBM stock was up 5.8%, GlobalFoundries shares rose 13%, and D-Wave Quantum stock was 15% higher.On the losing side, Intuit (INTU) stock was 16% lower after RBC and Northcoast Research cut their price targets for the stock. Palantir Technologies (PLTR) shares were down 1.2% following an Axios report about the company challenging Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency over its ability to bid for a contract to modernize the agency's data analytics system.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BP$GFS$IBM$INTU$NVDA$PLTR$QBTS$SHEL$WMT
Walmart Issues Weak Earnings Outlook Despite Fiscal First-Quarter Sales Beat
US Markets

Walmart Issues Weak Earnings Outlook Despite Fiscal First-Quarter Sales Beat

Walmart (WMT) issued a fiscal second-quarter earnings outlook below market estimates on Thursday, while the retail giant reported better-than-expected revenue in the previous three-month period.The company anticipates per-share adjusted earnings to be in a range of $0.72 to $0.74 for the ongoing quarter, while the current consensus on FactSet is for $0.75. The stock was down 2.2% in the most recent premarket activity.Sales are pegged to grow by 4% to 5% on a constant currency basis in the current quarter. The Street is looking for reported sales of $186.22 billion.For the quarter ended April 30, Walmart's total revenue, which includes membership and other income, improved 7.3% to $177.75 billion, topping the average analyst estimate of $174.84 billion. Adjusted EPS advanced to $0.66 from $0.61 in the prior-year period, in line with the Street's view."Our results reflect our continued focus on delivering across the enterprise," Chief Executive John Furner said in a statement. "It's a disciplined approach that's helping us grow the business and strengthen returns."US comparable sales excluding fuel inclined 4.1% buoyed by gains in transactions and average ticket, while e-commerce sales jumped 26%. Same-store sales in Sam's Club rose 3.9%, excluding fuel, amid higher transactions and unit volumes. Revenue in the company's international segment climbed 18% to $35.11 billion.For fiscal 2027, Walmart continues to project adjusted EPS to come in between $2.75 and $2.85 and sales to increase by 3.5% to 4.5% on a constant currency basis. The Street's current forecast is for non-GAAP EPS of $2.92 and reported sales of $749.05 billion.On Wednesday, Target (TGT) raised its full-year sales growth outlook on the back of higher-than-expected fiscal first-quarter results.

$WMT
Japan

US Equity Futures Fall Pre-Bell as Nvidia Stock Flat Despite Earnings Beat, Middle East Peace Talks Drag

US equity futures were falling pre-bell Thursday despite upbeat fiscal Q1 financial results posted by Nvidia (NVDA) and amid continued lack of solid progress in the Middle East peace talks.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.2% lower, S&P 500 futures were down 0.3%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.5% lower.In addition to surpassing analysts' expectations for fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue, Nvidia raised its quarterly dividend and announced an additional $80 billion share repurchase authorization. However, the company's stock was largely flat in premarket activity.President Donald Trump said the US was ready to resume attacks on Iran if its leadership did not agree to a peace agreement, but that it could wait a few days. Iran's Supreme Leader has ordered the country's highly enriched uranium to not be sent abroad, which is one of the main US demands, according to a Reuters report citing two senior Iranian sources.Traders kept an eye on the latest round of earnings, with Walmart (WMT) posting higher fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 1.7% at $106.80 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 2.2% higher at $100.45 per barrel.The weekly jobless claims bulletin, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, is expected to show 210,000 new unemployment claims for the week ended May 16, compared with 211,000 in the prior week, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Housing starts for April are expected to come in at 1.41 million.The Philadelphia Fed's regional manufacturing index for May is seen coming in at 17.8, down from 26.7 posted previously.The May S&P Global Composite Purchasing Managers' Index, due at 9:45 am ET, is seen coming in at 53.8.Richmond Federal Reserve President Thomas Barkin is scheduled to speak on Thursday.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$NVDA$WMT
Stocks Down Pre-Bell as Traders Monitor US-Iran Developments, Parse Nvidia Earnings
US Markets

Stocks Down Pre-Bell as Traders Monitor US-Iran Developments, Parse Nvidia Earnings

US equity markets were trending lower before the opening bell Thursday as traders monitor the latest developments in the US-Iran conflict and digest tech bellwether Nvidia's (NVDA) quarterly earnings.The S&P 500 fell 0.4% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.3% in premarket activity, while the Nasdaq was down 0.5%. The indexes finished the previous trading session higher, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 snapping a three-day losing streak.Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Thursday that Tehran is reviewing the latest US proposal to end the war in the Middle East, CNBC reported, citing state-run agency Nour News.President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that negotiations with Iran had reached the final stages, though he warned of further attacks if Tehran backs out, according to several media outlets. "We'll either have a deal or we're going to do some things that are a little bit nasty," Trump said, according to a Bloomberg News report. "But hopefully that won't happen."Earlier on Wednesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly said that it would retaliate beyond the Middle East if the US or Israel resumed their military attacks against the country.West Texas Intermediate crude oil slipped 0.2% to $98.01 a barrel before the open, while Brent decreased 0.6% to $104.42.Shares of Nvidia (NVDA) slipped 0.2% pre-bell after the chipmaking giant reported fiscal first-quarter revenue above Wall Street's estimates, as data center sales outperformed expectations amid an artificial intelligence boom. For the current quarter, Nvidia said it anticipates revenue of $91 billion, plus or minus 2%.Intuit's (INTU) stock dropped 14% after the financial technology platform reported better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results and disclosed plans to reduce its workforce by about 17%. Urban Outfitters (URBN) declined 1.4% after its financial results.Federal Reserve officials flagged the possibility of higher interest rates if the Middle East conflict drags on and keeps inflation above the 2% goal, minutes from the central bank's April meeting showed on Wednesday.Meeting participants generally determined that elevated inflation, combined with uncertainty around the duration and impact of the Iran war, could justify holding rates for longer than previously anticipated. However, majority of Fed officials pointed out that "some policy firming would likely become appropriate if inflation were to continue to run persistently above 2%."Treasury yields were rising before the open, with the two-year rate gaining 6.6 basis points to 4.1% and the 10-year rate adding 5.1 basis points to 4.62%.Thursday's economic calendar has the housing starts and permits report for April at 8:30 am ET, along with the weekly jobless claims bulletin and the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index for May. The S&P Global's (SPGI) flash purchasing managers' index for May is out at 9:45 am, followed by the Kansas City Fed manufacturing index for the same month at 11 am.Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin is scheduled to speak at 12:20 pm.Walmart (WMT), Deere (DE), NetEase (NTES), Williams-Sonoma (WSM), Ralph Lauren (RL), Nio (NIO) and Advance Auto Parts (AAP) report their latest financial results before the bell, among others. Ross Stores (ROST), Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO), Workday (WDAY), Zoom Communications (ZM) and Deckers Outdoor (DECK) release their earnings after the markets close.Gold was down 0.4% at $4,519 per troy ounce, while bitcoin fell 0.3% to $77,255.

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Equity Markets Mixed as Trump Aborts Plan to Attack Iran
US Markets

Equity Markets Mixed as Trump Aborts Plan to Attack Iran

US equity markets closed mixed Monday as President Donald Trump said the US was postponing a plan to attack Iran on Tuesday.The Nasdaq Composite declined 0.5% to 26,090.7, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3% to 49,686.1. The S&P 500 closed 0.1% lower at 7,403.1. Most sectors were in the green, led by energy, while technology saw the steepest decline.Trump said the US will hold off on its planned military attack against Iran that was previously scheduled for Tuesday, according to his social media post on Monday.Trump said Middle Eastern leaders, including Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, asked the US president to call off the attack amid "serious" ongoing negotiations to end the Washington-Tehran conflict.Trump, however, cautioned that the US will "go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran" if a deal is not reached.Brent crude fell 0.4% to $108.85 per barrel in Monday late-afternoon trade, while West Texas Intermediate crude was last up 0.9% at $106.34 per barrel.Trump's latest rhetoric follows reports that Iran had provided an updated proposal for a deal to end the war. The White House indicated it doesn't reflect a meaningful improvement from a previous offer, Axios reported Monday, citing a senior US official and a source briefed on the matter.The Strait of Hormuz -- the world's most important chokepoint for crude flows -- remains largely shut as tensions between the US and Iran continue, with no end in sight."Progress on US-Iran peace talks continues to be immaterial, with both parties expressing a willingness to resume overt hostilities if the talks fail," Tudor Pickering Holt Analyst Matt Portillo said in a note sent earlier in the day.US Treasury yields were little changed in Monday late-afternoon trade, with the 10-year rate at 4.59% and the two-year rate at 4.07%.Nvidia (NVDA) shares fell 1.3%, the second-worst performer on the Dow. The chipmaking giant is expected to exceed Wall Street's first-quarter estimates and guide above consensus amid positive data points, Wedbush Securities said.Nvidia is scheduled to release its latest quarterly results after the markets close Wednesday.Retail giants Walmart (WMT), Home Depot (HD), TJX (TJX), Lowe's (LOW) and Target (TGT) are also expected to report this week. Home Depot and Lowe's are likely to lower their full-year guidance as the home improvement retailers face pressure from weak consumer sentiment, Oppenheimer said in a note.NextEra Energy (NEE) and Dominion Energy (D) agreed to merge in all-stock deal to create the largest regulated electric utility in the world. Dominion shares jumped 9.4%, the second-biggest gainer on the S&P 500, while NextEra fell 4.6%.In economic news, US homebuilder confidence unexpectedly rose this month despite elevated mortgage rates, macro uncertainty and continued affordability challenges, data from the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo showed."Soft homebuilder sentiment is consistent with our view that housing starts will mostly move sideways for the next couple of quarters before starting to edge up slightly around year-end, when we expect mortgage rates to be lower as the (Federal Reserve) implements the first of two rate cuts we expect," Oxford Economics said in a note.Gold was up up 0.1% at $4,564.40 per troy ounce in Monday late-afternoon trade, while silver rose 0.3% to $77.80 per ounce.

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