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Utz Brands' Underlying Growth Remains Strong, RBC Capital Markets Says

Utz Brands' (UTZ) quarter-to-date trends appear soft but underlying growth remains solid, driven by distribution gains, innovation, and California expansion momentum, RBC Capital Markets said in a note Thursday.Management is optimistic that the company's new products will support topline growth and that the company is well-covered for most of the year on fuel, agricultural commodities, and freight, easing inflationary concerns, according to the note.Full-year guidance for the salty snacks category still assumes an approximately flat growth, which analysts said is appropriate given the noisy Q1 and consumer environment.Following the roughly in-line Q1 results and reaffirmed guidance, the brokerage said it is adjusting its 2026 estimates to reflect organic sales growth of 2.5%, EBITDA growth of 6%, and an EPS decline of 4.1%.RBC Capital Markets maintained its outperform rating on the stock, with a price target of $15.Shares of Utz Brands were down 5% in Thursday trading.Price: $7.88, Change: $-0.42, Percent Change: -5.06%

$UTZ

Oil & Energy55d ago

EMEA Oil Update: Crude Ease as Market Awaits Iran's Response to US Peace Proposal

EMEA crude futures were little changed in after-hours trading on Thursday as the market awaited Iran's response to the US peace proposal, which could ease tensions in the Middle East and restore disrupted crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz.Brent crude futures eased by 0.42% to $100.81 per barrel, while Murban oil futures were down 1.61% to $96.71/bbl."Brent crude extends its slide this morning and currently trades at $99/bl, down from yesterday's $108/bl open, and a fresh notch lower from the overnight $101-102 level," said Ole R. Hvalbye, commodities analyst at SEB Research.Iran is reportedly set to send a response through Pakistan, the mediator in the US-Iran talks, in the next two days after Tehran said it was reviewing Washington's peace proposal to end the Middle East conflict. However, Iran hasn't indicated whether it will accept the terms.The US presented Iran with a one-page memorandum of understanding that would allow for the gradual reopening of the Hormuz and the lifting of Washington's blockade on Iranian ports.Meanwhile, the Hormuz has been largely closed since the outbreak of the conflict, and at present, the strategic waterway faces a double blockade, with Iran obstructing traffic, while the US Navy blocks vessels calling at or leaving Iranian ports.On Wednesday, Trump said the US would lift its blockade "assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption," adding that "if they don't agree, the bombing starts.""Iran is expected to respond in the coming days, with nuclear talks likely to follow later. The catch is that talks are not a deal, and oil has already rebounded this morning as investors reassess how firm the progress really is," Saxo Bank strategists said in a note Thursday.Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department sanctioned Iraq's deputy oil minister on Thursday, accusing him of involvement in a scheme to help Iran sell its oil in violation of an international embargo by blending it with Iraqi crude.Deputy Minister of Oil Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly authorized trucking several million dollars' worth of Iraqi oil a day to a smuggler who combined it with Iranian crude, Treasury said.Maarij allegedly helped falsify documents, enabling the blended product to be smuggled to market disguised as purely Iraqi oil, the department added.On the supply front, US crude inventories continue to tighten as global markets increasingly rely on US barrels to offset disrupted Middle Eastern supply. The US Energy Information Administration said that crude stockpiles decreased by 2.3 million barrels to 457.2 mmbbls.EIA data showed US commercial crude inventories fell by 2.3 million barrels last week, smaller than the 8.1 million-barrel draw reported by the API and slightly below market expectations of a 2.4 million-barrel decline, ING strategists said in a Thursday note.

Sector Update: Financial Stocks Fall Thursday Afternoon

Financial stocks fell in Thursday afternoon trading with the NYSE Financial Index down 0.8% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) shedding around 0.7%.The Philadelphia Housing Index dropped 1.5%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) declined 1%.Bitcoin (BTC-USD) fell 2% to $79,831, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 2.2 basis points to 4.378%.In economic news, employers in the US announced 83,387 job cuts in April, up from 60,620 in March, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said Thursday.In corporate news, Blackstone (BX) and I Squared are considering making a bid for Stroeer that may value the German media group at 2.5 billion euros ($2.94 billion), Bloomberg reported. Blackstone shares were down 2%.Citigroup (C) Chief Executive Jane Fraser said Thursday at the bank's Investor Day that Citi expects its return on tangible common equity to hit a range of 11% to 13% in 2027 and 2028, up from 10% to 11% currently, before rising further to 14% to 15% from 2029 to 2031, according to a slide deck the company published. Citi shares rose 1.5%.JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Citigroup (C) were sued by China's HY Energy over alleged failure of funds transfer, Bloomberg reported. JPMorgan shares fell 2.3%.

$BX$C$JPM

UBS Group's Core 'Strength' Shines in Q1 Despite Sustainability Questions, RBC Says

UBS Group (UBS) delivered Q1 that highlighted the "strength" of its core business model and improved confidence in future shareholder returns, though the quarter's trends may not be fully sustainable, RBC Capital Markets said in a report Thursday."Strong revenue growth," disciplined cost management and solid capital generation provided UBS with greater "flexibility" for future capital distributions and share buybacks, according to the report. Organic capital generation reached 30 basis points in the quarter, helping offset "regulatory headwinds" and supporting potential distributions in 2026, according to the report.The firm also cited "small relief" from regulatory pressures after softer-than-expected "ordinance changes," which it estimates provide a $7 billion benefit versus prior estimates. However, proposed rules related to "foreign subsidiary capitalization" remain "as harsh as expected" and could still create capital inefficiencies, RBC said.UBS' wealth management business showed strong momentum in the Americas and Asia-Pacific, supported by "client activity," deposit and loan growth, and improving profitability trends, the report said.RBC has an outperform rating on UBS and raised its price target to 38 Swiss francs ($48.75) from 37 Swiss francs.Price: $44.46, Change: $-0.75, Percent Change: -1.66%

$UBS

Mining & Metals55d ago

DLP Resources Down 16% After Launching $5 Million Brokered Private Placement

DLP Resources (DLP.V) shares were last seen down 16% after the company on Thursday said it will raise up to $5 million in a "best efforts" private placement of share units.The company is placing up to 20-million units priced at $0.25 apiece and made up of a share and a three-year warrant to buy a share for $0.35. It is also granted it agent a four-million unit over-allotment option.Proceeds will be used for the advancement of its Aurora Cu-Mo-Ag project in southwest Peru, the exploration of its Esperanza Cu-Mo project in southern Peru, as well as for general working capital and corporate needs.The offering is anticipated to close on May 21.Shares of the company were last seen down $0.045 at $0.235 on the TSX Venture Exchange.Price: $0.24, Change: $-0.05, Percent Change: -16.07%

$DLP.V

Studio City International Unit Prices $300 Million Senior Secured Notes Offering

Studio City International Holdings' (MSC) Studio City Co. unit priced an international offering of $300 million of 6.125% senior secured notes due 2031.The subsidiary said Thursday it plans to use the proceeds, together with cash on hand, to repurchase all outstanding 7% senior secured notes due 2027.Price: $2.49, Change: $+0.10, Percent Change: +3.97%

$MSC

Commodities55d ago

US Natural Gas Update: Futures Rebound After Smaller-Than-Expected Storage Build

US natural gas futures turned higher Thursday after a smaller-than-expected storage build eased some near-term supply pressure, with weather-driven demand expectations adding support.Both the front-month Henry Hub futures and the continuous contract rose 1.50% to $2.771 per million British thermal units.Prices traded lower earlier in the session but jumped immediately after the weekly storage report, reaching an intraday high of $2.813/MMBtu.The US Energy Information Administration reported that working gas in underground storage increased by 63 billion cubic feet for the week. That came in below expectations, which had centered on a build of 72 to 80 Bcf.Even with the smaller injection, inventories remain elevated at 2,205 Bcf. That is 75 Bcf above year-ago levels and 139 Bcf above the five-year average of 2,066 Bcf. The surplus versus the seasonal norm, however, narrowed from 153 Bcf the prior week.Weather forecasts helped reinforce the move higher. Cooler-than-normal systems are expected to persist across the Midwest and Northeast through Friday, supporting late-season heating demand. At the same time, hotter conditions are building in the West and Florida, with highs forecast to reach the 90s and even triple digits in early May, lifting cooling demand.Looking further out, outlooks for the next 6-15 days point to a warming trend spreading across the Plains and into the eastern US, according to forecasts cited by NRG Energy.On the supply side, US dry gas production slipped by 0.9 billion cubic feet per day to 106 Bcf/d. Demand also weakened, falling by 1.3 Bcf/d to 78.9 Bcf/d, largely due to reduced power sector consumption, NRG said.Liquefied natural gas export feedgas rose modestly by 0.3 Bcf/d to 17.2 Bcf/d. However, volumes remain below April highs as seasonal maintenance continues, partially offset by incremental demand tied to ramp-up activity at Golden Pass.

HawkEye 360 Shares Rise in NYSE Debut

HawkEye 360 (HAWK) shares rose nearly 30% in their New York Stock Exchange debut Thursday.The stock opened at $33.80 per share, higher than the initial public offering price of $26 per share.The company priced its IPO of 16 million shares for gross proceeds of about $416 million. The offering is expected to close Friday.Price: $33.77, Change: $+7.77, Percent Change: +29.88%

$HAWK

Research Alert: CFRA Upgrades Opinion On Shares Of Mcdonald's Corp To Buy From Hold

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We cut our target by $33 to $317, 24x our 2026 EPS estimate and in line with the shares' ten-year average forward multiple. We lower our 2026 EPS view to $13.21 from $13.44 and 2027's to $14.11 from $14.27. We upgrade MCD from Hold to Buy. Shares trade at a 12% discount to their ten-year forward average, creating an attractive entry point despite near-term margin headwinds from restaurant operating costs, particularly beef costs. We expect margin normalization as traffic gains scale and value messaging matures. Q1 results outperformed on total revenue, global comps, and adjusted EPS, with developed market comps of +3.9%, improving 490 bps sequentially, and developing markets maintaining momentum at +3.4%. In our view, results suggest value positioning is resonating globally and driving traffic recovery. MCD's category expansion into chicken and beverages provides incremental growth optionality, while >80% free cash flow conversion supports continued investment in restaurant development and shareholder returns.

$MCD

Research Alert: CFRA Keeps Hold View On Shares Of Kenvue Inc.

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We maintain our 12-month target price at $19, which is 16.5x our 2027 EPS view of $1.15, a discount to the trading multiple of 18.1x since going public in 2023. We think this multiple is justified given the litigation overhang and limited visibility into KVUE's standalone performance (the company is no longer providing forward-looking guidance and hosting an analyst call) due to the pending acquisition by Kimberly-Clark (KMB), expected to close during 2H 2026. We increase our 2026 EPS estimate to $1.15 from $1.10 following this morning's Q1 earnings release. We maintain our 2027 EPS estimate at $1.15. Kenvue delivered a solid first quarter that demonstrated continued operational momentum. Net sales increased to $3,909M (+4.5% Y/Y) with organic growth of 0.7%. The performance suggests management's operational initiatives are gaining traction as the company approaches the transaction close. The transaction received shareholder approval in January 2026, and regulatory approvals are progressing.

$KVUE

Sector Update: Health Care Stocks Decline in Afternoon Trading

Health care stocks declined Thursday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) each shedding 0.7%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) dropped 2.6%.In corporate news, Iovance Biotherapeutics (IOVA) shares fell past 13% after the company's Q1 loss narrowed less than expected and revenue missed estimates.Harmony Biosciences (HRMY) shares dropped 5% after the company's Q1 earnings and revenue fell short of analysts' estimates.Catalyst Pharmaceuticals (CPRX) shares rose 2.2% after the company agreed to be acquired by Angelini Pharma in a deal with an equity value of about $4.1 billion. The company also said it has reached a settlement agreement with Hetero Labs to resolve patent litigation regarding a proposed generic version of Firdapse.

$CPRX$HRMY$IOVA

Research Alert: CFRA Raises View To Buy From Hold On Shares Of Zillow Group, Inc.

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We reiterate our 12-month price target of $50, which is 22x our 2026 EPS view. Our multiple is a discount to ZG's three-year mean of 40x, which we believe appropriately reflects the overhang from the FTC's antitrust investigation. However, our EPS expectations model continued strong execution of its strategy. We model 2026 revenue of $2.981B (15.4% growth), driven by market share gains and Rentals momentum. We forecast a 25.3% EBITDA margin in 2026, representing 130 bps of expansion, which will be heavily weighted to the second half as significant legal and marketing investments from the first half abate. We raised our 2026 EPS to $2.27 from $2.00 and 2027 to $3.00 from $2.50. Ultimately, ZG's valuation, trading at a 50% discount, offers a compelling entry point. We believe the market is overly focused on near-term litigation and macroeconomic headwinds, while underappreciating the AI-accelerated earnings power that will be unlocked as ZG continues executing amid a normalizing housing market.

$ZG

Teradyne Keeps Quarterly Dividend at $0.13 per Share; Payable June 12 to Holders of Record as of May 21

$TER

US Looking to Restart Strait of Hormuz Mission After Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Lift Curbs on Base Access

The Trump administration is looking to restart the operation to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz with naval and air support as early as this week after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait lifted restrictions on US access to their bases and airspaces, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing Pentagon officials.

Sector Update: Tech Stocks Decline Thursday Afternoon

Tech stocks were lower Thursday afternoon, with the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) decreasing 0.4% and the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) falling 1.9%.The Philadelphia Semiconductor index dropped 2.9%.In corporate news, Snap's (SNAP) Q1 loss narrowed more than market expectations, although the social media company saw persistent headwinds in its North America advertising business and recorded up to $25 million impact from the Middle East conflict. Its shares fell 2.8%.Meta Platforms (META) has asked a Los Angeles judge to throw out a jury verdict that found the company liable for a woman's depression in a case over whether social media platforms were designed to be addictive for young users, according to a filing. Meta shares were up 0.4%.Datadog (DDOG) raised its full-year outlook on Thursday after the software maker posted Q1 results that topped Wall Street expectations. Its shares climbed 26%.

$DDOG$META$SNAP

US Looking to Restart Strait of Hormuz Mission After Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Lift Curbs on Base Access, WSJ Reports

Insider Trading55d ago

Nucor Insider Sold Shares Worth $519,963, According to a Recent SEC Filing

Bradley Ford, Executive Vice President, on May 05, 2026, sold 2,240 shares in Nucor (NUE) for $519,963. Following the Form 4 filing with the SEC, Ford has control over a total of 43,649 common shares of the company, with 43,649 shares held directly.SEC Filing:https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/73309/000007330926000062/xslF345X05/form4.xmlPrice: $226.59, Change: $-7.63, Percent Change: -3.26%

$NUE