Equity Indexes Wrap: Micron, Cruise Stocks Surge on Upbeat Outlooks; Investors Unimpressed by Possible Paramount, 🌄Warner Bros. Tie Up

The Dow

Salesforce (CRM) shares rose 2.7% after it was upgraded to overweight by analysts at Morgan Stanley, who said revenue grow꧋th could accelerate next year as the software provider raises prices and bundles products, and customers adopt its data cloud.

Shares of Nike (NKE) rose 0.9% ahead of its quarterly earnings r꧋eport after the bell. 

Boeing (BA) ga𝕴ined 0.7% amid reports it was set to deliver its first 787 Dreamliner jet to China since 2021. 

Cisco (CSCO) fell 0.2% after it said it 𓆏intended to buy Swiss cloud networki𓂃ng and security company Isovalent for an undisclosed sum. 

Apple (AAPL), was the only other Dow stock to close in the red Thursday. Shares slipped 0.1% as it halted online sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 amid a patent infringement dispute.

The S&P 500

Carnival Corp (CCL) climbed 6.2% after 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:reporting record revenue in the second quarter of its 2024 fiscal year. Fellow cruise operators Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) and Royal Caribbean (RCL) followed Carnival higher, 🐬rising 5.4% and 5.3%, respectively. 

CarMax (KMX) shares rose 5.2% after it reported better-than-expected quarterly sꦅales and earnings even as used car prices declined.

Paramount Global (PARA) lost 2.8% following reports it is 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:in early talks to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) in a deal that could see the entertainment companies combining t🌌heir streaming platforms and other media assets. Warner Bros. Discovery stock fell 1.5% Thursday.

Shares of WestRock (WRK) slid 2.4% after activist investor Primestone Capital urged Smurfit Kappa’s board to reconsider its 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:planned merger with the paper and packaging company.

Aon Plc (AON) declined 2%, falling for a second day after announcing it would 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:acquire insurance broker NFP for more than $13 billion.

The energy and utilities sectors lagged behind the broader market today. Dominion Energy (D) fell 0.9%, while Marathon Petroleum (MPC) lost 0.7% and NextEra Energy (NEE) dipped 0.4%. 

The Nasdaq 100

Micron (MU) shares jumped 8.6% after it 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:beat earnings and sales estimates with its quarterly re𒐪port. It also forecasted strong sales next year as demand conditions improve. 

Cintas Corp. (CTAS) rose 6.6% after its quarterly earnings report also excee൩ded Wall Street estimates, leading it to raise its full-year gu𓄧idance. 

Micron’s earnings had other semiconductor stocks popping. Marvell Technology (MRVL) rose 4.7% and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) gained 3.3%. Semiconductor manufacturing equipment maker AMSL Holdings (ASML) rose 3.5% after it shipped the first part of its new "High NA" ultraviolet lithography machine to chipmaker Intel (INTC). Intel shares gained 2.9%.

Paychex (PAYX) shares sank 7% after reporting quarterly sales 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:below analysts’ estimates. Peer ADP (ADP) fell 1.4%.

Comcast (CMCSA) shares fell 0.4% after it s🌞aid the hackers responsible for an October data breach stole the data of almost 36 million customers.

CarMax Stock Jumps As Earnings Top Expectations, Company Restarts Stౠoc💃k Buyback Program

CarMax (KMX) 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:shares took off after the biggest U.S. used car dealer beat profit forecasts as it sold more vehicles🌱 in the wholesale market.

CarMax reported third-quarter fiscal 2024 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:earnings per share (EPS) of $0.52, more than a third higher than analysts’ estimates. Revenue fell 5.5% to $6.15 billion, less than expected.

Wholesale unit sales jumped 7.7% to 127,900, and revenue increased 1.1% to $1.17 billion. The company added the wholesale unit had a “strong” gross profit of $961 per unit, in line with the year-ago pe♛riod. 

The company announced that it restarted the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:stock buyback plan it had paused in the third quarter of fiscal 202💃3, picking up 648,500 shares for $41.9 million. It noted that as of the end of November, it had $2.41 billion still available for repurchase under the existing authorization.

Shares of CarMax were up 3.7% at $77.46 late Thursday ✃afternoon, aꦯfter moving as high as $84.20 early in the session. The stock has gained nearly 30% for the year.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Bill McColl

Cintas Jumps on Earnings Beat, Raised Outlook

Shares of uniform rental company Cintas Corp. (CTAS) jumped to an all-time high Thursday after its quarterly earnings 🧔topped Wall Street estimates.

Revenue grew 9% year-over-year to $2.38 billion in the second quarter of the company’s 2024 fiscal year. Cintas reported net income of $375 million, an 11% increase from a year ago. Both exceeded analysts’ expectations. 

"We are pleased with our second quarter fiscal 2024 financial results. Each of our operating segments continue to execute at a high level, leading to robust revenue growth of 9.3%, high operating margin of 21.0% and diluted EPS growth of 15.7%,” said chief executive Todd Schneider. 

As a result of the quarter’s strong results, Cintas raised its full-year sales and earnings g🌠uidance. It now expects revenue of between $9.48 billion and 9.56 billion, an $80 million increase from its prior estimate. And diluted earnings per share are forecast to fall in the range of $14.35 to $14.6🔯5, up from a range of $14 to $14.45. 

Shares of Cintas were up 5.5% Thu🗹rsday afternoon and were on pace to c🌺lose at a record high.

Midday Movers

Shares of Micron Technology (MU) gained more than 7% as the chipmaker posted better-than-expected results and gave a strong outlook on higher prices and soaring demand for its 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:artificial intelligence (AI) products.

Carnival Corporation (CCL) shares rose more than 5% as the cruise line posted a smaller-than-anticipated loss and beat revenue forecasts on steady demand for crඣuises.

CarMax (KMX) shares jumped more than 4% after the biggest U.S. used car dealer beat earnings estimates as it sold more vehicles in the wholesale market and restarted its 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:share repurchase program.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and Paramount Global (PARA) shares declined more than 2% following reports the two entertainment giants were in 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:merger talks.

Comcast (CMCSA) shares fell for a second s♛traight session after reporting that hackers breached the media company’s Xfinity cable system, co🍰mpromising the personal data of some 36 million customers.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Bill McColl

Ca൲rnival Stock Gains on Record Revenue, Cheery 2024 Outl💃ook

Shares of cruise operator Carnival Corp. (CCL) jumped Thursday after the company re🍎ported record fourth-quarter and full-year revenue, and forecast ano🔯ther strong year in 2024. 

Revenue totaled $5.4 billion in the fourth quarter, up 40% from the year-ago quarter and nearly 13% higher than the same period in 2019, right before Covid brought operations to a halt. Full-year revenue hit a record high of $21.6 billion as consumers unleashed pent-up demand—and savings—on travel. 

Carnival’s net ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚloss narrowed in the fourth quarter to $48 million from $1.6 billion a year ago. On an adjusted basis, the company reported net income of $1 million for the full year, making 2023 its first profitable year since the onset of the pandemic. 

Management was upbeat in its forecast for 2024. Robust demand in the second half of this year means 2024 o♛ccupancy is already two-thirds booked.

“We continue to experience strong bookings momentum across the board, with our European brands showing remarkable strength during the quarter with booking vo🦩lumes running up well into the double digits at considerably higher prices,” said CEO Josh Wein💟stein. 

The company also highlighted its efforts t🐠o pay down its debt, a priority this year as rising interest rates have driven up borrowing costs. After paying about $6 billion throughout the year, long-term debt totaled just over $30 billion at the end of the fourth quarter.

Carnival shares jumped 7% to a five-month high on Thursday afternoon. Fellow cruise operators Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) and Royal Caribbean (RCL) followed close behind, gaining aboꦑut 5% and 4%, respectively.

Paychex Stock Falls on Soft Sales Report

Payroll and HR services provider Paychex (PAYX) was the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500 Thursday morning after its quarterly💯 earnings reported fell shorꦕt of expectations. 

Paychex reported total revenue of $1.26 billion in the second quarter of its 2024 fiscal year, a 6% increase over last year but below analysts’ estimates. Earnings per share rose 9% year-over-year to $1.08, beating expectations by 1 cent.

“The macro-economic environment remains stable for small and mid-sized businesses, who continue to face challenges in both the cost of and access to growth capital; and finding quality talent in the current labor market,” said CEO John Gi💛bson.

Shares of Paychex were down 5.7% midday Thursday. Competitor ADP (ADP) fell 1.2%.

Warn🌃er Bros. Discovery, Paramou🐼nt Reportedly in Merger Talks

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and Paramount (PARA) 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:are in early talks about an entertainment mega-merger, according to reporting by Axios.

CEOs🐈 D♈avid Zaslav and Bob Bakish met in New York City this week to discuss the possible merger.

The deal could shake up the entertainment industry and lead to further consolidation, with the two companies likely seeking to combine their Paramount+ and Max streaming services in a bid to challenge rivals Netflix (NFLX) and Disney (DIS).

Shares of Warner Bros. Discovery were down 4.7% Thursday morning, while Paramount sh🐼ares slipped 1.7%.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Kevin George

A Chart to Watch Today: Micron

Micron (MU) shares were up 7.5% Thursday morning after the hardware memory and storage maker posted a better-than-expected 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:quarterly earnings report and delivered encouraging sales guidance. The company posted an adjusted loss of $0.95 per share in the fiscal first quarter, and generated revenue of $4.73 billion, both of which were better than analysts had expected.

Micron shares have oscillated within a broad 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:ascending channel throughout 2023, with the pattern’s upper and lower trendlines establishing identifiable support and resistance levels. After the company’s upbeat earnings report, investors should watch for a potential breakout of the channel’s top trendline. If such a move occurs, it’s likely the price would retest the initial breakout point before any sustained๊ rally,♌ given the shares have risen sharply since late October.

See here for two more charts to keep an eye on today.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Timothy Smith

Stocks Making the Biggest Moves Premarket

Gains: 

• CarMax Inc. (KMX): Shares of the used car retailer jumped 10% after it reported better-than-expected earnings for the third quarter despite sales falling short of estimates as high interest rates shut out potential buyers.
• Micron Technology Inc. (MU): Shares of the memory chip maker popped 7% after it reported a narrower-than-expected loss in the first quarter of its 2024 fiscal year. Management also offered upbeat guidance and said they expect business conditions to improve throughout 2024.
• Boeing Co. (BA): Shares of the jet maker rose more than 1% following reports it would make its first 787 Dreamliner delivery to China since 2021, a step toward resuming deliveries of its best-selling 787 Max, which has been grounded in the country for four years.
  

Losses:

• Paychex Inc. (PAYX): Shares of the payroll and HR services provider dropped more than 3% after its quarterly sales came in lower than Wall Street estimates as small and mid-sized businesses grappled with a still tight labor market.
• Paramount Global (PARA): Shares of the entertainment company fell more than 1% following reports it was in talks about a potential merger with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) as the two companies seek to compete with better-financed streaming competitors like Amazon (AMZN) and Apple (AAPL). Shares of Warner Bros. Discovery were up 0.5% premarket.

U.S. Economy Grew Slower In Third Quarte🔥r Than Previ🌳ously Estimated

It turns out the U.S. economy grew at a slightly slower pace in the third quarter than the breakneck speed that was estimated last month. 

The 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Gross Domestic Product, a measure of the country's entire economic output, grew at an annual rate of 4.9% in the third quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said Thursday in its latest estimate of the indicator. That's down from the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:5.2% growth rate the bureau had estimated in November. 

The bureau releases three versions of its quarterly economic report on the GDP, each incorporating new data. The third and final revision released Thursday showed that consumer spending, the main engine of the U.S. economy, was lower than previously thought. 

Even after the downward revision, 🦩however, the econom♍y grew at its fastest pace since 2021.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Diccon Hyatt

Stock Futures Up Ahead oꦏf Unemployment Claims, GDP Data

Futures contracts connected to the Dow J🔯ones Industrial Average were up 0.4% in early trading Thursday.

S&P 500 futures rose 0.5%.

Nasdaq 100 contracts gained 0.7%.