Stock Indexes 🐷Wrap: Health Insurers, Airlines Soar as Tech, Semiconductors Conti♏nue to Trail

The Dow

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) rose 3%, leading the index for a ꦏthird straight day after fellow health insurer Elevance Health beat earnings estimates, helping to assuage fears higher medical costs would crimp insurers’ earnings. 

Travelers Companies (TRV) ticked up 1.9%, recovering some of the losses suffered yesterday after it 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:missed earnings estimates amid surging catastrophe losses. 

Tech stocks led the index’s laggards. Microsoft (MSFT) and Intel (INTC) both fell 1.8%, while Salesforce (CRM) slid 1.6%.

The S&P 500

Genuine Parts (GPC) sไoared 11.2% after it raised its full-year earnings guidance following a better-than-e♒xpected first quarter. 

United Airlines (UAL) rose 5.5%, getting a boost from an 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:earnings beat from Alaska Airlines (ALK). United surged 17% yesterday after ꧙澳🌸洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:topping first-quarter earnings estimates♈ an🦋d issuing current-quarter guidance well ahead of Wall Street’s estimates. 

Discover Financial Services (DFS) climbed 3.6% as investors shrugged off an $800 million charge related to card misclassifications that led to a 68% decline in first-quarter profit. Capital One (COF), which🅘 is in the process of acquiring Discover, also ros🍨e 3.6%. 

Elevance Health (ELV) rose 3.3% after 澳洲幸运5开奖号🎃码历史查询:raising its 🍸full-year earnings forecast and beating earnings estimates thanks to premium rate hikes. Health insurance peers Centene (CNC) and CVS Health (CVS) ticked up 2.4% and 1.3%, respectively. 

D.R. Horton (DHI) gave up early gains to close just 0.1% higher, despite the homebuilder 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:raising i꧒🌜ts full-year revenue guidance following a first-quarter earnings beat. 

Las Vegas Sands (LVS) fell 8.6% after its first-quarter revenue in Macao, a key market for the casino operator, disappointed. Peers Wynn Resorts (WYNN) and Caesars Entertainment (CZR) each fell 1.4%.

Equifax (EFX) shed 8.5% after its 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:current-quarter revenue forecast fell short of Wall Street’s expectations. 

The Nasdaq 100

Meta (META) gained 1.5% after it 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:launched Meta AI, its chatbot competitor to ChatGPT 🌱and Alphaౠbet’s Gemini. 

Nvidia (NVDA) ticked up 0.8% after slumping nearly 4% yesterday amid a chip stock sell-off following 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:disappointing sales figures from chipmaking equipment company ASML Holding. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), which also fell yesterday, inched 0.7% ꦦ♌higher. 

Chipmaker Micron (MU) fell 3.8% despite reports it would be awarded more than 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:$6 billion in federal grants to construct plants in New York an💮d Idaho. 

Tesla (TSLA) fell 3.6% as investors and analysts 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:expressed concern the electric vehicle maker may ditch efforts to introduce a l🔯ow-cost, mass-market model in favor of developing a fleet of autonomous robotaxis. 

ASML (ASML) slid 2.1%, extending yesterday’s losses. Peers Applied Materials (AMAT) and Lam Research (LRCX) fell 2.8% and 2.6%, respectively. 

Semiconductor stocks like Onsemi (ON) and Qualcomm (QCOM) were weighed down by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM), which 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:trimmed its forecast for chip industry growth in 2024. Shares of TSMC fel♏l 4.9%.

Cryptocurrencies Surge Ahead of Bitcoin Halving

Cryptocurrencies including bitcoin and ethereum climbed higher on Thursday as markets prepared for this year's bitcoin halving, which is expected to take place as early as Friday.

Bitcoin traded above $63,000 Thursday afternoon while ethereum rose above $3,050. Though even with Thursday's gains, the coins remain far off their recent highs.

Bitcoin halving, which reduces the reward miners receive for processing transactions on the blockchain, has historically been a boon for prices. But this halving 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:is a little different. B🌺itcoin surged to a record high last month as investors poured money into spot bitcoin ETFs in anticipation of inte♓rest rate cuts and the upcoming halving.

Hopes that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates anytime soon have since faded amid a slew of strong economic reports, but bitcoin is more accessible than ever thanks t😼o brand new bitcoin ETFs.

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Read more about what you need to know 𒆙ahead of the bitcoin halving.

Alaska Air Overcomes January Midair I❀⭕ncident as Travel Demand Surges

Shares of Alaska Air Group (ALK) took off in intraday trading Thursday after the airline posted 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:better-than-expected results and guidance as travel demand boomed, helping to offset the effects of a January flight🐭 emerge🧜ncy.

The carrier reported a first-quarter adjusted loss of $116 million, or $0.92 per share, with revenue rising 1.6% to $2.23 billion. Both beat estimates.

Alaska Air’s results were impacted by a midair incident on Jan. 5 in which a door plug on a Boeing (BA) 737 Max 9 jet blew out, leading to a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:temporary grounding of some of the airline's planes. Earlier this month, Alaska Air 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:announced that Boein🐠g had paid $160 million in compensation during the first quarter for lost revenue from the Flight 1282 incident, and in this report noted the total was actually $162 million. The carrier has ind🅠icated it expects further payments from Boeing in the future.

The airline noted it sees current quarter 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:earnings per share (EPS) in the ra♌nge of $2.20 to $2.40, abovꦰe analysts’ forecasts.

Alaska Air Group shares climbed 4.6% Thursday to $44.68, their highe🦩st level since August.

-澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Bill McColl

Why Nvidia Chip Maker TSMC𓃲🐲 Is Falling Despite Posting Q1 Earnings Beat

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:American depositary receipts (ADRs) of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:fell in intraday trading Thursday after the chip maker's comments in an earnings call lowering projections for everything apart from 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:artificial intelligence (AI)-r𒁃elated semiconductors offﷺset higher-than-forecast results.

TSMC reported first-quarter revenue of 592.64 billion 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:New Taiwan dollars ($18.87 billion), above estimates compiled by Visible Alpha of TWD583.95. The company reported TWD225.49 billion in net income, along with a diluted 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:earnings per share (EPS) of TWD8.70 ($1.38 per ADR), compared to the TWD214.07 billion and TWD8.25 per share analysts expected.

While noting that demand for its technology to power AI technology remains high, TSMC executives said they are projecting s🅘emiconductor revenue overall to rise 10% year-over-year in 2024, compared to prior projections of at least 10% growth.

The company specified chips for the automotive industry as its only sector that might face declines year-over-year, although it noted that demand for smartphone and PC chips is growing slower than expected.

TSMC ADRs were trading down 4.7% at $132.53 Thursday afternoon, but are up 50% in the past year on investor enthusiasm fo✃r compꦺanies that power AI.

-澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Aaron McDade

Tesla Stock Slides to More Than 1-Year Low as Deutsche Bank Downgrades on "Thesis-Changing" Robotaxi Pivot

Tesla shares slid to their lowest in more than a year on Tuesday after Deutsche Bank analysts downgraded the stock, citing uncertainty around its plans to refocus its growth effort🍷s on autonomous vehicles.

Deutsche Bank analysts led by Emmanuel Rosner downgraded Tesla to “hold” from “buy” on Thursday and lowered their price target by nearly 35%.

“Our longer-term Buy rating was predicate💫d on the next-gen vehicle priced at $25k coming late next year, which would allow the company to reaccelerate volume, margins and FCF, and potentially come to dominate the Western EV market,” Deutsche Bank analysts wrote on Thursday.

Whether that low-cost model is being made at all was called into question earlier this month when Reuters reported the electric vehicle maker had canceled its plans to release a low-cost, mass-market model. Tesla will instead focus on self-driving robotaxis, according to Reuters, which cited “three sources familiar with the matter and company messages” reviewed by the outlet. 

CEO Elon Musk quickly took to the social network X to 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:deny the report. That denial was followed up by an announcement later in the day that the company would 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:unveil its Robotaxi on August 8.  

The analysts noted that, while a Tesla-owned and operated fleet of robotaxis could more than make up for the profit lost by delaying or canceling its low-cost model, the plan poses significant technological and regulatory challenges. Plus, “a pushout of Model 2 efforts creates the risk of no new vehicle in Tesla’s consumer lineup for the foreseeable future, which would put continued downward pressure on its volume and pricing for many more years, and likely require material downward earnings and FCF estimate revisions for 2026+.” 

Tesla has struggled to maintain growth amid rising costs and sluggish EV demand, which has taken a hit from high interest rates. Earlier this month the company reported its 澳洲幸运5开𝓰奖号码历史查询:first decline in quarterl✃y deliveries since 2020.

The company said in an internal memo earlier this week that it would 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:lay off more than 10% of its 🎉global workforce, a decision Deutsche Bank analysts speculate could be connected to the delayed or canceled Model 2.

Equifax Stock Drops After Revenue Guidance Misses Expectatꦆions

Credit-rating company Equifax (EFX) issued current-quarter guidance that came in 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:below Wall Street’s expectation amid falling mortgage inquiries, sending its stock down more than 4% Thursday morning.

The company, which assesses borrowers’ 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:credit quality for lenders, said it expects current-quarter revenue of between $1.41 billion and $1.43 billion, with the top portion of that forecast missing analysts’ expectations of $1.44 billion.

Equifax reiterated its full-year revenue outlook of $5.72 billion and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:adjusted earnings of $7.35 per share, adding that its guidance “reflects an expectation of a decline of about 11% in our 2024 U.S. mortgage-credit inquiries."

The Equifax share price initially tracked higher after the 50-day crossed above the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:200-day moving average in late December to form a bullish golden 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:cross pattern, but has more recently undergone a retracement, with declines outpacing the broader financial sector.

Investors should keep a close eye on the $222 level, an area where the price may find support from a multi-month 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:horizonal line and the 200-day mov🍸ing average. A convincing close below this important technical level on Thursday could see lower support tested at $190 and $162.

-澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Timothy Smith

Homebuilder D.R. Horton's Stock Gains on Earnings Beat, Raised Revenue Guidance

D.R. Horton (DHI) shares climbed Thursday after reporting second-quarter results that 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:surpassed expectations, as the company kicks off a stretch of homebuilder earn🥃ings over the next few weeks.

The homebuilder posted 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:net income of $1.17 billion, for a diluted 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:earnings per share (EPS) of $3.52, on total revenue of $9.11 billion, all above estimates compiled by Visible Alpha.

The market for D.R. Horton's services picked up in the quarter compared to the same period last year, with homebuilding revenue up 13% to $8.5 billion from $7.5 billion, and a 15% increase in homes closed, with 22,548 this year compared with 19,664 in the year-ago period.

“We are well-positioned with our affordable product offerings and flexible lot supply," D.R. Horton's board chair Donald Horton said in a statement.

Horton said that 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:while interest and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:mortgage rates remain high, the company's net sales orders increased 46% from the first quarter, and 14% from last year's second quarter, leading D.R. Horton to raise its 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:full-year guidance for homes closed and revenue.

D.R. Horton shares were 3% higher Thursday morning at $150.05. With Thursday's gains, shares were down just 1% from the start of 2024.

-澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Aaron McDade

Stocks Making the Biggest Moves Premarket

Gains:

• Alaska Air Group (ALK): Shares rose more than 3% after the airline reported revenue ahead of analyst estimates, helping it to deliver a narrower-than-expected loss in the first quarter.
• D.R. Horton (DHI): Shares of the homebuilder rose more than 3% after reporting 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:better-than-expected revenue and earnings. 
• Micron (MU): Shares of the chipmaker rose nearly 2% amid reports it would receive more than 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:$6 billion in federal grants to build factories in New York and Idaho.
  

Losses:

• Infosys (INFY): Shares of the tech consultancy and outsourcing company tumbled more than 7% after reporting disappointing first-quarter revenue and announcing it would acquire in-tech, a German engineering research firm.
• Tesla (TSLA): Shares of the electric vehicle maker fell more than 2% after Deutsche Bank downgraded the stock to hold due to the delay of a new, more affordable model. 
• Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM): Shares of the chipmaking giant slipped nearly 2% despite its quarterly results topping Wall Street’s estimates on the top and bottom lines. 

U.S. Stock Futures Tick Up as Chip Stocks Rebound

Futures contracts connected t🐻o the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 0.2% in premarket trading on Th𒅌ursday.

S&P 500 futures were also 0.2% higher.

Nasdaq 100 futures also traded 0.2% higher a li🌸ttle under an hour before markets opened.