Meta Platforms Gets a Rare Sell Rating. AI Is Expensive. — Barrons.com Barron’s

By Angela Palumbo Meta Platforms stock has soared this year on confidence in the company’s generative artificial intelligence initiatives. But management’s plans to spend heavily on AI are a reason to sell the stock, according to BNP Paribas. Analyst Stefan Slowinksi initiated coverage of Meta with an Underperform rating and a target of $360 for the price. That implies a decline of 18% from Wednesday’s closing price of $439.19. Slowinksi cited the high cost of investing aggressively in generative AI, plus the fact that he believes “Meta has no new revenue streams to replenish its resources, which will also continue to be drained by its Metaverse adventures.” Meta didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Only three Wall Street analysts, including Slowinski, rate Facebook’s parent company at Sell, or the equivalent. Of the 67 analysts tracked by FactSet, 57 say the stock is a Buy, while seven say it […]

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CFRA Maintains Buy Opinion On Shares Of Doordash, Inc.

CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows: We cut our 12-month target $18 to $140, on a P/E of 40x our ’25 EPS view, above peers to reflect financial strength (net cash of $4B). We lift our ’24 EPS view to $2.86 from $2.75 and cut ’25’s to $3.50 from $3.96. DASH posted Q1 adjusted EBITDA of $371M vs. $204M, surpassing the $365M consensus. Top-line growth of +23% also exceeded expectations, fueled by a 21% rise in Marketplace GOV and a 21% increase in total orders to 620M. Key drivers include the continued momentum of DashPass, Dash’s subscription offering, and the rapid expansion of its grocery vertical (+100% in the U.S.). Looking ahead, we remain bullish on DASH given the substantial growth runways across its offerings, supported by secular tailwinds in the gig economy.

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Oracle Adds AI To Database Software In Broader Pitch For Its Cloud Platform

Oracle announces generative artificial-intelligence features for its flagship database software, which allows businesses to search their private data as if they’re conversing with a chatbot. Oracle also expanded the reach of its databases on Microsoft’s Azure cloud last week, letting Microsoft customers use its databases without leaving the Azure platform. The moves are aimed at boosting its sales pitch for its cloud-computing platform, which it has positioned as cheaper and easy to use with rival cloud services.

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Moody’s Corporation (MCO) Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) Q1 2024 Results Conference Call May 2, 2024 11:30 AM ET Company Participants Shivani Kak – Head of Investor Relations Rob Fauber – President and Chief Executive Officer Noemie Heuland – Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Conference Call Participants Heather Balsky – Bank of America Manav Patnaik – Barclays Toni Kaplan – Morgan Stanley Ashish Sabadra – RBC Capital Markets Andrew Nicholas – William Blair Scott Wurtzel – Wolfe Research Faiza Alwy – Deutsche Bank Jeff Silber – BMO Capital Markets George Tong – Goldman Sachs Craig Huber – Huber Research Jeff Meuler – Baird Andrew Steinerman – JPMorgan Russell Quelch – Redburn Owen Lau – Oppenheimer Craig Huber – Huber Research Shlomo Rosenbaum – Stifel Operator Good day, everyone, and welcome to the Moody’s Corporation First Quarter 2024 Earnings Call. At this time, I would like to inform you that this conference is being

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Apple Says Core Technology Fee Will Apply to IPadOS Apps in EU Later This Year

Apple (AAPL) said it will expand its core technology fee to iPadOS apps downloaded on its App Store later this year. “Developers operating under the new business terms for EU apps have the option to distribute their iOS apps in the EU via the App Store, Web Distribution, and/or alternative app marketplaces. These changes will also come to iPadOS later this fall,” Apple said in blog post. The Core Technology Fee, an element of the new business terms in the European Union that reflects the value Apple provides developers, is based on the number of first annual installs for an app in a 12-month period, the company said. Apple said developers whose apps do not surpass one million first annual installs per year and nonprofits, educational institutions, and government entities with an Apple Developer Program fee waiver do not pay the fee.

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Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly’s Weight-Loss Drugs Get Price Cuts in UK

Novo Nordisk’s (NVO) Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s (LLY) Mounjaro had their prices lowered by British online pharmacies and slimming clinics as supply shortages ease after the drugs’ recent launch, Reuters reported Thursday. Rising competition among retailers for weight-loss drugs increases risks of patients losing long-term care by switching providers, rather than relying on the National Health Service. Self-paying patients drive significant revenue for Wegovy and Mounjaro, the report said. Analysts foresee a potential $100 billion annual market for these drugs, prompting aggressive efforts by drug retailers to attract customers, Reuters said. Lilly told Reuters that it has not adjusted its prices, while Novo explained that pricing is determined by the providers delivering the drugs to patients. The NHS didn’t respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

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CFRA Retains Hold Opinion On Shares Of Moderna, Inc.

CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows: We up our target price to $115 from $88 based on our NPV analysis. We narrow our 2024 loss per share (LPS) estimate to -$6.21 from -$6.63 and keep 2025’s LPS at -$5.24. Moderna posted a Q1 LPS of -$3.07 vs. EPS of $0.19, a solid $0.48 below the consensus LPS expectation of $3.55, driven by higher-than-expected top-line sales. Q1 revenue of $167M vs. $1.8B, came in $42M above the consensus estimate as the Covid-19 vaccine’s (Spivax) sales came in above expectations but still pointed to a sharp decline Y/Y. MRNA reiterated its net sales target of $4B for 2024, which implies around a 40% Y/Y decline. Shares are up about 13% today, due to better-than-anticipated Q1 results and the hype around the RSV vaccine, in our

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Apple Reports Second Quarter Results

Apple(R) today announced financial results for its fiscal 2024 second quarter ended March 30, 2024. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $90.8 billion, down 4 percent year over year, and quarterly earnings per diluted share of $1.53. “Today Apple is reporting revenue of $90.8 billion for the March quarter, including an all-time revenue record in Services,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “During the quarter, we were thrilled to launch Apple Vision Pro and to show the world the potential that spatial computing unlocks. We’re also looking forward to an exciting product announcement next week and an incredible Worldwide Developers Conference next month. As always, we are focused on providing the very best products and services for our customers, and doing so while living up to the core values that drive us.” “Thanks to very high levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, our active installed base of devices has reached a

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CFRA Keeps Hold Opinion On Shares Of Conocophillips

CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows: Our 12-month target price of $125, up $10, reflects a 5.8x multiple of enterprise value to projected 2025 EBITDA, slightly above COP’s historical forward average, but merited by our view for sustained high crude oil prices through the end of the decade. We lift our 2024 EPS estimate by $0.32 to $8.88, but trim 2025’s by $0.06 to $10.20. Q1 EPS of $2.03 vs. $2.38 matched the consensus view. COP generated $2.2B in free cash flow in Q1 and essentially earmarked the equivalent in returns to shareholders ($1.3B in buybacks, plus $0.9B in dividends). Shares outstanding are now down 3.5% Y/Y as well. Q1 production of 1.90 MMBoe/d was up 6% Y/Y (71% liquids, 29% natural gas). We see COP pursuing a flat production profile in 2024,

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Apple Fiscal Q2 Earnings Rise, Sales Fall; Boosts Dividend, Approves $110 Billion Share Buyback — Shares Jump After Hours

Apple (AAPL) reported fiscal Q2 diluted earnings late Thursday of $1.53 a share, up from $1.52 a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by Capital IQ expected $1.50. Sales in the quarter ended March 30 were $90.75 billion, down from $94.84 billion a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by Capital IQ expected $90.45 billion. The iPhone maker increased its cash dividend by 4% to $0.25 per share, payable on May 16 to shareholders of record on May 13. The company’s board also approved an additional repurchase program of up to $110 billion of its common shares. Shares of the company climbed more than 6% in recent after-hours activity.

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CFRA Maintains Buy Opinion On Shares Of Apple Inc.

CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows: AAPL posted Mar-Q EPS of $1.53 vs. $1.52, beating the $1.50 EPS estimate. Revenue fell 4%, near expectations, but a decline of only 8% in China was much better than feared (Mainland China up). By product, iPhones disappointed by declining 10% as Services grew a better-than-expected 14%. We note iPads fell 17% while Macs grew 4%. Gross margin of 46.6% widened from 44.3% a year earlier, slightly above our view, reflecting the relative outperformance in Services. Separately, AAPL announced its largest ever buyback of $110B (well above our $90B assumption that was announced the last two years) and hiked its dividend 4%, which we think demonstrates AAPL’s high conviction level for business prospects ahead. We’ll provide an update after the earnings call, but we believe these results

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McDonald’s Q1 Non-GAAP Earnings, Revenue Rise

McDonald’s (MCD) reported Q1 non-GAAP earnings Tuesday of $2.70 per diluted share, up from $2.63 a year earlier. Analysts polled by Capital IQ expected $2.73. Total revenue for the quarter ended March 31 was $6.17 billion, compared with $5.90 billion a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by Capital IQ expected $6.17 billion. McDonald’s shares were down 2% in recent Tuesday premarket activity.

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