U.S. wheat futures declined across major exchanges on Friday, with Chicago, Kansas City, and Minneapolis contracts all trading lower. Despite the pullback, export sales data remains robust, running ahead of last year's pace.
Cotton futures extended losses on Friday, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar and a significant year-over-year decline in export commitments. The market's focus remains on demand concerns as key metrics lag behind historical averages.
While market attention remains fixated on tech giants, the Russell 2000 index harbors promising, lesser-known companies. We examine three firms with distinct competitive advantages in environmental services, digital health, and private markets.
In remarks that now appear pointed, Fed Chair Jerome Powell robustly defended the central bank's personnel and economic frameworks just days before former Governor Kevin Warsh, a vocal critic, was nominated to potentially succeed him.
Dover Corporation topped revenue and profit forecasts for the fourth quarter, fueled by robust order growth in climate tech and retail segments. However, shares dipped as management issued a guarded outlook for the coming year, citing input cost pressures and macroeconomic uncertainty.
Analyst firm Clear Street has raised its price target for Critical Metals Corp. (CRML) to $20, citing a strategic joint venture with a Saudi industrial group to build a rare earth processing facility. The move aims to diversify supply chains away from China and support Western defense needs.
Deutsche Bank has upgraded AI infrastructure provider CoreWeave to 'Buy,' significantly raising its price target to $140, citing a strong medium-term outlook and capacity expansion plans backed by a deepened partnership with Nvidia.
Once a fintech stalwart, Fiserv shares have cratered 70% in a year. As its 'One Fiserv' restructuring plan kicks in, investors are grappling with whether the beaten-down stock is a bargain or a warning sign.
Thermo Fisher Scientific posted stronger-than-expected Q4 revenue and profit, driven by new products and strategic deals. However, the stock fell as investors weighed pressures in key academic and government markets against the company's solid 2026 outlook.
Despite near-term headwinds in its Nutrition segment, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) maintains a bullish long-term outlook with solid organic sales growth projected for 2026, even as major analysts adjust their price targets following Q4 results.
A recent physician survey on renal denervation procedure volumes has prompted analysts to adopt a more measured view of Medtronic's near-term growth potential, even as the medical device giant remains a favored long-term holding.
As Amazon navigates AI investments and cost-cutting, financial analysts are split on its 2026 stock trajectory. While some see stretched valuations, others point to AWS and advertising as engines for further growth.
The collapse of Big Rock Sports, a major behind-the-scenes distributor for hunting and fishing retailers, marks another casualty in the sporting goods sector's struggle against e-commerce dominance and shifting consumer habits.
Facing what CEO Peter Vanacker calls the 'deepest and longest downturn' of his career, LyondellBasell reported Q1 2025 results while detailing a new $500 million cash improvement plan. The chemical giant is leaning into portfolio restructuring and its global supply network to weather trade policy uncertainty and weak demand.
Exxon Mobil and Chevron reported declines in full-year earnings as a sustained oil surplus pressured prices, though both companies highlighted strategic shifts toward LNG, chemicals, and power projects to fuel future growth.
American Express reported fourth-quarter earnings that narrowly missed analyst forecasts, yet a modest stock decline reflects investor confidence in its robust guidance and the sustained momentum of its high-end cardmember base.
Verizon Communications posts its strongest customer gains since 2019, bolstered by a key fiber acquisition and a renewed strategic focus under CEO Hans Vestberg, signaling a potential inflection point for the telecom giant.
Following a period of strong sales growth, Chili's Grill & Bar is laying the groundwork to potentially grant its general managers a greater ownership stake, a move inspired by industry leaders like Texas Roadhouse and Raising Cane's.
Arctic policy expert Alice Rogoff contends that U.S. strategic focus and resources should shift to fortifying Alaska's defenses rather than pursuing acquisition of Greenland, citing Alaska's superior positioning against potential missile threats.
Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya scored a monumental win with Nvidia's $20.6 billion purchase of AI chipmaker Groq, yet the investor reveals a profound sense of melancholy, highlighting the psychological complexities behind blockbuster deals.
