U.S. stock futures looking mixed on the final day of trading for the week, but a much better picture then what it looked like initially overnight following the first night of disappointing earnings overnight as shares of tech companies Intel (INTC) and Snap (SNAP) led the declines. Asia’s subdued risk sentiment gets a surprise boost following a report of Evergrande $83.5M interest payment on an overdue dollar bond. European stocks also rose on Friday after China Evergrande paid a bond coupon before this weekend’s deadline helping boost those markets and lift sentiment. The Nikkei Index rose nearly 100-points to 28,804, the Shanghai Index slipped -0.3% to 3,582, and the Hang Seng Index climbed 109 points to 26,126. In Europe, the German DAX is up over 100 points to 15,585, while the FTSE 100 gains 0.5% to 7,225. The Dow eased from a record high hit on Wednesday, while the Nasdaq paced market gains and the S&P 500 hit a fresh intraday record high thought breadth was somewhat mixed as six of the 11 major S&P 500 sectors finished lower, with energy stocks falling the most. While the majority of earnings thus far to start quarterly earnings (about 20% in for the S&P 500), the potential impact of supply chain disruptions and labor shortages on profits is starting to take center stage this earnings season. IBM tumbled 8.2% after it missed market estimates for quarterly revenue, while Tesla (TSLA helped lift the Nasdaq. The story of the day was Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC), the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that will merge with former President Trump’s social media company, shooting up 356% on Thursday, closing at $45.50 a share. Applications for U.S. state unemployment benefits unexpectedly declined to 290,000 last week to pre-pandemic levels, raising expectations the Fed may look to raise rates sooner in 2022 to cool inflation. The CBOE volatility index closed Thursday at 15.01, lowest close since Feb. 19, 2020.
Market Closing Prices Yesterday
· The S&P 500 Index gained 13.59 points, or 0.30%, to 4,549.78
· The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid -6.26 points, or 0.02%, to 35,603.08
· The Nasdaq Composite surged 94.02 points, or 0.62%, to 15,215.70
· The Russell 2000 Index advanced 6.42 points, or 0.28% to 2,296.18
Events Calendar for Today
· 9:45 AM ET Markit Manufacturing PMI-Flash
· 9:45 AM ET Markit Services PMI-Flash
· 9:45 AM ET Markit Composite PMI-Flash
· 1:00 PM EST Baker Hughes Weekly rig count data
Earnings Calendar:
· Earnings Before the Open: AIMC, AXP, CLFY, CLF, FHB, GNTX, HCA, HON, RF, ROP, SLB, SMPL, STX, VFC
World News
· The eurozone composite PMI dropped from 56.2 to 54.3 in October, posting its lowest reading in six months; Eurozone Oct Mfg PMI (flash) beat: 58.5 vs 57.0 consensus; EZ Oct Services PMI (flash) missed at 54.7 vs 55.5 consensus
· UK Sep Retail Sales missed: -0.2% m/m vs 0.5% cons; -1.3% y/y vs -0.4% consensus; UK Sep Retail Sales ex-autos missed: -0.6% m/m vs 0.5% cons; -2.6% y/y vs -1.7% consensus
· German Oct Manufacturing PMI (flash) beat: 58.2 vs 56.5 consensus; German Oct Services PMI (flash) missed: 52.4 vs 55.0 consensus
· Bank of England chief economist Pill says that inflation could exceed 5% but likely to fall in 2H of next year, BoE would have a “live” decision on whether to raise interest rates at its November meeting.
· GfK consumer confidence dropped 4 points to minus 17 in October as higher inflation and climbing Covid rates weighed on sentiment
Sector News Breakdown
Consumer
· Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. ($CMG) Q3 EPS $7.02 vs. est. $6.32; Q3 revs rise 21.9% to $2.0B vs. est. $1.94B; qtrly comparable restaurant sales increased 15.1%; qtrly digital sales grew 8.6% year over year to $840.4M; Restaurant level operating margin was 23.5% 1, an increase of 400 bps
· Boston Beer ($SAM) Q EPS ($4.76) vs est. $4.02 on revs $561.6Mm vs est. $531.5Mm; guides FY depletions and shipments +18-22%, sees national price increase 2-3%, gr margin 40-42%, advertising promo & selling exp increase $80-100Mm
· BJ Restaurants ($BJRI) 3Q EPS ($0.09) vs est. $0.11 on revs $282.2Mm vs est. $292.8Mm, comps +41.8% (-0.5% vs 2019); saw rapid food cost inflation hit 3Q restaurant op margins; expects sales to benefit as staffing levels improve;
· Mattel Inc. ($MAT) Q3 adj EPS $0.84 vs. est. $0.72; Q3 sales $1.76B vs. est. $1.68B; raises FY21 revenue growth view to up about 15% from 12%-14% and boosts FY21 adj EBITDA view to $900M-$925M from $875M-$900M; qtrly net sales in the N.A. segment increased 12% as reported and gross billings increased 12% as reported; worldwide gross billings for barbie of $555.2 mln, up 4% and for hot wheels of $329.9 mln, up 5%
· PriceSmart ($PSMT) 4Q EPS $0.63 vs est. $0.74 on revs $909.6Mm vs est. $879.8Mm; comparable net merchandise sales +10.3%
· Whirlpool ($WHR) 3Q adj EPS $6.68 vs est. $6.12 on net sales $5.5B vs est. $5.74B; guides FY net sales +13% vs est. +15.5%, sees FY adj EPS about $26.25 vs est. $26.35
· Robert Half ($RHI) 3Q EPS $1.53 vs est. $1.40 on revs $1.713B vs est. $1.637B; sees Q4 EPS $1.37-$1.47 vs. est. $1.30; sees Q4 revenue $1.655B-$1.735B vs. est. $1.65B
· Walmart ($WMT) is offering bitcoin through 200 of its CoinStar kiosks in a tie-up with crypto atm firm CoinMe- CoinDesk reported last night
Energy
· DMC Global ($BOOM) shares fell -10%; 3Q EPS $0.02 vs est. $0.10 on sales $67.2Mm vs est. $71.5Mm; guides 4Q sales $46-50Mm below est. $73.6Mm
· Altus Midstream Company ($ALTM) said it will combine with privately-owned BCP Raptor Holdco LP in an all-stock transaction. BCP is the parent company of EagleClaw Midstream, which includes EagleClaw Midstream Ventures, the Caprock Midstream and Pinnacle Midstream businesses, and a 26.7% interest in the Permian Highway Pipeline.
· Southern Co.’s ($SO) Georgia Power adds another three months to the timetable for the Vogtle 3 and 4 nuclear expansion projects; company now projects a Unit 3 in-service date in Q3 2022 and a Unit 4 in-service date in Q2 2023
Financials
· Associated Banc-Corp. ($ASB) Q3 EPS $0.56 vs est. $0.44, tangible book value per share $17.58, recovery of credit losses $24M vs est. recovery of $1.68M
· Bank Ozk ($OZK) Q3 EPS $1.00 vs. est. $0.97; Q3 total interest income $262.7M versus 268.3M same quarter 2020
· Independent Bank ($INDB) Q3 EPS $1.21 vs. est. $1.02; Total assets of $14.5 billion at September 30, 2021 increased by $339.1 million, or 2.4%, from the prior quarter, and by $1.4 billion, or 10.3%, as compared to the year ago period
· SVB Financial ($SIVB) Q3 EPS $6.24 vs. est. $5.04; qtrly net interest income (fully taxable equivalent basis) of $859 million
· Western Alliance ($WAL) Q3 EPS $2.28 vs. est. $2.22; Q3 revs $548.5M vs. est. $535.86M; produced highest ever quarterly organic loan growth of $4.8 billion, with deposits also up $3.4 billion (32% annualized), driving a 14.3% increase in PPNR1 during the quarter to $317.1 million
· WR Berkley ($WRB) 3Q EPS $1.40 vs est. $0.99 on revs $2.42B vs est. $2.3B; qtrly net premiums written +23.7%
Healthcare
· Accuray Inc. ($ARAY) preliminary Q1 revs $107.4M vs est. $88.5M, raised FY revenue view to $420M-$427M from $410M-$420M, above est. $415.8M
· Metacrine ($MTCR) shares fall -50%; to halt future development of FXR program in NASH; reports interim results for met642 phase 2a trial in patients with NASH and announces a strategic re-prioritization of its clinical development programs; shares downgraded to Hold from Buy at Jefferies, Canaccord and HC Wainwright
· Minerva Surgical ($UTRS) 6.25M share IPO priced at $12.00
· Xilio Therapeutics ($XLO) 7.35M share IPO priced at $16.00
· Iveric bio ($ISEE) 9M share Spot Secondary priced at $16.75
· Rite Aid ($RAD) has filed for a mixed securities shelf offering.
Industrials & Materials
· Honeywell ($HON) Q3 adj EPS $2.02 vs. est. $1.99; Q3 revs $8.47B vs. est. $8.65B; qtrly organic sales grew 8%, led by 38% growth in aerospace commercial aftermarket, 21% growth in safety and productivity solutions; 14% growth in advanced materials within performance materials and technologies; cuts FY21 revenue view to $34.2B-$34.6B from $34.6B-$35.2B (est. $35.1B) and narrows FY21 EPS view to $8.00-$8.10 from $7.95-$8.10
· Carlisle Companies ($CSL) 3Q adj EPS $2.99 vs est. $2.75 on revs $1.3B vs est. $1.27B
· Celanese ($CE) Q3 adj EPS $4.82 vs. est. $4.75; Q3 revs $2.3B vs. est. $2.13B; raises full-year outlook; sees Q4 EPS about $4.00 vs. est. $3.97; reported record net sales of $2.3B for the quarter with sequential pricing and volume increases of 3% and 1%, respectively
· Lynas Rare Earths ($LYSCF) said Q1 production and sales revenues fell QoQ, citing disruptions from a rise in COVID-19 cases in the area around its Malaysia processing plant; Q1 total rare earths production fell 16% Q/Q to 3,166 metric tons, Q1 revenues fell to A$121.6M from $A$185.9M
· Olin Corp. ($OLN) Q3 EPS $2.38 vs. est. $2.02; Q3 revs $2.34B vs. est. $2.36B; qtrly adjusted Ebitda achieved despite production interruptions from hurricanes, raw material cost volatility, & supply-chain disruptions; for FY21, is targeting debt reduction of approximately $1.1 bln using cash generated from operations
· U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc ($USX) 3Q adj EPS $0.07 vs est. $0.14 on revs $491.1Mm vs est. $479.6Mm
· Vicor Corporation ($VICR) 3Q EPS $0.29 vs est. $0.44 on revs $84.9Mm vs est. $98.2Mm; gross margin 50.4% vs est. 52.5%; book/bill 2.0 with backlog $296Mm at qtr end
Technology, Media & Telecom
· Intel Corp. ($INTC) falls -7%; 3Q EPS $1.71 vs est. $1.11 on revs $19.2B vs est. $18.24B (CCG revs 9.7B -2%, DCG revs $6.5B +10%), gr margin 56% vs est. 54.9%; guides FY adj EPS $5.28 vs est. $4.79; sees 2021 cap-ex spending $18B-$19B; questions about falling gross margins dominated the c/c as the company said it expects to turn back to growth in a few years, and execs kept defending their forecast, comfortable with margins above 50%
· Cambium Networks ($CMBM) lowers guidance; sees Q3 revs about $75M, down from prior view of $88-$92M which primarily reflects greater than anticipated global supply constraints impacting shipments of products which we expect to continue into the first half of calendar 2022; said Q3 net income is expected to be below the low-end of the previous GAAP and non-GAAP ranges
· Snap Inc. ($SNAP) tumbles -20% overnight on lower guidance; Q3 adj EPS $0.17 vs est. $0.08 on revenue $1.07B vs est. $1.1B, DAUs 306M (+23% YoY); sees Q4 DAUs 316-318M, revenue $1.165B-$1.205B below est. $1.36B, saying it missed the lower end of guidance due to changes to advertising tracking on Apple’s iOS that did not scale as expected, making it more difficult for ad partners to measure and manage campaigns, and macroeconomic factors impacting advertising partners with global supply headwinds expected to impact ad demand Q4 in particular; (shares of FB, ROKU, ETSY, TWTR among names that fell in reaction to SNAP)
· Western Digital’s ($WDC) discussions to merge with Japan’s Kioxia in a deal worth over $20B have stalled, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The companies were seeking to finalize a stock deal that would have established a memory-chip giant worth about $40B
