Morgan Stanley, Charles Schwab, Leidos, and Others Featured in CNBC's 'Final Trades'
Morgan Stanley and Analyst Ratings: Joe Terranova from Virtus Investment Partners selected Morgan Stanley as his final trade, while Citigroup's Keith Horowitz maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $130 to $155.
Exxon Mobil's Deal with Rosneft: Exxon Mobil has entered an agreement with Russia's Rosneft to explore recovering losses from its 2022 withdrawal, potentially reclaiming a $4.6 billion write-down.
Performance of Selected Stocks: Leidos Holdings, chosen by Stephen Weiss, saw a price target increase from $185 to $210, while shares of Charles Schwab and iShares Ethereum Trust ETF also experienced gains.
Market Trends: Charles Schwab reported a 15% growth in total client assets year-over-year, benefiting from high share prices and Federal Reserve rate cuts.
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- Acquisition Deal: Franklin Templeton has agreed to acquire the small crypto investment firm 250 Digital, which will enhance its newly established Franklin Crypto unit, with the deal expected to close in the second quarter, further advancing its digital asset strategy.
- Asset Management Expansion: By bringing 250 Digital in-house, Franklin Templeton aims to enhance its actively managed crypto investment offerings beyond basic bitcoin ETFs, catering to institutional clients' demand for sophisticated investment strategies.
- Market Trend: This move reflects a growing institutional preference for yield and complex strategies, as evidenced by a resurgence in bitcoin ETF inflows despite a 41% decline in bitcoin prices over the past six months, indicating strong institutional demand.
- Strategic Partnerships: Franklin Templeton's footprint in digital assets includes collaborations with major crypto industry players like Binance, showcasing its progressive stance in traditional finance and aiming to attract more clients through innovative products and services.
- Nike's Disappointing Performance: Despite beating revenue and earnings expectations, Nike issued weak guidance due to inventory issues and a slowdown in North American growth, prompting downgrades from Goldman, JPMorgan, and Bank of America, reflecting market concerns about its future performance.
- RH's Poor Earnings Report: Luxury home furnishings maker RH fell short on key metrics in its fourth quarter, and its current quarter guidance was also weak, impacted by tariffs and a sluggish housing market, leading to an 18% drop in shares, although its full-year cash flow guidance improved, the overall outlook remains bleak.
- Arm's Price Target Increase: Wells Fargo raised Arm's price target from $165 to $175, with analysts optimistic about Arm's entry into the data center CPU market with its first in-house silicon offering, reiterating a buy rating, indicating strong market confidence in its competition against Intel and AMD.
- Boeing Stock Rating Upgrade: Wells Fargo upgraded Boeing's stock to buy with a price target of $250, implying over 25% upside from yesterday's close, as analysts favor Boeing's free cash flow recovery and overall turnaround under CEO Kelly Ortberg, suggesting potential returns for investors.
- Employment Data Expectations: ADP is set to release employment data at 8:15 a.m. ET, with a consensus estimate of 39,000 new jobs in the private sector, which will provide a crucial indicator of economic health and could influence investor confidence and market trends.
- Retail Sales Growth: Retail sales figures are expected to be released at 8:30 a.m., with a general forecast of a 0.5% increase, a data point that will directly impact consumer spending and the outlook for economic recovery, potentially guiding a market rebound.
- Corporate Earnings Dynamics: Cal-Maine, Conagra, and Lamb Weston are scheduled to report earnings before the bell, with Cal-Maine's stock flat over the past three months, Conagra down 9%, and Lamb Weston showing no significant change, all of which will affect investor sentiment towards the food sector.
- Market Performance Review: In the first quarter, the Russell 2000 index rose by 0.58%, making it the best performer among major indices, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 fell by 4.63% and 5.98%, respectively, reflecting market volatility and cautious investor sentiment.
- Significant Revenue Potential: Analysts project that Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone could generate up to $60 billion in revenue within the next 18 months, which would significantly enhance the company's financial performance and strengthen its market position.
- Stock Performance Weakness: Despite having a market cap of approximately $3.7 trillion, Apple's stock has declined by 2% over the past six months, as investors express frustration over the slow rollout of AI features, reflecting concerns about its growth potential.
- Strong Upgrade Incentive: The launch of the foldable iPhone could incentivize existing users to upgrade their devices, especially as the new model is expected to better support future AI capabilities, further driving sales growth and enhancing brand loyalty.
- Long-Term Investment Opportunity: Although Apple's stock trades at about 32 times its trailing earnings, the anticipated launch of the foldable iPhone may present an opportunity for investors to see a rebound in stock price, making it a compelling option for long-term holding.
- Market Rally: The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite surged by 2.91% and 3.83%, respectively, amid hopes for an end to the U.S.-Iran conflict, indicating potential for future economic recovery as investors anticipate peace.
- Interest Rate Decline: With the war's conclusion, the yield on the 10-year Treasury is expected to drop significantly, which will lower borrowing costs and alleviate inflationary pressures stemming from rising fertilizer and energy prices due to the conflict.
- Growth Stock Resurgence: High-growth stocks like Nvidia and Marvell saw gains of 5.5% and nearly 13%, respectively, suggesting that investors will refocus on these companies' fundamentals without the distraction of geopolitical tensions.
- Big Bank Stocks Rally: The end of the war is likely to revive trading activity on Wall Street, with major financial stocks like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley rising nearly 5% and 4%, respectively, reflecting optimism about future merger and acquisition activities.
- Underwhelming Market Performance: Apple's stock (AAPL) has declined by 2% over the past six months, with a market cap around $3.7 trillion, as investors express frustration over the slow rollout of AI features, raising concerns about its growth potential.
- Foldable Phone Potential: Analyst Erik Woodring estimates that the anticipated launch of a foldable iPhone could generate between $40 billion and $60 billion in revenue over the next year and a half, providing a significant incentive for customers to upgrade their devices.
- Strong Sales Performance: Despite the slow introduction of AI features, Apple's iPhone sales remained robust in the most recent quarter, indicating that customer demand for new devices is not being adversely affected by the pace of AI development.
- Long-Term Investment Opportunity: The upcoming foldable iPhone could attract more customers, and although the stock trades at about 32 times its trailing earnings, it is still considered a safe long-term investment with potential for significant growth in the future.











