Dow and S&P 500 Close Lower Amid Oil Price Volatility
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 8 hours ago
0mins
Should l Buy CPB?
The Dow and S&P 500 closed lower as traders reacted to volatile oil prices and a key inflation report. Oil prices, which spiked above $100 and briefly approached $120 earlier in the week amid fears of disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, have retreated significantly and are now trading below $90 after a coordinated release of emergency reserves. The International Energy Agency has agreed to release roughly 400M barrels from global strategic stockpiles in an effort to stabilize energy markets following the conflict-driven supply shock.U.S. forces sunk a number of Iranian ships, including 16 minelayers, on Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz, while the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said that a bulk carrier reported their vessel being hit by an unknown projectile near the Strait and two other incidents were also reported on Wednesday morning. Such developments have reinforced the fragility of global energy supply routes and kept risk sentiment unstable. Additionally, ABC News reported that the FBI said Iran wanted to retaliate against the U.S. by launching drones at the West Coast.Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration plans to announce new tariff investigations as soon as Wednesday.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:The International Energy Agency members have agreed to releasedue to war in the Middle EastOraclereportedand provided an upbeat outlook for Q4Nvidiain Nebiusas part of a strategic partnershipCampbell'sreportedand cut its FY26 guidanceCintasUniFirstfor $310 per share in cash and stock2. WALL STREET CALLS:Niketo Overweight at Barclays on operational progressJPMorganOracle, sees better risk/reward post selloffOptimum Communicationsto Market Perform at Raymond JamesYextto Neutral at Roth CapitalWells Fargo sees "too much risk,"coverage of Harley-Davidsonwith an Underweight rating3. AROUND THE WEB:McDonald'splans to introduce a lower-priced value menu, WSJ reportsIrth Capital has offered to acquire Papa John'sfor $47 per share, WSJ saysEli Lillyplans to invest $3B in China over the next decade, the drugmaker said in a Chinese-language statement on Wednesday, Reuters saysDue to the ongoing Qatar LNG shutdown, Shellhas declared force majeure on its liquefied natural gas contracts with some of its clients in Asia, Bloomberg saysAMDCEO Lisa Su will meet with SamsungChairman Jay Lee in South Korea to discuss cooperation on securing supplies of high-bandwidth memory to use in AI chipsets, Reuters reports4. MOVERS:Ocugengains after Oppenheimercoverage of the stock with an Outperform ratingCaesars (CZR) rises after the Wall Street Journal reported that Tilman Fertitta is in talks tofor about $7BVelo3Dhigher after CEO Arun Jeldifrom an existing debt holder and converted it into sharesKosmosfalls after announcing aHarmony Goldlower after reporting revenue for the5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Target Hospitality, with EPS and revenue beating consensusBrainswayand provided guidance for FY26Sprinklr, with CEO Rory Read commenting that the fourth quarter "capped a pivotal year in our transformation"Kamadaand reaffirms FY26 guidanceServe Roboticsand provided guidance for FY26INDEXES:The Dow fell 289.24, or 0.61%, to 47,417.27, the Nasdaq rose 19.03, or 0.084%, to 22,716.14, and the S&P 500 declined 5.68, or 0.084%, to 6,775.80.
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Analyst Views on CPB
Wall Street analysts forecast CPB stock price to rise
15 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
10 Hold
3 Sell
Hold
Current: 24.680
Low
27.00
Averages
31.07
High
38.00
Current: 24.680
Low
27.00
Averages
31.07
High
38.00
About CPB
The Campbell's Company, formerly Campbell Soup Company, provides affordable food and beverages. The Company is focused on brand powerhouse, across two divisions: Meals & Beverages and Snacks. The Company’s portfolio of approximately 16 brands includes Campbell’s, Cape Cod, Chunky, Goldfish, Kettle Brand, Lance, Late July, Pace, Pacific Foods, Pepperidge Farm, Prego, Rao’s, Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps, Snyder’s of Hanover, Swanson and V8. It offers nutritious, convenient food for Canadian families. Its North American Foodservice division offers food, recipes, and tailored solutions for a wide range of segments, including healthcare facilities, restaurants and specialty coffee shops, schools, vending and micro-markets, and lodging throughout North America. Pacific Foods is a producer of organic broth and soup. Offering a wide range of tasty organic and plant-based options, soups include Creamy Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato and new ready-to-serve canned soups.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Campbell's Company Q2 2026 Earnings Call Insights
- Strategic Focus: CEO Mick Beekhuizen emphasized Campbell's commitment to maintaining momentum for the Goldfish brand, despite execution challenges in fresh bakery, with expectations for sequential progress in the second half of fiscal 2026.
- Margin Pressure Intensifies: CFO Todd Cunfer reported a 390 basis point decline in margins for Q2, primarily due to poor bakery performance and a 6% drop in net sales, with slight improvement expected in Q3 but a stronger recovery anticipated in Q4.
- Tightened Capital Allocation: Cunfer highlighted the critical importance of cash flow management, planning to pay $140 million to $150 million for the La Regina acquisition before year-end, while suspending share buybacks and not increasing dividends in the near term.
- Cautious Market Outlook: The company forecasts a 4% decline in Snacks net sales for the second half, with positive net price realization expected in Meals & Beverages, yet overall market conditions remain challenging, leading management to adopt a cautious stance on margin recovery.
See More
U.S. Stocks Show Minor Fluctuations Amid Rising Oil Prices
- Oil Price Surge Impacts Market: Despite the IEA's decision to release 400 million barrels from strategic reserves to address supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices rose by 4.6%, exerting downward pressure on the stock market, particularly amid the ongoing conflict in Iran.
- Limited Impact from Inflation Data: February's CPI rose 2.4% year-over-year, with core CPI at 2.5%, which, while close to five-year lows, remains above the Fed's 2% target, leading to a muted market reaction and reflecting investor concerns over future inflation pressures.
- Mixed Performance in Tech Stocks: Following Oracle's strong AI demand announcement, tech stocks received a boost with Oracle's shares rising over 9%, yet other tech stocks like IBM and Microsoft saw slight declines, indicating ongoing uncertainty in investor confidence within the tech sector.
- Private Credit Market Struggles: JPMorgan Chase's restriction on lending to private credit funds has led to an exodus of investors from the $1.8 trillion sector, exacerbating market uncertainty and negatively impacting overall stock performance.
See More
Campbell's Company Reports Quarterly Earnings Miss
- Earnings Miss: Campbell's reported adjusted earnings of 51 cents per share for Q2, falling short of analyst expectations, indicating weak performance under pressure from snacks and ongoing cost challenges, which may impact investor confidence.
- Operational Pressures: During the earnings call, executives highlighted execution challenges in the Fresh Bakery segment and intensified pricing pressures in the salty snacks category, suggesting potential further market share loss amid fierce competition.
- External Cost Challenges: CFO Todd Kumpfer noted that tariffs and inflation are pressuring profitability, although relief is expected later in the fiscal year; however, the company still faces uncertainties from commodity price volatility.
- Strategic Shift: The company plans to enhance operational execution and targeted promotions to improve Q4 performance while shifting capital priorities towards debt reduction and cost control, moving away from aggressive share repurchase strategies.
See More
US Stocks Decline Amid Multiple Pressures
- Stable Inflation Data: The US February CPI rose 2.4% year-over-year, with core CPI at 2.5%, indicating persistent inflation pressures that remain above the Fed's 2% target, potentially influencing future monetary policy decisions.
- Private Credit Market Constraints: JPMorgan Chase's restriction on lending to private credit funds hampers the $1.8 trillion private credit market amid investor exodus, which could exacerbate financial difficulties and impact overall market confidence.
- Mixed Tech Stock Performance: While Oracle surged over 10% due to strong earnings, other tech stocks like Amazon and Microsoft declined, indicating uneven support for the tech sector and potentially affecting investor sentiment towards technology investments.
- Oil Price Surge Impacting Markets: Oil prices rose by 4%, and despite the IEA's decision to release 400 million barrels from strategic reserves to address supply shortages, market reactions were muted, reflecting cautious investor sentiment regarding the oil market outlook.
See More
Oracle and Papa John's Stocks Surge Amid Strong Earnings and Takeover Bid
- Oracle's Strong Earnings: Oracle's stock surged 10% after reporting fiscal third-quarter results that exceeded expectations, raising its fiscal 2027 revenue outlook by $1 billion to $90 billion, significantly above analysts' estimates of $86.6 billion, indicating robust growth potential in its cloud infrastructure business.
- Papa John's Takeover Bid: Shares of Papa John's jumped 18% following a $1.5 billion takeover bid from Irth Capital Management, offering $47 per share, a 50% premium over the stock price prior to the announcement, which could significantly alter the company's capital structure and market positioning.
- Campbell's Disappointing Results: Campbell's stock fell over 7.5% after its fiscal second-quarter earnings missed analyst expectations, with snack sales down 6% and U.S. soup sales down 4%, leading to a 23-year low in stock price, reflecting market concerns about its future growth prospects.
- Nebius Group's Investment Boost: Nebius Group's shares rose 15% after Nvidia announced a $2 billion investment to enable Nebius to deploy over 5 gigawatts of AI cloud capacity by the end of 2030, enhancing Nvidia's AI infrastructure buildout and demonstrating strong confidence in the AI sector.
See More
Conagra Brands Shares Decline Amid Peer Disappointment
- Industry Impact: Conagra Brands shares fell 5.81% to $17.03, driven by disappointing second-quarter results from peer Campbell's, indicating a broader negative sentiment in the snacks and meals sector.
- Profit Outlook Downgrade: Campbell cited significant margin pressures from cost inflation and tariffs, leading CEO Mick Beekhuizen to adopt a more cautious outlook, which has heightened market anxiety.
- Guidance Reaffirmation: On February 17, Conagra reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 guidance, expecting adjusted EPS between $1.70 and $1.85, with an operating margin target of 11.0% to 11.5%, reflecting confidence in its future performance.
- Analyst Rating Dynamics: Conagra's stock carries a Hold rating with an average price target of $23.90, while recent adjustments by Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo have lowered their targets to $18.00, indicating a cautious market perspective on its future prospects.
See More
Campbell's Company Q2 2026 Earnings Call Insights
- Strategic Focus: CEO Mick Beekhuizen emphasized Campbell's commitment to maintaining momentum for the Goldfish brand, despite execution challenges in fresh bakery, with expectations for sequential progress in the second half of fiscal 2026.
- Margin Pressure Intensifies: CFO Todd Cunfer reported a 390 basis point decline in margins for Q2, primarily due to poor bakery performance and a 6% drop in net sales, with slight improvement expected in Q3 but a stronger recovery anticipated in Q4.
- Tightened Capital Allocation: Cunfer highlighted the critical importance of cash flow management, planning to pay $140 million to $150 million for the La Regina acquisition before year-end, while suspending share buybacks and not increasing dividends in the near term.
- Cautious Market Outlook: The company forecasts a 4% decline in Snacks net sales for the second half, with positive net price realization expected in Meals & Beverages, yet overall market conditions remain challenging, leading management to adopt a cautious stance on margin recovery.
See More
U.S. Stocks Show Minor Fluctuations Amid Rising Oil Prices
- Oil Price Surge Impacts Market: Despite the IEA's decision to release 400 million barrels from strategic reserves to address supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices rose by 4.6%, exerting downward pressure on the stock market, particularly amid the ongoing conflict in Iran.
- Limited Impact from Inflation Data: February's CPI rose 2.4% year-over-year, with core CPI at 2.5%, which, while close to five-year lows, remains above the Fed's 2% target, leading to a muted market reaction and reflecting investor concerns over future inflation pressures.
- Mixed Performance in Tech Stocks: Following Oracle's strong AI demand announcement, tech stocks received a boost with Oracle's shares rising over 9%, yet other tech stocks like IBM and Microsoft saw slight declines, indicating ongoing uncertainty in investor confidence within the tech sector.
- Private Credit Market Struggles: JPMorgan Chase's restriction on lending to private credit funds has led to an exodus of investors from the $1.8 trillion sector, exacerbating market uncertainty and negatively impacting overall stock performance.
See More
Campbell's Company Reports Quarterly Earnings Miss
- Earnings Miss: Campbell's reported adjusted earnings of 51 cents per share for Q2, falling short of analyst expectations, indicating weak performance under pressure from snacks and ongoing cost challenges, which may impact investor confidence.
- Operational Pressures: During the earnings call, executives highlighted execution challenges in the Fresh Bakery segment and intensified pricing pressures in the salty snacks category, suggesting potential further market share loss amid fierce competition.
- External Cost Challenges: CFO Todd Kumpfer noted that tariffs and inflation are pressuring profitability, although relief is expected later in the fiscal year; however, the company still faces uncertainties from commodity price volatility.
- Strategic Shift: The company plans to enhance operational execution and targeted promotions to improve Q4 performance while shifting capital priorities towards debt reduction and cost control, moving away from aggressive share repurchase strategies.
See More
US Stocks Decline Amid Multiple Pressures
- Stable Inflation Data: The US February CPI rose 2.4% year-over-year, with core CPI at 2.5%, indicating persistent inflation pressures that remain above the Fed's 2% target, potentially influencing future monetary policy decisions.
- Private Credit Market Constraints: JPMorgan Chase's restriction on lending to private credit funds hampers the $1.8 trillion private credit market amid investor exodus, which could exacerbate financial difficulties and impact overall market confidence.
- Mixed Tech Stock Performance: While Oracle surged over 10% due to strong earnings, other tech stocks like Amazon and Microsoft declined, indicating uneven support for the tech sector and potentially affecting investor sentiment towards technology investments.
- Oil Price Surge Impacting Markets: Oil prices rose by 4%, and despite the IEA's decision to release 400 million barrels from strategic reserves to address supply shortages, market reactions were muted, reflecting cautious investor sentiment regarding the oil market outlook.
See More
Oracle and Papa John's Stocks Surge Amid Strong Earnings and Takeover Bid
- Oracle's Strong Earnings: Oracle's stock surged 10% after reporting fiscal third-quarter results that exceeded expectations, raising its fiscal 2027 revenue outlook by $1 billion to $90 billion, significantly above analysts' estimates of $86.6 billion, indicating robust growth potential in its cloud infrastructure business.
- Papa John's Takeover Bid: Shares of Papa John's jumped 18% following a $1.5 billion takeover bid from Irth Capital Management, offering $47 per share, a 50% premium over the stock price prior to the announcement, which could significantly alter the company's capital structure and market positioning.
- Campbell's Disappointing Results: Campbell's stock fell over 7.5% after its fiscal second-quarter earnings missed analyst expectations, with snack sales down 6% and U.S. soup sales down 4%, leading to a 23-year low in stock price, reflecting market concerns about its future growth prospects.
- Nebius Group's Investment Boost: Nebius Group's shares rose 15% after Nvidia announced a $2 billion investment to enable Nebius to deploy over 5 gigawatts of AI cloud capacity by the end of 2030, enhancing Nvidia's AI infrastructure buildout and demonstrating strong confidence in the AI sector.
See More
Conagra Brands Shares Decline Amid Peer Disappointment
- Industry Impact: Conagra Brands shares fell 5.81% to $17.03, driven by disappointing second-quarter results from peer Campbell's, indicating a broader negative sentiment in the snacks and meals sector.
- Profit Outlook Downgrade: Campbell cited significant margin pressures from cost inflation and tariffs, leading CEO Mick Beekhuizen to adopt a more cautious outlook, which has heightened market anxiety.
- Guidance Reaffirmation: On February 17, Conagra reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 guidance, expecting adjusted EPS between $1.70 and $1.85, with an operating margin target of 11.0% to 11.5%, reflecting confidence in its future performance.
- Analyst Rating Dynamics: Conagra's stock carries a Hold rating with an average price target of $23.90, while recent adjustments by Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo have lowered their targets to $18.00, indicating a cautious market perspective on its future prospects.
See More
