Gold Drops More Than 2%; Cidara Therapeutics Stock Soars
U.S. Stock Market Performance: U.S. stocks showed mixed results, with the Dow Jones falling 0.44%, while the NASDAQ and S&P 500 rose by 0.59% and 0.27%, respectively. Utilities shares increased slightly, but communication services stocks dropped by 1%.
Notable Company Performances: Spire Inc's shares fell over 2% after reporting larger-than-expected quarterly losses, while Cidara Therapeutics saw a 105% surge in shares following Merck's acquisition announcement.
Commodities Update: Oil prices rose by 1.9% to $59.81, while gold and silver prices fell by 2.2% and 5%, respectively. Copper also saw a decline of 1.1%.
Global Market Trends: European shares declined, with the STOXX 600 down 1.54%, and Asian markets mostly closed lower, highlighted by Japan's Nikkei 225 dropping 1.77%.
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- Earnings Highlights: Spire Inc. reported adjusted earnings per share of $3.76 for Q2, an 18.6% increase from $3.17 a year ago, indicating improved profitability following the Tennessee acquisition despite facing climate-related challenges.
- Acquisition and Financing: The successful acquisition of the Tennessee business added over 200,000 customers, funded through $900 million of junior subordinated notes and an $800 million term loan, ensuring adequate capital for growth and enhancing market competitiveness.
- Future Outlook: Spire provided adjusted EPS guidance for fiscal 2026 in the range of $3.90 to $4.10, reflecting confidence in future growth, although gas utility earnings expectations were lowered due to adverse weather conditions.
- Regulatory Challenges: Due to unusual weather in Missouri, customer usage fell below historical patterns, leading to a margin shortfall; Spire has filed for an accounting authority order to seek recovery, demonstrating proactive management in addressing external environmental changes.
- Financial Performance Boost: Spire reported a net income of $217.6 million ($3.51 per share) for Q2 2026, up from $189.3 million ($3.17 per share) in the prior year, demonstrating robust performance in its core natural gas utility business.
- Adjusted Earnings Growth: Adjusted earnings reached $223.7 million ($3.76 per share), significantly higher than last year's $189.3 million ($3.17 per share), primarily driven by the implementation of new rates and infrastructure investments.
- Strong Gas Utility Performance: The gas utility segment posted adjusted earnings of $234.8 million, an increase from $195.2 million year-over-year, reflecting the positive impact of new rates and sales growth, despite some pressure from weather-related factors.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Spire updated its fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to a range of $3.90 to $4.10 per share, underscoring the consistency of its long-term growth strategy and confidence in future performance.
- Earnings Announcement Date: Spire (SR) is set to announce its Q2 earnings on May 6 before market open, with a consensus EPS estimate of $3.69, reflecting a substantial year-over-year increase of 175.4%, indicating a significant improvement in profitability.
- Revenue Expectations: Analysts forecast Spire's revenue to reach $1.02 billion, representing a 52.4% year-over-year growth, suggesting strong sales momentum that could attract increased investor interest.
- Performance Beat Record: Over the past two years, Spire has beaten EPS estimates 50% of the time and revenue estimates 63% of the time, demonstrating stability and reliability in its financial performance.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, there has been one upward revision and no downward revisions for EPS estimates, while revenue estimates have seen two downward revisions, reflecting a cautious market outlook on the company's future performance.
- Transaction Completion: Spire Inc. successfully completed the sale of its gas marketing business, Spire Marketing, to Boardwalk Pipelines for $215 million in cash on April 30, 2026, marking a strategic focus on core utility operations.
- Employee and Client Transition: Employees and clients of Spire Marketing will transition to Boardwalk's new unit, Boardwalk Continuum Marketing, ensuring continuity of service and a seamless transition for customers.
- Use of Proceeds: The proceeds from this transaction will be partially used to fund Spire's acquisition of Piedmont Natural Gas Tennessee and for general corporate purposes, enhancing the company's financial flexibility and long-term earnings visibility.
- Enhanced Market Responsiveness: Boardwalk Continuum Marketing will leverage its scale and commercial capabilities in the North American natural gas market to provide differentiated, market-responsive services that help customers navigate the complexities of the energy landscape.
- Acquisition Completed: Boardwalk Pipelines, LP has finalized its acquisition of Spire Marketing Inc., which will now operate as Boardwalk Continuum Marketing, LLC, expected to enhance Boardwalk's footprint in emerging markets like LNG exports and gas-fired power generation, thereby strengthening its competitive edge in the integrated natural gas platform.
- Market Expansion: This acquisition will leverage Boardwalk's pipeline and storage assets to create new opportunities for bundled supply, transportation, and storage solutions, driving long-term growth and further solidifying its position in the North American natural gas market.
- Leadership Continuity: Former Spire Marketing president Pat Strange will continue to lead Boardwalk Continuum Marketing, ensuring continuity of service and a seamless transition while enhancing customer capabilities in navigating the complex energy market.
- Strategic Vision: CEO Scott Hallam emphasized that future success will depend not only on asset ownership but also on effectively delivering a diverse array of solutions to customers to navigate an increasingly complex energy landscape.
- Transaction Completion: Spire Inc. successfully completed the sale of its gas marketing business, Spire Marketing, for $215 million in cash on April 30, 2026, marking a strategic shift towards regulated natural gas utility operations and enhancing its risk profile.
- Employee and Client Transition: Employees and clients of Spire Marketing will transition to the newly formed Boardwalk Continuum Marketing, LLC, ensuring service continuity and a seamless customer experience, thereby strengthening Boardwalk's competitive edge in a complex energy market.
- Use of Proceeds: The proceeds from this transaction will be partially used to fund the acquisition of Piedmont Natural Gas Tennessee business and for general corporate purposes, reflecting Spire's proactive approach to expanding its core operations.
- Leadership Continuity: Former Spire Marketing president Pat Strange will continue to lead Boardwalk Continuum Marketing, ensuring market responsiveness and continuity of customer service under the new platform, further solidifying Boardwalk's market position.









