Upcoming Tech Earnings to Watch: GOOGL, TXN, FB

Earnings season got busy this week with the remainder of the big financial firms, most of our top industrial companies, and the first wave of tech leaders announcing their latest quarterly results. This week saw solid results across the board, with impressive revenue growth punctuating continued EPS expansion.

The real question, of course, is whether another remarkable earnings season can outweigh international trade concerns, which heightened even further on Friday morning on reports that President Trump is readying another batch of tariffs.

Nevertheless, earnings growth is expected to be robust throughout the remainder of the season, including in the technology sector. Tech remains an important battleground for bullish investors, as secular growth trends are still driving innovation and demand but could easily be overshadowed by external forces.

With that said, investors can always use the Zacks Earnings Calendar to plan out their schedules for earnings, dividend announcements, and other important financial releases. This handy tool is your perfect one-stop-shop to properly prepare for the market events that will have an impact on your own portfolio.

In this piece, we will be taking a look at three of the most-important reports from the tech sector to watch over the coming days. Make sure to keep an eye on these companies as they prepare to report during the week of July 23.

1. Alphabet Inc. ((GOOGL ) )

Google parent Alphabet is scheduled to report its latest quarterly earnings results after the closing bell on July 23. Google was just hit with a record-breaking $5 billion fine in Europe, and although that will not affect the soon-to-be-reported results, another EU legal battle puts a damper on any impressive numbers the company might have to show.

Another bad sign is the downward estimate revision trend Alphabet has seen recently. This quarter's consensus EPS projection has moved 27 cents lower over the last 90 days, and that has earned the stock a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Adjusted earnings are now expected to be $9.51 per share, up nearly 90% from the year-ago period—although that is a soft comparison because Google faced another EU fine last year. Meanwhile, revenue is projected to be $25.65 billion, which would represent year-over-year growth of 23%.

 

2. Texas Instruments Inc. ((TXN ) )

Semiconductor giant Texas Instruments will announce its most recent quarterly financial figures after the market closes on July 24. Texas Instruments has been marred by the strange departure of its CEO for conduct violations, but the company's business looks healthy heading into the report date. Shares are up about 12% in the trailing 12 weeks, and the stock sports a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

According to our latest Zacks Consensus Estimates, analysts expect TXN to report adjusted earnings of $1.31 per share and revenue of $3.95 billion. These results would represent year-over-year growth rates of 27% and 7%, respectively.

 

3. Facebook, Inc. ((FB ) )

Social media king Facebook is set to release its earnings report after the bell on July 25. It was not the greatest start to the year for Facebook, as major backlash to data privacy scandals appeared ready to threaten its reign at the top of the tech world, but the stock has rebounded impressively.

Investors appear more interested in the good than the bad from Facebook right now, and the good is, well, really good. Facebook's Instagram platform continues to grow rapidly, and the firm itself has been able to string together countless quarters of impressive EPS and revenue growth.

Estimates for this period have trended higher, helping FB earn a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Adjusted earnings are now expected to come in at $1.75 per share, up nearly 33% year over year. Revenue is projected to be $13.43 billion, a 44% improvement from the prior year.

 

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Key Themes to Track When Dunkin' Brands Reports Earnings

Dunkin' Brands Group�(NASDAQ:DNKN) reports its second-quarter 2018 results next week on July 26.�The quick-service restaurant chain has chalked up a stock price return of 35% over the last 12 months, due in part to investors' confidence in its strategy of investing in franchisee growth.

Will DNKN shares continue to rise after the company's upcoming earnings release? The following are key themes that investors can use to measure next week's report against current company strategy and goals.

Comparable-store sales and other vital measures

Dunkin' Brands' comparable-store sales in its largest segment, Dunkin' Donuts U.S., dipped 0.5% in the first quarter of the year, as higher revenue per transaction was offset by lower traffic.�Among other segments, Dunkin' Donuts International comps improved by 2.1% and the�company's Baskin-Robbins International segment posted attractive comps growth of 10%, offsetting a Baskin-Robbins U.S. comps dip of 1%.

Management typically only provides a comparable-sales growth target for Dunkin' Donuts U.S. as it comprises more than three-quarters of company revenue (excluding advertising revenues). For the full 2018 year, management expects Dunkin' Donuts U.S. to deliver comps growth of 1%, although the second quarter may persist in a flat to negative trend as we'll discuss below.

As for other important measures, Dunkin' Brands has guided investors to expect companywide revenue growth in the low- to mid-single digits and operating income expansion in the mid- to high-single digits in 2018. For comparative purposes, revenue and operating income in the first quarter expanded by 1.7% and 3.5%, respectively.

Finally, the company also is seeking to reduce general and administrative (G&A) expense over the full year by 5%. G&A expense dropped less than 1 percentage point against the prior year in the first quarter of 2018.

New leadership at the helm

As shareholders who closely follow the company already know, last week, CEO Nigel Travis announced his retirement and immediately handed the reins to his chosen successor, Dave Hoffman.�Travis has been appointed executive chairman of the company's board of directors and plans to remain active in the business, with a focus on international restaurant expansion.

Hoffman, a veteran of competitor McDonald's Corporation�joined Dunkin' Brands in 2016 as head of Dunkin' Donuts U.S. He's led the effort to simplify Dunkin' Donuts' menu and modernize its locations, while increasing brand relevancy in the midst of sharp competition.

Investors should keep an ear open for any initial signs of strategy changes during the company's upcoming earnings conference call. Since Hoffman has already spent the last two years reinvigorating the U.S. franchise, any departures from the current plan are likely to occur in the company's larger global business and/or Baskin-Robbins ice cream revenue stream.

Update on the simplified menu

Last quarter, the company reported that it had completed the rollout of its simplified menu through 100% of the Dunkin' Donuts U.S. system. This initiative included the removal of 10% of items that franchisees were previously required to offer, as well as the elimination of an additional 23 optional products.

Management has projected an initial drag of 1 percentage point on Dunkin' Donuts U.S. comps in the first months following the launch, which investors can take to mean the second quarter. Thus, the full-year comps target of 1% growth in the U.S. Dunkin' business may end up being a task slated for the back half of the year.

Along with a store revamp that will see at least 50 technology-enabled, next-generation locations open this year (between remodels and new units), menu innovation may prove one of Dunkin' Brands' most potent competitive weapons in the coming years. For those interested, I've written a more in-depth analysis on the potential effects of the simplified menu in an article from late spring of this year.�

A simplified menu doesn't mean the end of enticing limited-time offers. Image source: Dunkin' Brands.

Packaged-foods growth

Consumer-channel sales have become an attractive, emerging revenue source for Dunkin' Brands. Last year, the company derived nearly 5% of total revenue from the licensing fees it earned in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) category.�Dunkin' Brands licenses its trademarks and product formulas to the J.M. Smucker Co. for sales of packaged coffee, to Keurig Green Mountain and Smucker for K-cup pod sales,�and to the Coca-Cola Corporation for sales of ready-to-drink Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee.

Branded Dunkin' packaged foods are outpacing the rest of the business: During the first quarter, management pointed out that retail sales of these products in grocery and convenience channels expanded at a rate of 10%.�The licensing fees from CPG sales get classified in the company's "other revenue" segment, and management expects such sales to expand the other revenue business in the high-single-digits range this year. In the first quarter, other revenue increased just 0.5%; expect to see a much stronger result in the second quarter.

Share repurchases

Following on the heels of a major share-repurchase exercise of $650 million, which was conducted in the first quarter of 2018, Dunkin' Brands announced a new buyback program in May of this year.�The organization's board of directors has approved a two-year, $250 million share-repurchase authorization. Shareholders appear to appreciate -- and expect -- the company's regular share-buying programs. By its own count, Dunkin' Brands has bought back $2.65 billion worth of its stock since becoming a public company in 2011.

For investors, it's important to know how fast the company intends to run through this newest authorization.�This is a topic that will likely be addressed by CFO Kate Jaspon during next Thursday's earnings call. My guess is that management will take its time making stock purchases under the new plan.

Dunkin' Brands currently has a debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 6.25�-- leverage that's near the upper end of an acceptable limit. Of course, an appreciable amount of the company's debt has arisen from its practice of frequent stock repurchases. From a practical standpoint, the organization will probably keep a minimal pace of repurchasing over the next few quarters as it builds up more cash and borrowing capacity via its strong cash flow.

Trump advisor Kudlow says economic growth could top 4% for 'a quarter or two'

Larry Kudlow, President Donald Trump's top economic advisor, gave an optimistic view of the economy on Wednesday in which growth will run considerably above what has been the norm for the past decade.

Kudlow, spoke at CNBC's Delivering Alpha conference in New York.

As part of the administration's plan to grow the economy, Kudlow said there would be additional rounds of tax cuts ahead.

"We are getting 3 [percent] and it may be 4 for a quarter or two," Kudlow told CNBC's Jim Cramer. "That's all for the good. Literally millions more people are working."

Asked whether the administration is considering more tax legislation following the cuts passed late last year, Kudlow said there could be a "2.0 and 3.0 and a 4.0."

Economists widely expect second-quarter growth to approach 4 percent after GDP rose 2 percent in the first quarter and 2.3 percent for all of Trump's first year in office in 2017.

The administration has used a mix of tax cuts, spending increases and regulatory rollbacks in an effort to goose the economy out of what Kudlow characterized as a "growth recession" following the financial crisis.

"You've got kids, millennials etc. ... who have never seen a full-fledged lasting prosperity," Kudlow said. "It's not that they're cynics, they've just never seen it. We haven't had one in 20 years."

His remarks come as the White House has launched a trade war against both adversaries like China and friends including European Union nations. Long known as a free-market proponent, Kudlow has said that while he generally opposes tariffs, something needs to be done

"This guy, President Trump, has the biggest backbone," he said. "He will not let go of this point, nor should he in my opinion."

Kudlow claimed that sources have told the administration that "the Chinese government knows they're wrong."

"They know they're wrong, the rest of the world knows they're wrong" he said. "Something has to be done here."

This is a breaking news story. Check back here for updates.

Airbus (AIR) Given a €133.00 Price Target by JPMorgan Chase & Co. Analysts

Airbus (EPA:AIR) has been given a €133.00 ($154.65) target price by stock analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a report released on Tuesday. The firm presently has a “buy” rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s price target indicates a potential upside of 38.54% from the stock’s previous close.

Several other research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Goldman Sachs Group set a €118.00 ($137.21) target price on Airbus and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, April 9th. Morgan Stanley set a €125.00 ($145.35) target price on Airbus and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 22nd. UBS Group set a €107.00 ($124.42) target price on Airbus and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group set a €110.00 ($127.91) target price on Airbus and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 18th. Finally, Deutsche Bank set a €102.00 ($118.60) target price on Airbus and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 12th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. The stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of €110.84 ($128.89).

Get Airbus alerts:

Shares of Airbus traded down €0.84 ($0.98), hitting €96.00 ($111.63), during midday trading on Tuesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The company had a trading volume of 4,240,000 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,310,000. Airbus has a 52-week low of €68.28 ($79.40) and a 52-week high of €99.97 ($116.24).

Airbus Company Profile

Airbus SE, through its subsidiaries, provides aeronautics, space, and related products and services worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Airbus Commercial Aircraft, Airbus Helicopters, and Airbus Defence and Space segments. The Airbus Commercial Aircraft segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells commercial jet aircraft of approximately 100 seats; and regional turboprop aircraft and aircraft components, as well as provides aircraft conversion and related services.

Hot Oil Stocks To Watch For 2019

tags:HAL,APA,WLL,MMP, 1. Harvey energy havoc: Harvey has knocked more Gulf Coast refineries offline, sending gasoline futures to around $2 a gallon.

Thirteen oil refineries have been shut down or are in the process of closing, while several others are operating at reduced rates. Altogether, the storm has knocked out about a fifth of America's refining capacity, according to S&P Global Platts.

The Colonial Pipeline, which carries huge amounts of gasoline and other fuel between Houston and the East Coast, is also shutting down after Harvey, which is now considered a tropical depression, forced the closure of refineries and some of the pipeline's own facilities.

2. Brexit talks round three: The third round of divorce talks between the U.K. and the EU is set to conclude on Thursday.

Negotiators are expected to give an update on the status of discussions.

Recent comments from EU officials suggest that little progress has been made because of disagreements over a financial settlement.

Hot Oil Stocks To Watch For 2019: Halliburton Company(HAL)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tyler Crowe]

  Even though Haliburton's (NYSE:HAL) bottom line got hit yet again by the continued turmoil in Venezuela, the company was able to churn out a respectable profit for the first quarter of 2018. The number that pops out is that it grew revenue a whopping 34%. That's quite an accomplishment for such a large business, but management still thinks it has a few more quarters of growth like this left in it.�

• [By WWW.GURUFOCUS.COM]

  For the details of Packer & Co Ltd's stock buys and sells, go to http://www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=Packer+%26+Co+Ltd

  These are the top 5 holdings of Packer & Co LtdBall Corp (BLL) - 625,005 shares, 7.52% of the total portfolio. Hess Corp (HES) - 2,039,400 shares, 6.78% of the total portfolio. Anadarko Petroleum Corp (APC) - 1,432,600 shares, 6.35% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 14.37%Citigroup Inc (C) - 604,500 shares, 6.34% of the total portfolio. Shares reduced by 11.04%General Electric Co (GE) - 1,118,800 shares, 5.98% o
• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Halliburton (HAL)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

Hot Oil Stocks To Watch For 2019: Apache Corporation(APA)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  The IEA's forecast bodes well for oil stocks, especially those that have underperformed during the rally over the past year. Two that stand out are Newfield Exploration (NYSE:NFX) and Apache (NYSE:APA), since both have lost value even though oil has been red-hot. Because of that, they trade at dirt cheap valuations versus their peers. That underperformance doesn't make sense given the growth these companies can deliver at much lower oil prices.

• [By Jason Hall, Tyler Crowe, and John Bromels]

  If you're shopping for great buys in the oil patch right now, three Motley Fool contributors think you should take a close look at tech-heavy but asset-light oilfield services provider�Core Laboratories N.V.�(NYSE:CLB), value-priced independent oil producer�Apache Corporation�(NYSE:APA), and refining giant�Marathon Petroleum Corp�(NYSE:MPC).�

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  Both Apache (NYSE:APA) and Noble Energy (NYSE:NBL) have signed on to the private-equity-backed EPIC Pipeline, which will move 590,000 barrels of crude per day to the Texas coast when it starts operations in the second half of next year.

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  Thanks to red-hot oil prices over the past year, oil stocks are up sharply. To give some sense of the magnitude of the rebound, the iShares U.S. Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (NYSEMKT:IEO) -- which holds more than 60 U.S.-focused oil and gas stocks -- has rallied nearly 33% over the last 12 months. However, while that rising tide has lifted most boats, not all oil and gas stocks have enjoyed the oil market's rebound. In fact, some stocks have managed to lose ground in the past year. Two of those laggards are Antero Resources (NYSE:AR) and Apache Corporation (NYSE:APA), which have declined 6% and 12%, respectively, in the last year.

• [By John Bromels]

  But if you look hard enough, there are still some values to be found among oil and gas stocks. Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN), Apache Corporation (NYSE:APA), and Kinder Morgan (NYSE:KMI) have all managed to buck the trend of rising stock prices. Here's why these three stocks look incredibly cheap right now.

Hot Oil Stocks To Watch For 2019: Whiting Petroleum Corporation(WLL)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Whiting Petroleum Corp (NYSE:WLL) – Seaport Global Securities increased their Q1 2019 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Whiting Petroleum in a report issued on Wednesday, May 23rd. Seaport Global Securities analyst M. Kelly now expects that the oil and gas exploration company will post earnings of $0.98 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $0.55. Seaport Global Securities has a “Buy” rating and a $40.00 price target on the stock. Seaport Global Securities also issued estimates for Whiting Petroleum’s Q2 2019 earnings at $0.87 EPS, Q3 2019 earnings at $0.85 EPS, Q4 2019 earnings at $0.89 EPS and FY2019 earnings at $3.58 EPS.

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Whiting Petroleum Co. (NYSE:WLL) – Equities research analysts at Piper Jaffray Companies lifted their Q2 2018 earnings estimates for Whiting Petroleum in a research note issued on Sunday, May 20th. Piper Jaffray Companies analyst K. Harrison now forecasts that the oil and gas exploration company will earn $0.85 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $0.33. Piper Jaffray Companies currently has a “Hold” rating and a $46.00 target price on the stock. Piper Jaffray Companies also issued estimates for Whiting Petroleum’s Q3 2018 earnings at $0.97 EPS, Q4 2018 earnings at $1.16 EPS, FY2018 earnings at $3.90 EPS, Q1 2019 earnings at $1.70 EPS, Q2 2019 earnings at $1.48 EPS, Q3 2019 earnings at $1.47 EPS, Q4 2019 earnings at $1.59 EPS and FY2019 earnings at $6.24 EPS.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Penn Capital Management Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Whiting Petroleum Corp (NYSE:WLL) in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund purchased 318,157 shares of the oil and gas exploration company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,783,000.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Whiting Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: WLL) was reiterated as Overweight and the target price was raised to $56 from $45 (versus a $50.78 close) at KeyBanc Capital Markets.

• [By Max Byerly]

  TCW Group Inc. raised its stake in Whiting Petroleum Corp (NYSE:WLL) by 21.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 25,733 shares of the oil and gas exploration company’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,618 shares during the period. TCW Group Inc.’s holdings in Whiting Petroleum were worth $871,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Shares of Whiting Petroleum Corp (NYSE:WLL) have been given an average rating of “Buy” by the thirty-two ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, thirteen have given a hold recommendation, fifteen have given a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $46.58.

Hot Oil Stocks To Watch For 2019: Magellan Midstream Partners L.P.(MMP)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  Over the past five years, Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE:MMP) has generated a total return of nearly 70%. That's quite impressive considering that most master limited partnerships (MLPs) have lost value over that timeframe. One of the reasons the company has delivered such strong total returns is that it has steadily increased its payout even as rivals have either stopped raising their distribution, or cut it. Magellan has avoided this fate by investing within its means instead of stretching to grow at a faster pace.

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  In the meantime, Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE:MMP) is working on a 600,000 BPD pipeline in the region that could be in service by the middle of next year. Magellan is currently evaluating other options such as a joint venture that could optimize the project, which might shift the time frame and scale of the project. In addition, Magellan is eyeing a potential oil export dock in Corpus Christi, Texas, which it sees as an ideal landing spot for crude coming out of the Permian. The up-to-$700 million project could be up and running by 2020 and give Permian producers access to higher global oil prices. Projects like those potentially position Magellan to continue increasing its 5.4%-yielding distribution at a mid-single-digit annual rate for the next several years.

• [By Tyler Crowe]

  If you are an investor in Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE:MMP), you aren't in it for the thrills of rapid growth and skyrocketing stock prices. Instead, you're probably looking for a consistent, reliable business that will continue to churn out cash. If that is the case, then this past quarter's earnings report was right up your alley. By no means was it exciting, but it was another quarter of delivering consistent results.

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  Let��s compare the stories of Spectra Energy Partners (NYSE:SEP) and Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE:MMP). The scales are tilted in favor of one of these high-yielding�master limited partnerships�(MLPs), making it a much better buy right now.

• [By Reuben Gregg Brewer]

  To put a number on its distribution growth, Phillips 66 Partners has increased its disbursement for 16 consecutive quarters (every quarter since its IPO) at a compound annual growth rate of 31%. That's roughly the target it laid out for its first five years as a public entity. That is, of course, off of a low starting base. The year-over-year increase in the first-quarter distribution was around 20% -- still a very impressive number when peers like Enterprise and Magellan Midstream Partners�(NYSE:MMP) are offering up mid-to-high single-digit increases. (Kinder Morgan's dividend growth will be huge in the coming years, but that's a function of increasing the dividend after a painful cut.)� �

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  Meanwhile, the return multiples for many of the projects under development by Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE:MMP) are in the six- to eight-times EBITDA range. Because of that, the $1.7 billion of expansion projects Magellan currently has underway only will generate about $250 million in incidental EBITDA. That's partially why Magellan Midstream expects to grow its payout at a slower pace of 8% this year and a 5% to 8% annual rate in 2019 and 2020, even though it plans on paying out the same percentage of its cash flow as ONEOK.

Tesla hikes prices in China as trade war hits US cars

Tesla has hiked the prices of its cars in China by about 20% after getting caught in the crossfire of the trade clash between Washington and Beijing.

The move by the electric car maker follows China's decision to slap new tariffs on American vehicles in retaliation for US measures against $34 billion of Chinese exports.

It's the latest major company to feel the impact of the trade war between the world's top two economies.

Tesla's (TSLA) China website now lists the cheapest price for a Model S sedan at 849,900 yuan ($128,500), up from 710,600 yuan ($107,400) previously.

At the top of the range, the most expensive Model X crossover is now 1.57 million yuan ($240,000) up from about 1.32 million ($200,000) before.

Tesla didn't respond to a request for comment on the price rises.

The company had only just cut its prices in China in May after Beijing announced it was slashing tariffs on car imports from 25% to 15%.

That change took effect July 1, but Tesla and other automakers that export from the United States to China only benefited from the reduction for a few days.

A Tesla Model S on display at a showroom in Shanghai.

Global automaker Daimler (DDAIF) warned last month that the new Chinese tariffs would hit its profits, resulting in "fewer than expected SUV sales and higher than expected costs," which won't be completely passed on to customers.

China is a huge market for Tesla. Revenues in the country doubled last year to more than $2 billion, accounting for almost 20% of the company's total.

Increasing prices could threaten its position in such an important market. "This will certainly not be good for consumers or for Tesla's sales in China," said Bill Russo, founder of Shanghai-based consultancy Automobility.

He added that Tesla could lose market share to Chinese competitors, such as NIO, as a result. Russo said NIO's new ES8 SUV has been positioned as a "Tesla-fighter."

Tesla's Model 3 may not satisfy 'mainstream' buyers

Tesla is the first major US automaker to raise prices in China in response to the higher tariffs. Most big American car companies avoid hefty import tariffs by making many of their vehicles for the Chinese market inside the country through joint ventures with local partners.

Tesla, which only makes cars in California, wants to open a factory in Shanghai so it can sidestep tariffs, but the company still hasn't landed a deal with local authorities to get it done.

Tesla is reluctant to enter into a joint venture with a Chinese partner because it doesn't want to share its valuable intellectual property. China's long term strategy is to become a world leader in electric vehicles.

Beijing said earlier this year that it would allow foreign companies to control electric car manufacturing businesses in the country, potentially opening the door for Tesla.

Higher tariffs "certainly will raise urgency for Tesla," Russo said. But he predicts it will still be "a long time" before the company can get approval and build a production facility inside China.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk was due to attend a government event in Shanghai on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg, citing unidentified people familiar with Musk's plans. He will also visit Beijing later in the week, the article said.

The report did not specify the purpose of Musk's visit to China. Tesla and the Shanghai government didn't respond to requests for comment.

Musk has given mixed messages on when Telsa could start making cars in China. In November, he said that manufacturing in the country was still about three years away. In June, he told shareholders that an announcement on Chinese production could take place as early as this month.

Musk has said that the factory could produce about 200,000 vehicles a year for consumers in China and possibly elsewhere in Asia.

-- Serenitie Wang contributed to this report.

Employment Situation Heats Up in June

The U.S. Department of Labor released its Employment Situation numbers for the month of June early on Friday. The Bloomberg consensus estimate was 190,000 nonfarm payrolls, but it actually came in higher at 213,000. The unemployment rate came in a little higher at 4.0%, just above the expected 3.8%.

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (3.7%), adult women (3.7%) and Asians (3.2%) increased in June. The jobless rate for teenagers (12.6%), whites (3.5%), blacks (6.5%) and Hispanics (4.6%) showed little or no change month over month.

Also in June, the number of job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs increased by 211,000 to 3.1 million, and the number of reentrants to the labor force rose by 204,000 to 2.1 million.

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 213,000 in June and has grown by 2.4 million over the past 12 months. Over the month, job gains occurred in professional and business services (+50,000), manufacturing (+36,000) and health care (+25,000), while employment in retail trade declined (��22,000).

The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 34.5 hours in June. The average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by four cents to $22.62.

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for April was revised up from 159,000 to 175,000, and the change for May was revised from a gain of 223,000 to 244,000. With these revisions, employment gains in April and May combined were 37,000 more than previously reported. After revisions, job gains have averaged 211,000 per month over the past three months.

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2018 Dow Laggards Could Offer Material Upside Into 2019

Top 5 Performing Stocks To Watch Right Now

tags:DVN,GAPFF,BCEI,GBNK,HTHIF, Related SF Worst Performing Industries For February 24, 2016 Earnings Scheduled For February 23, 2016 Related CIB Stocks Hitting 52-Week Lows Latin American ADRs Getting Slaughtered, Brazilian Real And Crude Continue To Tumble

The Dow fell 0.45 percent to 17,424.07, while the NASDAQ composite index declined 0.17 percent to 4,760.98. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index dropped 0.53 percent to 2,025.92.

The worst performing industries in the market today are:

Investment Brokerage - Regional: This industry slipped 2.5 percent by 11:00 am. The worst stock within the industry was Stifel Financial Corp (NYSE: SF), which fell 2.6 percent. Stifel Financial shares have dipped 47.30 percent over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has dropped 0.95 percent in the same period.

Foreign Regional Banks: This industry declined 2 percent by 11:00 am with Bancolombia SA (ADR) (NYSE: CIB) moving down 3.7 percent. Bancolombia's PEG ratio is 4.51.

Top 5 Performing Stocks To Watch Right Now: Devon Energy Corporation(DVN)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  On the other hand, for many large U.S. oil producers, it doesn't matter what OPEC does, because they spent the past few years repositioning their businesses to prosper at lower oil prices. Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN) is one of many producers that has sold assets to help pay down debt and reduce its cost structure. As a result, Devon is on pace to grow its U.S. oil production at a mid-teens compound annual rate through 2020, which would expand cash flow at an even more impressive 25% rate. Furthermore, Devon can achieve that fast-paced growth as long as oil averages $60 a barrel, and it would produce an estimated $2.5 billion in free cash flow over that time frame. That ability to generate a gusher of cash at a lower price point positions Devon for success in the coming years.�

• [By Max Byerly]

  Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 10,807,249 shares, a decrease of 21.1% from the April 13th total of 13,689,080 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 7,945,726 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.4 days. Approximately 2.1% of the company’s shares are sold short.

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  Oil prices have continued rebounding this year, with the U.S. benchmark price WTI up another 7% to around $65 per barrel. That improving oil price has helped drive up most oil stocks. I say most because Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN), Apache (NYSE:APA), and Newfield Exploration (NYSE:NFX) are flat to down so far this year because investors seem to have overlooked them entirely. Because of that, they trade for a dirt-cheap valuation versus their peers, making them intriguing options to consider.

Top 5 Performing Stocks To Watch Right Now: Aimia Inc. (GAPFF)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By SEEKINGALPHA.COM]

  Aimia (OTCPK:GAPFF) (TSX: AIM, AIM.PR.A, AIM.PR.B, AIM.PR.C)

  As some background, we are intimately familiar with Aeroplan and Air Canada (OTCQX:ACDVF) not just as investors but as extraordinarily heavy consumers. As both an Air Canada top tier elite and Aeroplan top tier member I generate well in excess of 1.5 million Aeroplan miles annually, half from flying Air Canada and its partners and the other half from spending. As consumers we were concerned with Air Canada's decision (though we expect more details to come out that will alleviate these concerns) but as investors we understand that the fundamental business model of mileage programs are incredibly attractive and that Aimia presents an incredibly rare and lucrative investment opportunity for the investor discerning enough to dig into the company.

Top 5 Performing Stocks To Watch Right Now: Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.(BCEI)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Bonanza Creek Energy (BCEI)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Shanthi Rexaline]

  Crude oil prices continue to remain bullish, brightening the prospects of oil and related companies. Bonanza Creek Energy Inc (NYSE: BCEI), an oil and natural gas exploration and production company that emerged from Chapter 11 in April 2017, could also benefit from an improved cost structure, according to Imperial Capital. 

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Bonanza Creek Energy (NYSE:BCEI) was upgraded by equities research analysts at ValuEngine from a “strong sell” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday.

Top 5 Performing Stocks To Watch Right Now: Guaranty Bancorp(GBNK)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Guaranty Bancorp (NASDAQ:GBNK) was downgraded by equities researchers at BidaskClub from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued on Friday.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Guaranty Bancorp (GBNK)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Guaranty Bancorp (NASDAQ:GBNK) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 33,022 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $936,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. owned about 0.11% of Guaranty Bancorp as of its most recent SEC filing.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  On Tuesday, the financial shares surged 0.71 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Guaranty Bancorp (NASDAQ: GBNK), up 5 percent, and Jupai Holdings Limited (NYSE: JP) up 5 percent.

Top 5 Performing Stocks To Watch Right Now: Hitachi Ltd (HTHIF)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By ]

  The vast dealer network, built up over the more than 90 years that Caterpillar has been in operation, is the key competitive advantage that the company possesses. While Caterpillar's products are renowned for quality and low downtime, it is the availability of the support service on an international level in tandem with a reputation for product quality is what gives Caterpillar its edge, and has given it pole position among the world's construction machinery manufacturers in 2017 based on construction equipment sales, outranking Komatsu Ltd. (OTCPK:KMTUF) (OTCPK:KMTUY), Hitachi Ltd. (OTCPK:HTHIF) (OTCPK:HTHIY), Volvo (OTCPK:VOLVF) (OTCPK:VOLVY), the privately-held Liebherr group, the Chinese government-owned XCMG Group, the Doosan Infracore subsidiary of the Doosan Group conglomerate, Sany (OTCPK:SNYYF) (OTC:SNYYY), and John Deere & Co.

• [By ]

  Some of the larger companies that have begun incorporating blockchain into their industries include:

  Overstock.com (OSTK) , once a retail company, has become one of the biggest blockchain options on the stock market. The company has developed tZERO, a cryptocurrency and blockchain-based registry that complies with the regulations of the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. IBM (IBM) has developed blockchain technology that they are using with a large variety of partners in a large variety of industries. One example is their partnership with food retailers, most notably Walmart, to help quickly, efficiently, and securely track the supply chain to help ensure ideal food safety. They have also partnered with Maersk to work on a blockchain platform for global trade. Hitachi (HTHIF) , the Japanese conglomerate that has worked on social infrastructure and IT systems, among other industries, has begun dabbling in blockchain. It has released reports about how it believes the technology can positively impact the financial sector, and how it could potentially be used to create new services for businesses.

  There are also ETFs that one can invest in that hold a number of stocks related to blockchain. For example, the Reality Shares Nasdaq NextGen Economy ETF (BLCN) holds stocks in all of the examples above, as well as Intel (INTC) and Cisco Systems (CSCO) .

Elaine J. Dorward-King Sells 3,000 Shares of Newmont Mining Corp (NEM) Stock

Newmont Mining Corp (NYSE:NEM) EVP Elaine J. Dorward-King sold 3,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.47, for a total value of $112,410.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 111,831 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,190,307.57. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

Shares of Newmont Mining opened at $37.64 on Wednesday, according to MarketBeat.com. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 4.18 and a quick ratio of 3.62. The firm has a market cap of $20.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.78 and a beta of 0.22. Newmont Mining Corp has a twelve month low of $31.70 and a twelve month high of $42.04.

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Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 26th. The basic materials company reported $0.35 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.33 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $1.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.84 billion. Newmont Mining had a return on equity of 7.01% and a net margin of 0.64%. Newmont Mining’s revenue was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.09 EPS. research analysts expect that Newmont Mining Corp will post 1.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 21st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 7th were given a dividend of $0.14 per share. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 6th. Newmont Mining’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.36%.

NEM has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. TheStreet raised Newmont Mining from a “c+” rating to a “b” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 26th. BMO Capital Markets set a $46.00 price target on Newmont Mining and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 28th. ValuEngine raised Newmont Mining from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, June 29th. Deutsche Bank raised their price target on Newmont Mining from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 11th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised Newmont Mining from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. The stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $42.92.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of NEM. Brown Advisory Inc. bought a new stake in Newmont Mining during the 4th quarter valued at $228,000. Amalgamated Bank raised its position in shares of Newmont Mining by 9.7% in the 4th quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 67,240 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $2,523,000 after acquiring an additional 5,968 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Newmont Mining by 6.9% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,378,102 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $238,856,000 after acquiring an additional 410,435 shares in the last quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd raised its position in shares of Newmont Mining by 18.8% in the 4th quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd now owns 32,624 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,224,000 after acquiring an additional 5,165 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lombard Odier Asset Management Switzerland SA bought a new position in shares of Newmont Mining in the 4th quarter worth $2,172,000. 82.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Newmont Mining

Newmont Mining Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the mining industry. The company primarily acquires, develops, explores for, and produces gold, copper, and silver. Its operations and/or assets are located in the United States, Australia, Peru, Ghana, and Suriname. As of February 22, 2018, the company had proven and probable gold reserves of 68.5 million ounces and an aggregate land position of approximately 23,000 square miles.