Critical Notices, Apr. 29, 2026
The April 29 Critical Notices roundup highlights several market‑moving items. Expand Energy, the United States’ largest gas producer, signed a new offtake agreement for Delfin LNG, targeting Gulf Coast export terminals to lock in higher overseas prices. Meanwhile, Russia’s Gazprom is in early talks about extending pipeline capacity into China ahead of President Putin’s upcoming visit, and Australia’s Woodside Energy is securing a stable steel supply for its Louisiana LNG project. A brief operational note also warns subscribers that the Gas Market Reconnaissance newsletter will skip the Dec 25‑26, 2025 holiday edition, resuming on Dec 29, 2025.
Everest Reports First Quarter 2026 Results
Everest Group posted a strong first‑quarter 2026, delivering $653 million net income, or $16.21 per share, more than triple the prior‑year figure. Gross written premium slipped 18.5% to $3.6 billion, yet the combined ratio improved to 91.2%, reflecting disciplined underwriting. Investment income...
Carvana Stock Pops as Used Car Retailer Reports Record First-Quarter Results
Carvana reported record first‑quarter results, beating Wall Street expectations with earnings per share of $1.69 and revenue of $6.43 billion. Retail sales surged 40% year‑over‑year to 187,393 units, while adjusted EBITDA reached $672 million and net income rose to $405 million. The strong...
Alphabet’s Q1 Profit Beats Expectations, with Google’s Big AI Bets Paying Off
Alphabet reported a stellar first‑quarter, posting $62.6 billion in earnings, or $5.11 per share, an 81% jump from a year ago. Revenue rose 22% to $109.9 billion, comfortably beating analyst forecasts. Google’s ad business grew 16% while its Cloud unit surged 63%...
Takeaways From Powell’s Final Fed Meeting as Chair.
Jerome H. Powell announced he will remain on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors after his chairmanship ends on May 15, 2026, citing legal threats and concerns over the Fed’s independence. The Fed kept policy rates unchanged, but the vote...
Fertilizer Prices Have Doubled Since the Strait Closed
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Feb. 28 halted half of the world’s fertilizer feedstock shipments, causing fertilizer prices to more than double. Experts say even a cease‑fire won’t quickly restore natural‑gas supplies, so relief could take months or...
Google Gains 25M Subscriptions in Q1, Driven by YouTube and Google One
Google added 25 million paid subscriptions in Q1, bringing its total to 350 million, driven primarily by YouTube Premium and Google One plans. The company bundled advanced Gemini AI features into Google One, reporting a 40% quarter‑over‑quarter rise in paid enterprise Gemini...
Meta Q1 2026 Earnings: AI Capex Raised to $145B
Meta reported Q1 2026 revenue of $56.31 billion, up 33% year‑over‑year, and net income of $26.77 billion, beating analyst forecasts. The company raised its full‑year capital‑expenditure outlook to a range of $125 billion‑$145 billion, citing higher component costs and additional data‑center spend for future...
AAPL Earnings Preview: Can Apple Keep Its Winning Streak Alive?
Apple is set to release its second‑quarter results after the bell on April 30, following a busy earnings week that includes Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and Alphabet. The report arrives amid a leadership change, with longtime CEO Tim Cook announcing his September departure...
BMO Capital Raises Alphabet (GOOGL) Price Target by $10 – Here’s Why
On April 24, 2026, BMO Capital raised its price target for Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) from $400 to $410 and reaffirmed a Buy rating. The adjustment comes ahead of Alphabet’s Q1 earnings, following a 116% stock gain over the past year...
Entergy Corporation Q1 2026 Earnings Call Summary
Entergy Corp reported Q1 2026 earnings highlighted by 8.5% retail sales growth and 15% industrial growth, driven by new data‑center projects. The company formalized a "Fair Share Plus" pledge and secured a landmark electric service agreement with Meta, promising $2 billion...
Delek Logistics Partners, LP Q1 2026 Earnings Call Summary
Delek Logistics Partners posted a resilient Q1 2026, with its integrated crude, gas and water platform in the Permian offsetting roughly $10 million of headwinds from Winter Storm Fern. The company reaffirmed full‑year EBITDA guidance of $520‑$560 million and outlined $180‑$190 million of...
Markel Corporation Q1 2026 Earnings Call Summary
Markel Corp is deepening its "business of businesses" model by giving 14 profit‑center heads more authority, while deliberately shrinking gross written premiums by 21% after exiting Global Re and moving Hagerty to a fronting structure. Underwriting quality rose, with the...
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. Q1 2026 Earnings Call Summary
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners posted a record 10% rise in first‑quarter FFO, led by a 46% surge in its Data segment after acquiring a U.S. bulk‑fiber network and commissioning 200 MW of data centers. The Midstream and Utilities units also contributed, buoyed...
Microsoft Reports Sinking Xbox Revenue as Its Cloud Business Climbs
Microsoft reported a 33% plunge in Xbox hardware revenue and a 5% dip in Xbox content and services, highlighting a sharp decline in its gaming hardware segment. At the same time, the company’s cloud and AI businesses surged, with Azure...
Bill Ackman: This Is a “Great” Time to Invest - Even at Market Highs
Bill Ackman announced the launch of Pershing Square USA, a new closed‑end fund that gives retail investors direct exposure to his concentrated, actively managed portfolio. The vehicle mirrors the core holdings of Pershing Square’s higher‑fee funds but at a lower...
Covenant Asset Management LLC Buys New Shares in Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF $BIV
Covenant Asset Management LLC disclosed a new 13F filing showing it bought 15,113 shares of Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF (BIV) for roughly $1.18 million in the fourth quarter. The purchase adds to a wave of institutional activity, with Wealthfront, M&T Bank,...
Covenant Asset Management LLC Boosts Position in ServiceNow, Inc. $NOW
Institutional investors are markedly increasing their stakes in ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW). Covenant Asset Management LLC boosted its holding by 169.2% to 20,863 shares worth about $3.2 million, while six other funds also raised positions, pushing overall institutional ownership to roughly 87% of...
Covenant Asset Management LLC Reduces Stock Position in Starbucks Corporation $SBUX
Covenant Asset Management LLC slashed its Starbucks position by 60% in Q4, selling 12,339 shares and leaving a holding of 8,243 shares worth roughly $694,000. Several other hedge funds quietly built modest stakes in the coffee chain during Q3, collectively...
Chip Gear Supplier KLA Posts Beat-And-Raise Fiscal Q3, But Stock Falls Late
KLA Corp. posted fiscal Q3 earnings of $9.40 per share on $3.42 billion revenue, topping FactSet expectations. Year‑over‑year results rose 12% in earnings and 11% in sales, and the company lifted its FY2026 outlook to $9.87 EPS and $3.58 billion sales. It...
SAVE Plan Is Gone — What Borrowers Must Do Now
The U.S. Department of Education has officially ended the SAVE income‑driven repayment plan, affecting more than seven million borrowers. Recipients of the agency’s recent email have roughly 90 days—until early May—to select a new repayment option or risk being placed...
Morningstar DBRS Confirms BCI QuadReal Realty Trust at AA (Low) With a Stable Trend
Morningstar DBRS confirmed that BCI QuadReal Realty Trust (BQRT) retains an AA (low) issuer rating, AA (low) senior notes rating, and R‑1 (low) commercial paper rating, all with stable trends. The Trust, a successor to BCI QuadReal Realty, benefits from...
Central Pacific (CPF) Q1 2026 Earnings Transcript
Central Pacific Financial Corp. reported Q1 2026 net income of $20.7 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, with a 13.9% return on equity. The bank added $31 million in loans, bringing the portfolio to $5.3 billion, while core deposits rose $90 million to $6.7 billion...
Meta Stock Slides Despite Posting Fastest Revenue Growth Since 2021. AI Costs Keep Rising.
Meta Platforms reported first‑quarter earnings that topped expectations, posting $10.44 earnings per share—a 62% year‑over‑year increase—thanks in part to an $8 billion tax benefit. Revenue surged 33% to $56.3 billion, marking the fastest growth since 2021 and beating the $55.6 billion consensus. The...
Why Visa Stock Popped Today
Visa shares surged 8.26% after the credit‑card giant posted a Q1 beat, with net revenue climbing 17% to $11.2 billion and adjusted earnings per share reaching $3.31 versus the $3.10 consensus. Adjusted net income rose 17% to $6.3 billion, while total payment...
US Stocks Today: Microsoft Cloud Revenue Accelerates as Spending Growth Cools
Microsoft reported Azure cloud revenue surged 40% year‑over‑year in the March quarter, matching analyst forecasts and outpacing the prior 39% growth rate. Capital spending rose 49% to $31.9 billion, still below Wall Street’s $34.9 billion estimate, signaling tighter cost discipline. The company...
Microsoft Beats Fiscal Q3 Views On Cloud Computing, AI Strength
Microsoft reported fiscal Q3 earnings of $4.27 per share on $82.9 billion revenue, surpassing analysts' expectations of $4.05 and $81.4 billion. Cloud revenue jumped 29% to $54.5 billion, while Azure grew 39% year‑over‑year in constant currency. AI services reached a $37 billion annual run...
MTUM: Momentum Investing Is Poised To Thrive In 2026
iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) posted a 12% year‑to‑date return, outpacing the S&P 500 by about eight points. The fund targets 120‑130 U.S. stocks with strong 6‑ to 12‑month risk‑adjusted momentum, rebalancing quarterly to capture up‑trends while managing risk....
Does This Potential Acquisition Make Sirius XM Stock a Buy?
Sirius XM is reportedly in preliminary talks to acquire iHeartMedia, the nation’s largest radio‑station owner. Both companies have seen rapid growth in podcasting, with Sirius XM’s podcast revenue jumping 41% in 2025 and iHeart’s up more than 25% the same...
All Eyes on Big Tech: Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon Report Earnings
Yahoo Finance’s tech editors preview the upcoming earnings reports of Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon, zeroing in on AI‑driven growth and capital spending. Microsoft is expected to show Azure revenue at 38% year‑over‑year, just shy of its 40% guidance, while...
Copper Forecasts Electrify the Market as Small Producers Pursue Growth
Analysts at Chile’s Cesco Week 2026, led by BMO Capital Markets, see copper prices rebounding toward $13,100 per tonne by Q4 2026 and $13,425 in 2027, despite geopolitical headwinds. The bank cites renewed Chinese buying, US arbitrage activity and limited...
ANALYSIS: Fed Hold Keeps Markets Anchored as Rate-Cut Timeline Slips
The Federal Reserve left its policy range unchanged at 3.5%‑3.75%, cementing a "higher for longer" stance despite inflation still above target and heightened geopolitical risk from the Iran conflict. The vote revealed four dissenting governors—the most opposition since 1992—signaling deep...
Bing Ads Revenue Up 12% - New Growth
Microsoft reported third‑quarter 2026 results showing Bing Ads revenue climbing 12% year‑over‑year, signaling a rebound in its search advertising segment. Overall Q3 revenue hit $82.9 billion, up 18% YoY, while operating income rose 20% to $38.4 billion. The company highlighted AI‑driven services...
Why Bell Potter Sees More Upside in NSW Gold Explorer Waratah Minerals
Waratah Minerals (ASX:WTM) is gaining traction after high‑grade copper‑gold drill hits at its Spur project in New South Wales, including 54 m at 1.88 g/t Au and 208.7 m at 1.17 g/t Au. The company has logged 21 intersections exceeding 100 gram‑metres, a benchmark...
Markets Are Mixed Amid Fed Uncertainty: Stock Market Today
The Fed’s FOMC voted 8‑4 to keep the federal funds rate at 3.5‑3.75%, citing elevated inflation driven by higher global energy prices. Stocks slipped, with the Dow down 0.6% and the S&P 500 flat, while the Nasdaq edged higher as...
The Best Growth Stocks to Buy Right Now
CoreWeave and Nebius Group emerge as leading AI‑infrastructure growth stocks despite macro headwinds. CoreWeave, a former Ethereum miner, now runs 250,000 Nvidia GPUs across 43 data centers, scaling revenue from $16 M in 2022 to $5.1 B in 2025 and targeting $36.7 B...
Iran War Hit To Dubai Condo Market 'Good For Miami,' Developers Say
Developers say recent Iran‑UAE drone strikes have chilled Dubai’s luxury condo market, prompting buyers to look toward Miami. While Dubai saw a 26% year‑over‑year sales surge early 2026, activity slowed after the conflict began. Miami’s condo closings rose 5.5% in...
Microsoft Q3 Beats on Revenue, EPS and Cloud as Capex Comes in $3.4bn Below Estimates
Microsoft reported fiscal Q3 2026 revenue of $82.89 billion, an 18% year‑on‑year rise that topped the $81.46 billion consensus, and earnings per share of $4.27 versus the $4.03 estimate. Azure and other cloud services surged 39% in constant currency, beating the 37‑38% guidance...
MIMEDX Announces First Quarter 2026 Operating & Financial Results
MiMedx Group reported first‑quarter 2026 net sales of $59 million, a 33% drop from the prior year, as new Medicare reimbursement rules crippled its wound‑care segment, which fell 60%. The surgical franchise bucked the trend, posting a 13% year‑over‑year increase. Management...
Oil Jumps to Highest Level Since June 2022 as War Continues
Oil prices surged to their highest level since June 2022 as the U.S.-Iran conflict and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz tightened global supply. Brent crude rose above $119.50 a barrel before settling near $118, while WTI hovered just...
Aware Reports First Quarter Financial Results
Aware Inc. posted first‑quarter 2026 results showing revenue of $3.4 million, a 6% dip from the same period last year, while operating expenses jumped to $7.0 million, driven by $0.7 million in one‑time severance and higher compensation. The company recorded a net loss...
Fed Leaves Rate Unchanged During Powell’s Final Meeting as Chair
The Federal Reserve left its target federal funds rate unchanged at 3.5%‑3.75% during Chairman Jerome Powell’s final FOMC meeting, despite dissent from Governor Stephen Miran and three regional presidents. Recent data show a resilient labor market, a modest rise in...
Microsoft Vs. Amazon: Comparing Consistent Revenue Growth in Tech Giants
Microsoft and Amazon continue to outpace most peers, but their growth stories differ. Amazon’s total revenue remains roughly three times Microsoft’s, driven by its massive e‑commerce and AWS businesses, while Microsoft’s top‑line is expanding faster, especially in Azure cloud services....
4 Stocks Primed to Benefit From the $7 Trillion Data Center Build-Out
AI-driven data‑center construction is projected to require roughly $7 trillion in capex by 2030, according to McKinsey. The surge fuels demand for logic, GPU, and memory chips, positioning Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM), Nvidia (NVDA), Broadcom (AVGO) and Micron (MU) as primary...
Meta Beats on Revenue at $56.3 vs $55.6 Billion Consnsus. Boosts Capex Further
Meta reported first‑quarter revenue of $56.3 billion, topping the $55.6 billion consensus. The company projected second‑quarter revenue of $58‑61 billion, slightly below analysts' $59 billion estimate. Capital‑expenditure guidance rose to $125‑145 billion, up from the prior $115‑135 billion range, reflecting a push on data‑center capacity. Shares...
Robinhood Earnings Show a Significant Deceleration in Revenue Growth. Is This a Red Flag?
Robinhood reported first‑quarter revenue of $1.06 billion, up 15% year‑over‑year but falling 17% sequentially, and net income of $346 million, a modest 3% increase. The earnings missed analyst expectations, prompting a 14% drop in the stock, which is already more than 50%...
Brent Crude Breaks the Iran War Highs
Brent crude surged past $100 a barrel on Thursday as geopolitical tension over Iran escalated. A Politico report revealed the White House convened with major oil executives to discuss measures to curb price spikes if the U.S. maintains its blockade...
This Free Tax Withholding Tool Makes It Easier to Update Your Paycheck — Who Should Use It
The IRS has released a free tax‑withholding estimator that generates a pre‑filled Form W‑4 (or W‑4P) to help workers adjust their 2026 paycheck withholdings. With 80 % of taxpayers earning W‑2 wages and many having over‑withheld in 2025, the tool is most...
Savencia’s Profits Sink in Shaky 2025
French dairy group Savencia posted a 30% plunge in net profit for FY25, with revenue slipping 2.6% to €6.96 bn (about $7.7 bn). Operating profit fell 9.4% to €210.5 m ($232 m) and margin narrowed to 3.0% as pricing pressure, a weak euro and...
Morningstar DBRS Confirms Lakeridge Health's Credit Ratings at AA, Stable Trends
Morningstar DBRS reaffirmed Lakeridge Health’s issuer and senior unsecured debenture ratings at AA with a Stable trend, emphasizing the province’s robust financial backing. The Durham‑region hospital is a key acute‑care provider for a fast‑growing population, yet it has posted consecutive...