S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as Post-Election Rally Continues

Biggest S&P 500 Movers on Tuesday

December 03, 2024 05:40 PM EST

Advancers

• Shares of big data analytics software provider Palantir Technologies (PLTR) soared 6.9%, the top performance in the S&P 500 on Tuesday. Palantir announced that it had received authorization for its cloud services under FedRAMP, a government initiative aimed at implementing secure cloud computing operations across government agencies. The authorization covers Palantir’s full range of product offerings, positioning the firm to provide an array of services to government entities.
• Axon Enterprise (AXON) shares jumped 5.3% after Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to “outperform” and boosted its price target. Analysts believe the maker of Taser devices, body cameras, and other law enforcement equipment could build upon its growth trajectory as artificial intelligence (AI) offerings help drive upsell opportunities and encourage the adoption of premium product packages.
• AT&T (T) shares added 4.6% after the telecom giant laid out an ambitious strategic plan that includes returning more than $40 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks over the next three years. The company also said it will enhance its fiber network for broadband internet and its 5G wireless network, suggesting these investments should drive stronger shareholder returns.

Decliners

• Integrated circuit manufacturer Microchip Technology (MCHP) reduced its sales outlook for the third quarter while announcing plans to close its wafer fabrication facility in Arizona and cut around 500 jobs. The firm expects these moves to result in significant near-term restructuring costs. Microchip shares fell 7%, losing the most of any S&P 500 stock.
• Intel (INTC) shares slipped 6.1% on Tuesday, extending losses posted in the prior session after the semiconductor giant announced the retirement of CEO Pat Gelsinger. According to a report by Reuters, former board member Lip-Bu Tan is among those being considered for the top leadership role. A final decision on who will take the helm of the company is expected in the next few weeks.
• Shares of On Semiconductor (ON), a chipmaker focused on the automotive and industrial end markets, sank 5.6%. Analysts at Wells Fargo noted that sentiment remains negative in the industrial areas of the semiconductor market and highlighted concerns about a potential flattening in automotive chip markets during 2025.

–Michael Bromberg

Salesforce Climbs in Extended Trading on Results, Outlook

December 03, 2024 05:02 PM EST

Salesforce (CRM) reported third-quarter results that beat the Street’s expectations and boosted its full-year outlook, sending shares higher in extended trading Tuesday. 

The cloud software company saw revenue grow 8% year-over-year to $9.44 billion, while earnings per share were $1.58, up from $1.25 a year earlier.

Salesforce bumped up the low end of its fiscal 2025 revenue guidance to between $37.8 billion and $38 billion from a prior range of $37 billion to $38 billion. Its EPS projection was lifted to $6.15 to $6.20, up from $6.05 to $6.13. Wall Street is looking for full-year revenue of $37,87 billion and diluted EPS of $6.16, according to Visible Alpha.

The earnings beat comes as Salesforce’s stock price has gained roughly 30% since the company’s Dreamforce event in September and the unveiling of its Agentforce suite of autonomous AI agents.

“Agentforce, our complete AI system for enterprises built into the Salesforce Platform, is at the heart of a groundbreaking transformation,” CEO Marc Benioff said in a statement. “The rise of autonomous AI agents is revolutionizing global labor, reshaping how industries operate and scale.”

Shares of Salesforce were up 6% in recent after-hours trading. Through the close of Tuesday’s regular trading session, the stock was up about 27% since the start of the year, in line with the S&P 500’s gain over the period.

–Andrew Kessel

Amazon Kicks Off Holiday Season With Record Numbers

December 03, 2024 03:25 PM EST

It was a record-setting start to the holiday shopping season for Amazon (AMZN).

The online retailing giant reported that its Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday event from Nov. 21 to Dec. 2 had all-time highs for sales and number of items sold.

Amazon said that more than 60% of sales in its store were from independent sellers, which it noted were mostly small- and medium-sized businesses.

Amazon was not alone is posting big numbers. E-commerce researcher Adobe found that consumers spent $41.1 billion from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, an 8.2% increase from a year ago.

Amazon shares were up 1% in late trading Tuesday, trading just below their all-time of around $216 set last month.

–Bill McColl

Tesla Hits Speed Bump as Judge Rules Against Musk Pay Deal

December 03, 2024 02:01 PM EST

Tesla (TSLA) shares gave back some of their recent gains after a Delaware judge struck down for a second time a multi-billion dollar pay package for CEO Elon Musk.

Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick upheld her earlier decision supporting shareholders who sued to block the agreement with Musk, which was earlier valued at $56 billion. Tesla shareholders overwhelmingly voted in June to reinstate the compensation for Musk, and the company on social media platform X said the decision was wrong “and we’re going to appeal.”

The news contributed to a pause in the recent run-up of Tesla shares, which have soared since the presidential election, yesterday hitting a more than two-and-a-half year high. The stock has received a boost from expectations that President-elect Trump will cut regulations as well as end federal tax incentives for electric vehicle purchases, which might benefit Tesla.

“Musk is Tesla and Tesla is Musk,” Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, a Tesla bull, wrote. “One way or another the Board is getting Musk his pay package (and another long term one for the next decade) to secure Musk will be CEO of Tesla at least through 2030.”

Tesla shares were down about 2% in recent trading. The stock is up 40% since the start of 2024.

–Bill McColl

Intel Prices to Watch as Stock Slides After CEO Shakeup

December 03, 2024 12:55 PM EST

Intel (INTC) shares were down sharply Tuesday afternoon, a day after the embattled chipmaker said CEO Pat Gelsinger had stepped down and will be replaced by a pair of interim co-CEO’s as it searches for a permanent replacement.

The stock was off 6% in recent trading at $22.50. The stock rose as much as 6% on Monday following news of Gelsinger’s departure, but finished the session down 0.5%. 

The stock dropped Monday towards the 50-day moving average on the highest volume in more than a month, indicating selling conviction behind the move.

Investors should watch key support levels on Intel’s chart around $22 and $18.50, while also monitoring resistance levels near $30 and $37.

Read the full technical analysis piece here.

–Timothy Smith

Zscaler Stock Slides on Disappointing Guidance

December 03, 2024 11:58 AM EST

Zscaler (ZS) shares fell Tuesday morning, a day after the cloud-based cybersecurity platform reported a slowdown in billings and issued underwhelming guidance. In addition, it announced the company’s finance chief would be stepping down.

Zscaler posted first-quarter fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.77, with revenue up 26% year-over-year to $628.0 million. Both exceeded forecasts of analysts polled by Visible Alpha.

However, billings came in at $516.7 million, a 43% decline from the previous quarter and the lowest total since the first quarter of fiscal 2024.

Zscaler sees current-quarter adjusted EPS of $0.68 to $0.69 and revenue of $633 million to $635 million. Analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha were looking for $0.69 and $634.8 million, respectively.

The company also announced that Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Remo Canessa has decided to retire once his replacement is named. It added that a search for a new CFO is under way.

Zscaler shares were down 6% in recent trading. The stock is now down 12% since the start of 2024.

–Bill McColl

AT&T Jumps to 3-Year High After Unveiling Strategic Plan

December 03, 2024 11:28 AM EST

AT&T (T) outlined an ambitious strategic plan Tuesday, pledging to return more than $40 billion to shareholders via dividends and buybacks in the next three years, while forecasting more than $18 billion in free cash flow in 2027.

Shares of the telecom giant were up 4% in recent trading, hitting their highest level in more than three years, after it laid out the three-year plan, which also included increases in its outlook for earnings, expanding its fiber network delivering broadband internet and modernizing its 5G wireless network. That expansion, it said, would drive the “more robust shareholder returns.”

“Over the last four years, we’ve achieved durable and profitable subscriber growth, generated attractive returns on network investment, and strengthened our balance sheet,” AT&T Chief Executive Officer (CEO) John Stankey said. “Our plan expands the country’s largest fiber network to more than 50 million total locations, modernizes our wireless network and rewards our shareholders.”

AT&T said free cash flow, excluding the funds raised from the sale of its remaining 70% stake in satellite provider DirecTV to private equity firm TPG (TPG), would exceed $16 billion in 2025 and surpass $18 billion in 2027. Under Stankey, the company has reduced its high debt levels and pivoted to focusing on the telecom business, by offloading DirecTV and spinning off its WarnerMedia business several years ago.

The company forecast 2024 adjusted earnings per share of $2.20 to $2.25, including the funds raised from its DirecTV stake sale, which is expected to close in mid-2025.. That raises the lower end of the range from the previous $2.15 to $2.25 range.

–Nisha Gopalan

US Steel Slides as Trump Vows to Block Takeover

December 03, 2024 10:27 AM EST

U.S. Steel (X) shares tumbled in early trading Tuesday after President-elect Donald Trump said that he would block Nippon Steel’s planned $14 billion acquisition of its American rival.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote he was “totally against” the takeover of the company by a foreign firm, reiterating his previous opposition to the bid. The Japanese company had agreed to buy U.S. Steel last year, but has faced pushback from the Biden administration, which extended the foreign security review period for the deal.

“Through a series of Tax Incentives and Tariffs, we will make U.S. Steel Strong and Great Again, and it will happen FAST!,” Trump said. “As President, I will block this deal from happening.”

Both Trump and the White House have argued the deal would hurt U.S. workers.

However, U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt has said that without the $3 billion promised by Nippon Steel if the deal passes, the company would have to close plants and move out of its headquarters in Pittsburgh.

US Steel shares were down 9% this morning, and have now lost 23% since the start of the year.

–Nisha Gopalan

Supermicro Levels to Watch as Stock Continues Surging

December 03, 2024 09:59 AM EST

Super Micro Computer (SMCI) shares were rising again Tuesday morning after surging nearly 30% yesterday following news that an independent review of the server maker’s accounting practices found no wrongdoing.

The stock has reclaimed the lower trendline of a descending broadening formation that has been in play since the stock topped out in early March.

Investors should watch key overhead areas on Supermicro’s weekly chart around $50, $64, and $97, while monitoring major support levels near $30 and $23.

The stock was up 7% at around $45 early Tuesday.

Read the full technical analysis piece here.

–Timothy Smith

Futures Point to Flat Open for Major Indexes

December 03, 2024 08:34 AM EST

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down less than 0.1%.

S&P 500 futures were up less than 0.1%.

Nasdaq 100 futures were down fractionally.