Among the top mid-cap stocks that gained last week, most were energy stocks, driven by a spike in oil prices fueled by the Middle East conflict.
- Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) stock rose 26.59% after the company was issued a Notice of Intent to Award by the Defense Logistics Agency Energy to provide clean power through its Aurora powerhouse for a U.S. Air Force site. It also raised $400 million via an equity offering, and several analysts increased their price forecasts on the stock.
- Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC) stock increased 25.63% last week.
- Quantum Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT) stock climbed 21.75% last week after Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang commented that quantum computers will soon solve real-world problems beyond classical computing, boosting interest in quantum-linked stocks.
- Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG) stock gained 20.29% last week due to rising oil prices amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
- MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) stock rose 18.87% last week after reports that the Trump administration plans to invoke Cold War-era powers to accelerate rare earth projects.
- Sasol Limited (NYSE:SSL) stock increased 18.48% last week.
- Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE:DAR) gained rose 17.11% last week.
- Civitas Resources, Inc. (NYSE:CIVI) stock increased 16.77% last week following energy sector momentum driven by surging oil prices and Middle East instability.
- PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE:PBF) stock rose 15.41% last week after energy stocks rallied amid rising crude prices and geopolitical conflict.
- CVR Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CVI) stock gained 14.83% last week after the strength of the oil market lifted energy shares broadly.
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These eleven large-cap stocks were the worst performers in the last week. Are they in your portfolio?
- The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE:SJM) stock fell 13.67% last week after reporting mixed fourth-quarter financial results and issuing fiscal year 2026 EPS guidance below expectations. Multiple analysts also lowered their price forecasts.
- Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:CHWY) stock fell 13.57% last week after the company issued a lower-than-expected fiscal year 2025 sales outlook despite strong first-quarter earnings. Analysts responded by revising their forecasts downward.
- Samsara Inc. (NYSE:IOT) stock declined 13.06% after reporting its first-quarter financial results.
- United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) stock dropped 13.03% last week. The stock reacted negatively to positive trial results from rival Insmed. BofA Securities also lowered its price forecast to $315 while maintaining a Neutral rating.
- Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA) stock plunged 13.01% last week following bearish options activity and a notable insider sale.
- AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP) stock sank 12.78% last week. The decline followed a short report issued by Culper Research.
- United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) stock lost 12.15% last week. Rising fuel prices after Israel’s strikes on Iran pressured airline stocks, and a recent Air India crash may have also weighed on sector sentiment.
- Grab Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:GRAB) stock fell 11.61% last week.
- Edison International (NYSE:EIX) stock fell 10.12% after Wolfe Research downgraded the stock from Outperform to Peer Perform.
- Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) stock fell 9.86% last week. The company continued its decline after its first-quarter earnings, as several analysts downgraded the stock and revised their price forecast.
- Mobileye Global Inc. (NASDAQ:MBLY) shares fell 9.72% last week after Goldman Sachs downgraded its rating on the stock from Buy to Neutral.
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These ten large-cap stocks were the best performers in the last week. Are they in your portfolio?
- Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) stock jumped 34.11% last week after announcing positive topline results from a Phase 2b study on treprostinil palmitil inhalation powder, which met all primary and secondary endpoints. Multiple firms also raised their price forecasts on the stock.
- Circle Star Energy Corp.’s (NYSE:CRCL) stock jumped 24.01% last week following continued market strength following its IPO launch.
- Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) stock jumped 23.68% last week after the company reported better-than-expected Q4 financials and issued upbeat guidance. Several analysts raised their price forecasts.
- AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS) stock jumped 23.02% last week after the company announced a settlement enabling access to 45 MHz of spectrum in North America and that it is set to join the Russell 1000 Index on June 27.
- SailPoint Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SAIL) stock jumped 18.56% last week after the company posted strong first-quarter EPS, issued bullish second-quarter and fiscal year 2026 guidance, and received multiple analyst upgrades.
- Vonage Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:VG) stock jumped 15.90% last week after UBS downgraded it to Neutral but raised its price forecast to $18.
- Telefonica Servicios Moviles S.A. ADS (NASDAQ:TEM) stock jumped 14.84% last week after Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest purchased large quantities of stock in its (NYSE:ARKG) and (NYSE:ARKK) ETFs.
- Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY) stock jumped 13.99% last week on strong Q4 results and a dividend hike, prompting analyst upgrades.
- Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR) stock jumped 13.17% last week as energy sector stocks rallied on Middle East tensions that spiked oil prices.
- Halliburton Company’s (NYSE:HAL) stock jumped 13.01% last week, fueled by rising oil prices and geopolitical conflict in the Middle East.
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Shares of Primo Brands Corporation (NYSE:PRMB) have been under pressure following soggy spring weather that dampened bottled water sales across key regions, such as the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
BofA Securities analyst Peter T. Galbo reiterated the Buy rating on Primo with a price forecast of $42.
Galbo notes that cooler and wetter weather in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, especially over Memorial Day weekend, hurt demand.
With summer heat arriving, Galbo sees potential for a rebound in demand—especially for regional powerhouses like Poland Spring and Deer Park—as favorable forecasts shift momentum.
The analyst also introduced a new summer weather tracker for the company, which will be updated regularly given that the second and third quarters account for roughly 53% of annual sales, and biweekly NielsenIQ scanner data offers timely insights.
Also Read: Primo Brands Coverage Initiated: Analyst Sees EBITDA Gains From Cost Cuts, Bottled Water Momentum
Since bottled water consumption closely tracks temperature and rainfall, Galbo plans to highlight key weather trends from the prior week and include National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA forecasts for the week ahead.
The analyst highlights that Nielsen scanner data for the week ending May 31, showed a 3.7% year-over-year decline in retail volumes for Primo Brands in May.
The drop was largely driven by an 8.4% slide in Poland Spring sales, a brand sold only in the Northeast. Record rainfall, including the third-wettest May since 1895 with 6.6 inches of precipitation (per NOAA), likely hurt demand.
Galbo predicts that Nielsen data for the week ending June 7 will show a sequential improvement in year-over-year sales trends for Poland Spring and Deer Park.
Warmer and drier-than-usual weather across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic/South should support a rebound from the prior week’s sharp declines of -18.6% and -9.3%, respectively.
Galbo notes that NOAA’s latest forecast calls for higher-than-normal temperatures across much of the U.S., particularly in the Southeast and Southwest—key regions for brands like Deer Park, Ozarka, Arrowhead, and Zephyrhills.
Heavier rainfall is expected in parts of the South and Upper Midwest. This could weigh on Ozarka and Ice Mountain sales. Meanwhile, arid conditions in the West may benefit Arrowhead.
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BofA Securities analyst Lorraine Hutchinson reiterated the Buy rating on Nike, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) with a price forecast of $80.
After the closing bell, the company will release its fourth quarter fiscal 2025 financial results on June 26.
Hutchinson writes that the fourth quarter marked Nike’s “peak” of sales and margin pressure, as the company aggressively cleared excess inventory without enough new product innovation to compensate.
The analyst maintains a fourth quarter EPS estimate of 12 cents, in line with consensus, but sees the outlook for fiscal 2026 as the more critical focus of the upcoming earnings call.
Following recent discussions with CEO Elliott Hill, the analyst highlights growing retailer enthusiasm for Nike’s Spring ’26 innovation pipeline.
The wholesale landscape remains fluid and not all partners are thriving. But Hutchinson stresses that Nike is positioned to navigate these challenges.
The company can deepen newer retail relationships and reclaim shelf space as competitors scale back their presence, she says.
Nike is expected to outline both the mitigated and unmitigated impact of current tariffs. However, it’s uncertain what level of forward guidance the company will offer beyond the first quarter.
Hutchinson notes that Nike’s move to quarterly guidance highlights ongoing visibility challenges. With a new fiscal year starting, he writes that management must clarify when aged inventory will be cleared in wholesale and DTC, and when a sales rebound is likely.
The analyst maintains the Buy rating, seeing the potential for sales to rebound in the first half of fiscal 2026 as inventory normalizes and product innovation gains traction.
Hutchinson further writes that Nike is well-equipped to manage the current tariff environment, thanks to its strong negotiating leverage with both vendors and retailers, as well as its pricing power.
The analyst points out that Nike has already implemented targeted price hikes, including $5–$10 increases on footwear priced over $100 and some modest increases across adult apparel and equipment.
Hutchinson adds that Nike’s decision to leave kids’ products and footwear under $100 untouched was a smart move, positioning the brand to maintain accessibility.
The analyst sees Nike’s broad pricing structure and scale as advantages if consumer spending begins to tighten.
This apart, Hutchinson sees early signs of stabilization in Nike’s wholesale business, noting that Fall ’25 order books outside China are only modestly lower, with weakness in classic footwear being nearly offset by strength in performance categories.
Hutchinson has lowered his FY26 EPS estimate to $1.80 from $2.00 due to foreign exchange adjustments and reduced expectations for China, while keeping his FY27 estimate steady at $3.00.
Price Action: NKE shares are trading lower by 1.50% to $61.86 at last check Friday.
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Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE) stock fell on Friday, erasing Thursday’s gains from its positive second-quarter earnings report.
Adobe reported quarterly revenue of $5.87 billion, up 11%, beating analyst estimates of $5.79 billion. The company reported quarterly adjusted earnings of $5.06 per share, beating estimates of $4.96 per share.
Digital Media revenue climbed 11%, and Digital Experience revenue increased by 10%.
Adobe expects third-quarter revenue of $5.88 billion-$5.93 billion versus estimates of $5.87 billion. The company anticipates third-quarter adjusted earnings of $5.15-$5.20 per share versus estimates of $5.10.
Adobe raised expectations for full-year 2025 revenue to $23.5-$23.6 billion, up from prior guidance of $23.3 billion-$23.55 billion. Adobe also raised its full-year adjusted earnings guidance to $20.50-$20.70 per share, up from a previous guidance of $20.20-$20.50 per share.
Analysts are anticipating full-year revenue of $23.44 billion and full-year earnings of $20.36 per share.
Wall Street analysts rerated the stock.
Goldman Sachs analyst Kash Rangan reiterated a Buy rating on Adobe with a price forecast of $570.
Bank of America Securities analyst Brad Sills maintained a Buy rating on Adobe and raised the price forecast from $424 to $475.
Piper Sandler analyst Brent Bracelin reiterated an Overweight rating on Adobe with a price forecast of $500.
Goldman Sachs: Despite the quarter’s outperformance and +1% raise to fiscal 2025 Digital Media revenue, the stock is indicated -2% after hours, Rangan noted as investors contemplate the durability of Adobe’s double-digit topline growth and the tangibility of its AI revenue contribution.
Yet, the analyst remained encouraged by Adobe’s growth prospects given Adobe Experience Platform (AEP) and Apps subscription revenue growth of +40% Y/Y, Express proving a reliable engine adding 8,000+ businesses (+6x Y/Y), accelerating AI adoption, with Firefly App first-time subscribers +30% Q/Q.
Rangan said that Adobe’s AI strategy is evolving to play a larger role in the company’s growth narrative. First, AI has the potential to stabilize the core business by infusing value-enhancing capabilities across the product suite, enabling upsell opportunities into higher-priced SKUs such as CC Pro, the analyst said. Early evidence from the core CC suite is promising, which Rangan noted as a compelling proof point.
Further, as AI-standalone SKUs surpass a $250 million run-rate at an accelerated pace, the analyst noted the potential for incremental consumption-based revenue to become additive to topline growth. Rangan continues to view Adobe as well-positioned to benefit as Gen-AI spending moves from Infrastructure into Platform and Application layers.
Bank of America Securities: The second-quarter results and outlook reflect solid execution in a sluggish software demand backdrop, Sills noted. The analyst said that AI optionality for the business is very much intact. As per Sill, total revenue of $5.89 billion topped the outlook by ~$100 million, driven by a balanced upside across Digital Media and Digital Experience. The analyst said Digital Media ARR growth of 12.1% topped the outlook for 11%.
Much of the Digital Media strength came from Document Cloud, with strength in Acrobat AI Assistant, Premium, and Express, Sills said. He said that the Document Cloud business continues to lead the way with AI monetization. However, as per Sills, new offerings such as the Firefly app and Photoshop mobile are beginning to gain traction in the creative business. Also, the company added 8,000 new customers on Adobe Express, demonstrating solid top of funnel traction, the analyst said.
A fiscal 2026 outlook boost contrasts with most software companies, implying a more resilient, diversified business and good execution on growth initiatives, Sills said. While top-of-funnel conversion and AI revenue are not inflecting, they are building and likely to drive a gradually improving growth rate over time, the analyst said. Sills’s thesis is that the current attractive low valuation compensates for the wait for an anticipated improvement in growth.
Piper Sandler: Another quarter of steady execution, evident by the $78 million revenue beat on 11% constant currency growth (versus $57 million prior four-year average) and 9 cents EPS beat, appears ‘good enough’ for the large-cap value investor cohort, Bracelin noted.
However, the analyst said the more skeptical growth investor cohort could remain on the sidelines based on the implied fourth-quarter growth outlook that could further moderate to ~8%, with full-year ARR growth expected to moderate to 11% (versus 12% currently). Bracelin continues to see Adobe as one of the more attractive software franchises for value-orientated investors.
The analyst said Adobe’s AI book of business is a bright spot as AI-first products are tracking ahead of the $250 million ending ARR target for fiscal 2025.
Price Action: ADBE stock is trading lower by 5.69% to $390.15 at last check Friday.
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Bank of America Securities analyst Rafe Jadrosich upgraded Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) to Neutral from Underperform, raising the price forecast from $68 to $94.
Jadrosich upgraded the stock, citing improved North American margin prospects and tariff-related tailwinds.
The analyst lifted 2025 estimates to $8.56 from $8.35 and 2026 EPS estimates to $10.33 from $9.39, as Whirlpool’s domestic production stands to benefit from new appliance-related steel tariffs.
Also Read: Why Whirlpool’s Margins Have Tailwinds Despite Memorial Day Promotions
Despite long-term concerns over free cash flow sufficiency for deleveraging and sustaining the $400 million annual dividend, the analyst writes that the recent debt refinancing and expected India business sale in the second half of 2025 provide enough support through the company’s 2026 maturity.
Jadrosich highlighted multiple times that Whirlpool is relatively well positioned to benefit from new Section 232 tariffs, which will impose a 50% duty on the steel content of imported home appliances starting June 23.
Since 80% of Whirlpool’s U.S. sales are domestically produced and 96% of its steel is U.S.-sourced, the company faces minimal impact.
In contrast, competitors who rely on imports for over half of their U.S. sales, around 20% from China and 15% from Korea, previously enjoyed a cost advantage by bypassing steel tariffs through finished goods imports, a benefit now significantly reduced.
According to the analyst, the tariffs could force competitors to raise wholesale appliance prices by 3–5%, or roughly $15–$20 per unit, to offset increased steel costs, potentially giving Whirlpool a competitive edge.
Since Whirlpool earns less than a 7% margin on a typical sub-$500 wholesale appliance, a $15–$20 price lift on half its North America volume could boost EBIT margins by 150–200 basis points and raise profits by 20–30%.
With appliance manufacturing being a low-margin business, he expects rivals to pass on costs, which may allow Whirlpool to gain share or expand margins, Jadrosich adds.
The analyst raised fiscal year 2027 earnings per share to $10.73 from $9.96.
Price Action: WHR shares are trading higher by 5.12% to $92.04 at last check Friday.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday approved Merck & Co Inc.’s (NYSE:MRK) Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for adult patients with resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (combined positive score of at least 1), as a single agent as neoadjuvant treatment, continued as adjuvant treatment in combination with radiotherapy (RT) with or without cisplatin and then as a single agent.
The approval introduces the first perioperative anti-PD-1 treatment regimen for adults with resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1).
The approval is based on data from the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-689 trial.
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At the trial’s first pre-specified interim analysis, Keytruda before surgery (neoadjuvant), then continued after surgery (adjuvant) in combination with standard of care (SOC), RT with or without cisplatin, followed by Keytruda alone, reduced the risk of event-free survival (EFS) events (defined as disease recurrence, disease progression, or death) by 30% compared to adjuvant SOC.
Among the CPS ≥1 population, the median EFS was 59.7 months in the Keytruda arm versus 29.6 months in the SOC arm.
“The introduction of Keytruda as a perioperative treatment option for certain patients with resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma represents a potentially significant shift in how we manage this disease,” the Keynote-689 trial’s principal investigator, Ravindra Uppaluri, said in a statement Friday.
Earlier in June, Merck reportedly approached Swiss biotech MoonLake Immunotherapeutics (NASDAQ:MLTX) with a bid exceeding $3 billion.
The potential deal signals renewed dealmaking activity as investor pressure has mounted on Merck to secure new assets, especially as its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda faces patent expiration as early as 2028.
In May, Merck’s Phase 3 KEYNOTE-B96 trial (also known as ENGOT-ov65), met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) for platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer whose tumors expressed PD-L1 and in all comers.
The study also met a secondary endpoint of overall survival (OS) in patients whose tumors express PD-L1.
The Keytruda-based regimen demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in PFS regardless of PD-L1 status compared to placebo plus chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab.
Price Action: MRK stock is trading higher by 0.40% to $82.15 at last check Friday.
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Bank of America Securities connected with Intuitive Surgical Inc (NASDAQ:ISRG) on reprocessing “noise” in the market.
Analyst Travis Steed highlighted that reprocessing is not new to Intuitive, even though it might seem like new news to some investors.
What Happened: For the unversed, in March this year, Restore Robotics received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for remanufacturing Intuitive Surgical’s Da Vinci Xi Monopolar Scissors as of March 11, 2025, through its subsidiary Iconocare Health.
In a statement, Restore Robotics said it is offering hospitals and surgery centers a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to purchasing instruments from the original manufacturer.
Also Read: Analysts Remain Bullish On Intuitive Surgical Despite Macro Uncertainty
In May, Restore Robotics announced that Dr. Eugene Dickens at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, conducted the first in-human use of a remanufactured da Vinci Xi robotic instrument on a patient using the newest model robotic surgical system, the da Vinci 5.
In addition, Panama City Surgery Center performed the first in-human use on a da Vinci Xi, which is the workhorse of the da Vinci robotics surgical systems.
Restore Robotics said it is working on getting clearances for other da Vinci robotic instruments.
Why It Matters: Deutsche Bank downgraded Intuitive Surgical from Hold to Sell on Monday, lowering the price forecast from $515 to $440.
BofA analyst Steed noted that some companies have offered services for Intuitive’s surgical robots and sold remanufactured instruments for years.
Intuitive does not ban third-party remanufactured instruments as long as they have received 510(k) clearance or a similar approval from the FDA.
The company also clarified that it won’t cancel service contracts, stop doing business, or consider it a contract violation if a U.S. customer uses these FDA-cleared, third-party instruments.
On Friday, BofA maintained the Buy rating with a price forecast of $650 and sees continued potential upside to Street estimates.
“One thing that gives us some comfort that reprocessing will only be a small share of the market over the long term is reprocessing today is only a small low single-digit percent headwind on Medtronic Plc’s (NYSE:MDT) global surgical business and its isolated mostly in its US vessel sealing and dissection product lines.”
BofA thinks reprocessing in robotic instruments will only be a small share of customers and tries to innovate accordingly.
On Wednesday, an analyst note by William Blair on this development suggested that hospitals investing millions of dollars in a robotics program will take a pause at operating outside the Intuitive Surgical ecosystem.
The high cost and critical nature of these surgical investments make operating outside of Intuitive’s established and supported ecosystem a significant risk for healthcare providers, the note added.
Currently, the threat is considered minimal as only one third-party instrument has received FDA clearance, and Intuitive does not offer direct support for such products. While the analyst acknowledged this as a potential long-term risk to watch, the immediate impact is expected to be limited.
Therefore, despite negative headlines that could cause short-term volatility for the premium-valued stock (cited at 57 times 2026 EPS), analyst Brandon Vazquez of William Blair maintains an Outperform rating on the company.
Price Action: ISRG stock is trading lower by 0.72% to $516.70 at last check Friday.
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TD Cowen analyst Andrew M. Charles reiterated the Hold rating on Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) with a price forecast of $90.
While acknowledging the potential for a turnaround under CEO Brian Niccol, similar to Chipotle’s success, the analyst expressed caution in a recent report.
The precedent set by Brian Niccol’s successful revival of Chipotle now serves as a key benchmark for his leadership at Starbucks.
Alternative data for Starbucks’ North America segment is showing signs of improvement, with investor expectations for fiscal 2025 third quarter (June) hovering between -1% and -2%, slightly better than the -2.3% estimate from Consensus Metrix, the analyst mentioned.
He added that while there’s enthusiasm around the accelerated rollout of the Green Apron program and its potential sales boost, concerns remain about its return on investment, as proprietary surveys point to declining value perceptions that could limit pricing flexibility.
Charles also observed that in the current risk-on environment, investors appear to be rotating into Starbucks from other large-cap restaurant names like McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD), Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR), and Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM). This shift is happening alongside renewed optimism around CEO Brian Niccol, boosted by the ongoing Starbucks Leadership Experience 2025 in Las Vegas.
On the flipside, Charles tempered optimism with caution, suggesting Starbucks may have over-earned in the years following COVID-19, as the company now appears to be holding back on pricing and increasing labor hours.
The analyst asserted that the business is still recalibrating to a new earnings baseline, in contrast to consensus expectations that view 2025 as a temporary dip before margins recover.
He added that risks to U.S. same-store sales remain elevated due to declining value perceptions, narrowing quality gaps versus competitors, the company’s historical underperformance during downturns like 2008–09 and 2020, and rising competition from fast-growing drive-thru coffee chains.
Price Action: SBUX shares are trading higher by 0.18% to $94.50 at last check Friday.
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Rural hospitals and health advocates warn that President Donald Trump’s proposed tax cuts and spending bill could threaten critical medical services in small towns nationwide.
Medicaid, which supports 71 million low-income Americans, is vital for rural areas where patients are typically older, sicker, and more reliant on government-funded care.
The legislation, which aims to extend the 2017 tax cuts, would slash Medicaid funding and impose stricter requirements for recipients — a move that providers say could force some facilities to cut services or shut down entirely.
Also Read: Trump’s New Order Targets Drug Pricing Transparency And Medicare Cost Reduction
The bill would reduce Medicaid spending by $785 billion over a decade, a key offset to the extended tax breaks that primarily benefit wealthier Americans.
Citing data from Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, Reuters reported that about 18% of adults in rural regions are enrolled in Medicaid, compared to 16% nationally.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the proposed legislation would leave nearly 11 million more uninsured over the next ten years.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) defended Trump‘s “big, beautiful bill”, arguing that those who lose Medicaid will do so by personal choice.
Cuts would come from work requirements for adult recipients, restrictions on non-citizen coverage, and changes to how states account for their share of Medicaid spending.
These adjustments could severely impact states like Kansas, which recently raised its provider tax to draw more federal Medicaid funding. The bill would freeze such tactics, potentially cutting millions from hospital budgets.
The Senate has yet to act on the bill, and with a July 4 deadline looming, lawmakers are under pressure. Republicans, who hold a slim 53–47 majority, are divided.
Budget hawks push for deeper cuts, while senators from rural states — at least 41 of whom are Republicans — are concerned about the fallout in their districts.
Meanwhile, the bill’s sweeping cuts to foreign aid have also raised alarm. In a Reuters report, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima criticized the proposal for undermining the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
With 1.3 million new infections recorded in 2023 and South Africa heavily reliant on U.S. aid, she said the decision could derail the goal of ending the disease as a public health threat by 2030.
As debate intensifies, rural healthcare providers, solar-energy firms, and other affected industries continue lobbying to change the 1,100-page bill. But with little Democratic support and internal GOP disagreements, the path forward remains uncertain.
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Apple Inc’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone sales topped the charts in China in May, reflecting a rebound in growth in Apple’s two leading markets, China and the U.S.
The company’s global sales increased by 15% during April and May, a record since the 2020 pandemic, Reuters cited Counterpoint Research preliminary data on Friday.
The firm noted that Chinese e-commerce platforms offered discounts of up to 2,530 yuan ($351) on Apple’s latest iPhone 16 models in May.
Also Read: Apple Plans iPhone Shift From China To India Amid Tariff Pressures, Geopolitical Risks: Report
Counterpoint said tariff evaders and double-digit growth in Japan, India, and the Middle Eastern markets partly drove the rebound.
Ivan Lam of Counterpoint highlighted how the U.S. and Chinese markets dictated the iPhone’s prospects.
Last week, Counterpoint cut growth expectations for global smartphone shipments in 2025 to 1.9% on Wednesday, down from the prior 4.2%, citing the Trump administration’s tariff-related uncertainties.
The firm also revised shipment growth from China down to near flat and expects Apple and Samsung Electronics (OTC:SSNLF) shipments to slow due to higher cost burden on consumers.
International Data Corporation (IDC) cut the 2025 global smartphone shipment growth outlook to 0.6% from 2.3%.
However, IDC expects China smartphone shipments to grow by 3% in 2025, driven by government subsidies. In contrast, Apple will likely decline 1.9% in 2025 due to ongoing competition from Huawei, the overall economic slowdown, and the lack of subsidies.
IDC expects the U.S. smartphone shipment growth to slow to 1.9% in 2025, down from 3.3% in 2017, due to tariff-related price increases.
AAPL Price Action: Apple stock is down 0.82% to $197.57 at last check Friday.
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ViaSat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT) saw its stock climb on Friday after announcing that its subsidiary, Inmarsat Global Ltd., reached a binding settlement agreement with Ligado Networks and AST & Science LLC concerning Ligado’s proposed restructuring.
Under the terms of the agreement, ViaSat expects to receive a total of $568 million in fiscal year 2026 from Ligado.
The company said the funds will primarily go toward reducing near-term debt and improving its long-term capital structure.
Also Read: Unusual Machines Acquires Rotor Lab To Strengthen Drone Supply Chain
The payment schedule, pending approval by the Bankruptcy Court, includes several components.
Ligado is expected to resume quarterly payments of approximately $16 million to Inmarsat beginning September 30, 2025, with a 3% annual increase through 2107.
Additionally, two large lump sum payments are scheduled: $420 million on October 31, 2025, and $100 million on March 31, 2026.
The combined payments are expected to total $568 million by the end of March 2026.
The agreement also includes an immediate stay and future dismissal of Ligado’s lawsuit against Inmarsat, conditional on the settlement’s terms.
ViaSat confirmed that its global mobile satellite services remain fully operational and unaffected by the legal settlement.
The company emphasized its ongoing dedication to interference-free operations and innovation in satellite communications, especially in multi-orbit MSS technologies.
Mark Dankberg, Chairman and CEO of ViaSat, stated, “We are pleased that our patient and disciplined approach to Ligado’s bankruptcy paid off, resulting in a positive outcome for Viasat and our employees, customers, and shareholders.”
He added that the financial benefits support the original goals of acquiring Inmarsat and help reinforce ViaSat’s long-term growth strategy.
Dankberg also reaffirmed the company’s efforts to build an open-architecture MSS framework, working with MSSA and other partners to foster new-generation satellite solutions.
According to Benzinga Pro, VSAT stock has lost over 8% in the past year. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via Procure Space ETF (NASDAQ:UFO).
Price Action: VSAT shares are trading higher by 13.1% to $12.89 at last check Friday.
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Unusual Machines, Inc. (AMEX:UMAC) on Friday inked a definitive agreement to acquire Rotor Lab Pty Ltd, an Australia-based manufacturer of electric propulsion systems for unmanned aerial systems.
The $7 million deal, which includes a $3 million earnout, is structured primarily as an all-stock transaction.
Effective June 12, 2025, the acquisition is intended to enhance Unusual Machines’ motor production capabilities and support its expansion within the commercial and defense drone markets.
Also Read: Unusual Machines, Celldex Therapeutics, RH And Other Big Stocks Moving Higher On Friday
According to Benzinga Pro, UMAC stock has gained over 482% in the past year.
Rotor Lab, founded in 2022, develops a range of high-performance electric motors for small to large drone platforms.
The company has been collaborating with Unusual Machines for nearly a year on motor designs including the 2207, 2807, and 3220 models.
These products are slated to begin production later this year at Unusual Machines’ upcoming factory in Orlando, Florida, expected to open in September 2025.
The deal remains subject to standard closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and finalizing an employment agreement with Rotor Lab’s current CEO, Andrew Simpson.
Once the acquisition is complete, Rotor Lab will continue operating its Canberra facility as an engineering and prototyping hub to complement the U.S. manufacturing operations.
“We are excited to welcome Andrew and the entire Rotor Lab team into Unusual Machines,” said Allan Evans, CEO of Unusual Machines. “Rotor Lab’s engineering and production capabilities accelerate our goal of building a resilient drone supply chain,” Evans added.
Aloft Deal Terminated
In a separate development, Unusual Machines announced it has canceled its planned acquisition of Aloft, effective June 9, 2025.
The company cited strategic misalignment for the termination and clarified that no fees will be incurred. Both sides remain open to future collaboration.
“While we were excited about the potential of combining forces, we are confident in our growth strategy and can really focus on executing our core mission: to build the backbone of the domestic drone supply chain,” Evans said.
The company confirmed that the canceled transaction will not affect its financial position or ongoing strategic plans.
Price Action: UMAC shares are trading higher by 1.21% to $8.34 at last check Friday.
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Pearson PLC (NYSE:PSO) announced Friday that it will acquire eDynamic Learning, a leading provider of Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum solutions, in a move aimed at strengthening its position in the Early Careers education market.
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
eDynamic Learning serves over 885,000 students across more than 9,000 K-12 institutions, offering 325 digital courses across 40 career pathways.
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Its programs also extend to post-secondary learners and adult professionals, focusing on career preparation through virtual simulations, workforce training, and teaching services.
The acquisition supports Pearson’s strategy to expand its career-readiness offerings and meet rising demand for skills-based learning programs.
The deal will be funded through Pearson’s existing cash reserves and available liquidity, with completion expected in the second half of 2025.
Pearson CEO Omar Abbosh said the acquisition reflects a growing urgency among employers for job-ready talent in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
“Employers tell us they have an urgent need for career-ready workers,” Abbosh said, adding that the partnership will help address this skills gap.
As demand for workforce-aligned education accelerates, Pearson’s acquisition positions it to deliver more targeted, scalable solutions for early career learners entering a rapidly evolving job market.
Pearson held cash and cash equivalents of 543 million pounds as of December 31, 2024.
Related ETFs: Global X Education ETF (NASDAQ:EDUT), Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ).
Price Action: PSO shares are trading lower by 1.72% to $14.57 at last check Friday.
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