Academy Sports Stock (NASDAQ:ASO), Trade Ideas

Academy Sports

Academy Sports and Outdoors Inc is engaged in the retail business of sporting goods and outdoor recreation products. The product categories of the company are outdoors, apparel, sports & recreation, and footwear.

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On CNBC’s &#34;Mad Money Lightning Round,&#34; Jim Cramer recommended buying  Uber Technologies, Inc.  (NYSE: UBER).

Jim Cramer Isn&#39;t Going With This Tech Company: &#39;It&#39;s Complicated. I&#39;m A Nvidia Guy&#39;

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Truist Securities analyst Joseph Civello maintains a bullish stance on Academy Sports and Outdoors, reaffirming a Buy rating despite a slight price target adjustment to $75 from $77. 

Academy Sports Feels The Squeeze: Analyst Highlights Post-Holiday Slump And Conservative Outlook Under New Leadership

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Shares of  FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE: FDS) fell sharply during Thursday’s session after the company reported worse-than-expected second-quarter revenue and issued FY24 guidance.

Why FactSet Research Shares Are Trading Lower By Around 5%? Here Are Other Stocks Moving In Thursday&#39;s Mid-Day Session

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. - Common Stock

Academy Sports and Outdoors Inc

ASOS PLC

ASSECO POLAND SA ORD by Asseco Poland S.A.

Asseco Poland SA

ASSECO POLAND SA UNSP/ADR by Asseco Poland S.A.

Tesla, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) shares extended their gains for the third consecutive session on Thursday, following the release of the electric vehicle maker&#8217;s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38390883/tesla-q1-earnings-highlights-ev-giant-misses-wall-street-estimates-makes-cost-cuts-invests-in-ai-sp" rel="noreferrer noopener">quarterly results</a>.&nbsp;Gary Black&nbsp;of&nbsp;Future Fund&nbsp;shared his insights on the stock&#8217;s movement and the company&#8217;s future trajectory.
What Happened: According to Black, the 17.6% surge in Tesla&#8217;s stock post-earnings is attributed to the optimistic product outlook conveyed in the earnings report and confirmed by CEO&nbsp;Elon Musk&nbsp;during the earnings call.&nbsp;
&#8220;There is no other way to interpret this language than that TSLA is readying new more affordable models using both the&nbsp;next gen&nbsp;and existing manufacturing platforms for first production by 2025/1H,&#8221; the analyst said. This, according to the fund manager, is bullish since it points to the company expanding its total addressable market with more affordable compact vehicles to the mass segment by mid-2025.
See Also:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/everything-you-need-to-know-about-tesla-stock" rel="noreferrer noopener">Everything You Need To Know About Tesla Stock</a>
However, Black noted that Musk&#8217;s emphasis on Tesla&#8217;s commitment to autonomy has yet to resonate with institutional investors. The lack of discussion on the robotaxi opportunity since the earnings release suggests that investors remain cautious. 
Black pointed out that the minimal impact on Uber and Lyft shares indicates that investors may not perceive Tesla&#8217;s unsupervised ride-hailing as a significant threat to these companies. 
But he did not rule out narrative change on Aug. 8, when Tesla is scheduled to unveil robotaxis. &#8220;So far TSLA's continued focus on more affordable&nbsp;non-robotaxi&nbsp;vehicles seems to be what's important,&#8221; he said.
Why It Matters:&nbsp;Despite the stock rally, skepticism remains among some analysts.&nbsp;GLJ Research&#8216;s&nbsp;Gordon Johnson&nbsp;interpreted Tesla&#8217;s product roadmap language as indicating a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38398667/tesla-bulls-praise-musks-q1-earnings-call-see-ev-giant-on-collision-course-with-ube" rel="noreferrer noopener">potential abandonment of the sub-$30K car</a>, with a shift towards cost-reduction strategies for existing models.&nbsp;
Concerns persist regarding Tesla&#8217;s core auto gross margin and significant free cash flow depletion, prompting cautious outlooks from analysts like&nbsp;Wedbush&#8216;s&nbsp;Daniel Ives.
Tesla ended Thursday&#8217;s session up 4.97% to $170.18, according to<a target="_blank" href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Benzinga Pro data.</a>
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38402856/tesla-bull-says-elon-musk-delivered-rip-the-band-aid-off-q1-but-cautions-this-could">Tesla Bull Says Elon Musk Delivered &#8216;Rip The Band-Aid Off&#8217; Q1 But Cautions This Could Derail Bullish Thesis</a>

TSLA

Tesla's Robotaxi Plan Hasn't Excited Investors, But Fund Manager Gary Black Says This Is What Matters More: 'No Other Way To Interpret This...'

In a recent episode of CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Mad Money,&#8221; host Jim Cramer lauded Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>) for its ability to thrive despite a sluggish economy, attributing its success to its &#8220;self-help&#8221; strategy.
What Happened: Cramer, on Thursday, highlighted the performance of companies that can sustain growth despite economic challenges. He specifically pointed to Chipotle, commending its ability to improve and expand its operations, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/25/cramer-praises-chipotle-for-growing-despite-a-slowing-economy.html">reported</a> CNBC.
"When we're looking for reasons to buy a stock in this environment, we want companies that generate constant self-help. Chipotle does it by improving throughput — how many people that they can serve, say, every 15 minutes," he said. "It just keeps getting better and better and that's got nothing to do with GDP or inflation woes."
The fast-casual chain recently released its quarterly earnings, surpassing Wall Street&#8217;s expectations. Despite raising prices, Chipotle experienced a surge in both sales and foot traffic, leading to a more than 6% increase in its share price by Thursday&#8217;s close.
Cramer suggested that Chipotle&#8217;s success could be attributed to its ability to meet consumer demand by enhancing its service speed, a strategy that is independent of broader economic factors like inflation and GDP.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38374423/elon-musk-reacts-as-ark-invest-analyst-says-its-going-to-be-very-hard-for-tesla-rivals-to-catch-?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Reacts As ARK Invest Analyst Says &#8216;It&#8217;s Going To Be Very Hard&#8217; For Tesla Rivals &#8216;To Catch Up To</a>
He also noted that this kind of &#8220;self-help&#8221; approach could counteract the market&#8217;s current concerns, particularly in light of the ongoing challenges such as increased interest in the bond market.
"It takes a special kind of stock to do well when the economy's slowing while inflation just won't quit," he said.
Why It Matters: Chipotle&#8217;s recent financial performance has been impressive. The company&#8217;s first-quarter revenue increased by 14.1% year-over-year to $2.702 billion, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38417218/chipotle-mexican-grill-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-comparable-sales-up-7-and-more">beating the consensus estimate</a>. The company&#8217;s comparable restaurant sales also saw a 7% year-over-year increase, driven by higher transactions and a 1.6% rise in the average check.
Chipotle&#8217;s strong financial results led to a rise in its stock price, prompting analysts to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38430514/chipotle-mexican-grill-analysts-raise-their-forecasts-after-better-than-expected-earnings">raise their forecasts</a> for the company&#8217;s future performance. The company&#8217;s international expansion also reached a milestone with the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38360106/chipotle-to-spice-up-kuwait-city-new-location-marks-decade-long-international-expansion">opening of its first location</a> in Kuwait City, marking a decade of international growth.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38399275/no-choice-elon-musk-reacts-as-x-user-reveals-main-reason-why-the-billionaire-is-re-organizing-te?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;No Choice:&#8217; Elon Musk Reacts As X User Reveals &#8216;Main Reason&#8217; Why The Billionaire Is &#8216;Re-Organizing&#8217; Tesla</a>
Image Via Shutterstock 
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Global

Jim Cramer Praises Chipotle's 'Self-Help' Strategy Amid Economic Slowdown: 'Inflation Just Won't Quit'

GXO&#39;s partnership with Virgin Media O2 has helped remove 48 tonnes of single use plastic since 2021
GXO has driven a&nbsp;94%&nbsp;reduction in single use plastics across its logistics operation

GXO Drives Major Plastic Reduction For Virgin Media O2, Eliminating 48 Tonnes Since 2021

Ohio Valley Banc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OVBC#NASDAQ">OVBC</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.58 per share. This is a 29.27 percent decrease over earnings of $0.82 per share from the same period last year. The company reported $14.89 million in sales this quarter. This is a 3.89 percent decrease over sales of $15.49 million the same period last year.

Earnings

OVBC

Ohio Valley Banc Q1 EPS $0.58 Down From $0.82 YoY, Sales $14.89M Down From $15.49M YoY

Gogoro And Nebula Energy Launch Battery Swapping Ecosystem And Gogoro Crossover Smartscooter In Nepal

BNR will change the ratio of its American depositary shares (the &quot;ADSs&quot;) to Class A ordinary shares from one (1) ADS representing one (1) Class A ordinary share to one (1) ADS representing ten (10) Class A ordinary shares (the &quot;ADS Ratio Change&quot;).

Burning Rock Biotech To Adjust ADS To Ordinary Share Ratio Effective May 15

~ Over the past 20 years, AOI has grown to be the largest cold pressing oil plant in the
APAC region, pressing strictly GMO free conventional and organic oilseeds ~

COOT

Reported Earlier, Australian Oilseeds Secures Contracts With Woolworths And Costco For Non-GMO Cold-Pressed Oils

Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), is undergoing its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38309742/laid-off-by-tesla-heres-what-you-get-and-cant-do-with-their-severance-offer">biggest workforce reduction</a> ever in a bid to combat slowing demand and falling margins. The company has decided to cut over 10% of its workforce or about 14,000 jobs. But where have the maximum slashings taken place? Benzinga examines using the data (as of April 2024) at hand.&nbsp;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">United States</h3>
According to WARN notices filed with the states of Texas and California, Tesla will eliminate 3,332 jobs in California and 2,688 positions in Texas, totaling over 6,000 positions, starting June 14.&nbsp;
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Region</td>
<td>Number of Jobs Cut</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>California</td>
<td>3,332</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Texas</td>
<td>2,688</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Germany</h3>
Tesla&#8217;s Giga Berlin plant in Germany, which currently employs around 12,500 workers, was initially reported to be losing about 3,000 heads. Tesla, however, denied this and said it was planning to cut only around 400 jobs, representing approximately 3% of the factory&#8217;s workforce, according to a Reuters report.&nbsp;
These layoffs come amidst a challenging sales market for electric cars in Europe, prompting Tesla to optimize production efficiency.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/everything-you-need-to-know-about-tesla-stock" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Everything You Need to Know About Tesla Stock</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">China</h3>
Chinese media <a href="https://en.tmtpost.com/post/7048616">reports</a> suggest that more than 20% of Tesla&#8217;s workforce in the country could be affected by the layoffs, with some departments losing as much as half of their staff.
Tesla China is reportedly offering severance packages ranging from N+1 to N+3 (one month's pay per year of service, plus additional months&#8217; wages).
Giga Shanghai, according to media reports, employs roughly 20,000 workers. An estimated 20% reduction would imply 4,000 job losses, a lot less than in the United States.&nbsp;
But when assuming that the known layoffs in other regions — totaling about 6,400 — are final, then Tesla's cuts in China would go up to 7,600, the most in any region.
However, it is important to note that corporate layoffs usually happen in several stages over a company's financial calendar year.
Overview of Tesla&#8217;s Global Workforce Reduction
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26022508/Tesla-Layoffs-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-310039" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26022508/Tesla-Layoffs-1024x683.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26022508/Tesla-Layoffs-300x200.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26022508/Tesla-Layoffs-768x512.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26022508/Tesla-Layoffs-1536x1024.jpg 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/26022508/Tesla-Layoffs.jpg 1620w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Graphic by: Ramakrishnan M/Benzinga
Employee Count Back To 2022 Levels?
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/igHeT/full.png" alt="" /></figure>
Why It Matters: Tesla&#8217;s layoffs reflect the broader challenges facing the company, including declining sales, pricing pressures, and the need to optimize production efficiency. 
CEO Elon Musk, however, managed to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38402856/tesla-bull-says-elon-musk-delivered-rip-the-band-aid-off-q1-but-cautions-this-could">assuage some investor concerns</a> after a dismal quarterly earnings showing by promising to roll out cheaper EV models even as he doubles down on his "blindingly obvious" <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38424183/tesla-is-betting-big-on-robotaxi-but-this-rival-thinks-elon-musks-vision-could-be-more-than-5-years">robotaxi vision</a> for the company.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38451359/tesla-investor-touts-ev-giants-billions-mile-leap-in-gathering-self-driving-data-ho" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Investor Touts EV Giant&#8217;s Billions-Mile Leap In Gathering Self-Driving Data: &#8216;How Can Any Automaker Catch Up?&#8217;</a>
Photo via Shutterstock

Tech

Tesla's Biggest Layoffs Mapped: Where Has EV Giant Cut Most Jobs?

<ul>
<li>MAV Capital is an alternative asset manager focused on agribusiness with approximately&nbsp;R$550 million&nbsp;in assets under management in sector specific private credit funds, led by a best-in-class and highly seasoned team with extensive experience in the sector;</li>
<li>The transaction aims to consolidate Vinci&#39;s position across the agribusiness segment in&nbsp;Brazil, a substantially underserved segment by the investment industry;</li>
<li>Brazil&nbsp;exhibits numerous competitive advantages and is currently recognized as a key global player, while locally agribusiness and related activities are a meaningful contributor to the country&#39;s GDP;</li>
<li>The acquisition is aligned with Vinci&#39;s long-term growth plan, enabling Vinci to further expand its product offering by enhancing its credit segment and creating a dedicated vertical to the Agribusiness sector;</li>
</ul>

VINP

Reported Earlier, Vinci Partners To Acquire MAV Capital, Expanding Reach In Brazil's Agribusiness Sector

Belite Bio&nbsp;entered into a securities purchase agreement with an institutional investor, for the purchase and sale of up to an aggregate of 651,380 American Depositary Shares of the Company (&quot;ADSs&quot;), each ADS representing one ordinary share of the Company at a purchase price of&nbsp;$38.38&nbsp;per ADS, and the warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 651,380 ADSs, which will have an initial exercise price equal to&nbsp;$44.14&nbsp;per ADS and will be immediately exercisable and expire on the five-year anniversary of the issuance, in a registered direct offering. The closing of the offering is expected to occur on or about April 30, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

BLTE

Reported Earlier, Belite Bio Secures $25M In Registered Direct Offering With Institutional Investors

Heritage Commerce (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HTBK#NASDAQ">HTBK</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.17 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $0.18 by 5.56 percent. This is a 45.16 percent decrease over earnings of $0.31 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $42.140 million which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $42.284 million by 0.34 percent. This is a 19.00 percent decrease over sales of $52.024 million the same period last year.

Earnings Misses

HTBK

Heritage Commerce Q1 2024 GAAP EPS $0.17 Misses $0.18 Estimate, Sales $42.140M Miss $42.284M Estimate

With U.S. stock futures trading higher this morning on Friday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
<ul>
<li>Wall Street expects Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) to report quarterly earnings at $2.20 per share on revenue of $78.35 billion before the opening bell, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. Exxon Mobil shares fell 0.3% to $121.00 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) posted better-than-expected earnings and sales results for its third quarter on Thursday. The company's revenue increased 17% year-over-year to $61.9 billion, which beat the consensus estimate of $60.804 billion, according to Benzinga Pro. The tech giant reported quarterly earnings of $2.94 per share, which beat analyst estimates of $2.82 per share. Microsoft shares jumped 4.4% to $416.70 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts are expecting Chevron Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>) to post quarterly earnings at $2.87 per share on revenue of $50.66 billion. The company will release earnings before the markets open. Chevron shares fell 0.3% to $164.85 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<ul>
<li>Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) posted upbeat results for its first quarter. Alphabet&#8217;s board authorized an additional share repurchase program of up to $70 billion and also announced its first-ever quarterly dividend. Alphabet shares jumped 11.5% to $176.08 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts expect Phillips 66 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSX#NYSE">PSX</a>) to post quarterly earnings at $2.17 per share on revenue of $33.08 billion before the opening bell. Phillips 66 shares rose 0.3% to $157.77 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
Also Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38430578/top-3-financial-stocks-that-could-sink-your-portfolio-this-quarter">Top 3 Financial Stocks That Could Sink Your Portfolio This Quarter</a>

Pre-Market Outlook

GOOG

GOOGL

MSFT

Microsoft, Alphabet And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a slight improvement in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday.
U.S. stocks settled lower on Thursday, following the release of economic reports.
The U.S. economy grew an annualized 1.6% in the first quarter, marking a notable slowdown from the 3.4% rate in the final quarter of 2023. However, analysts were expecting a 2.5% growth. The core price index for personal consumption expenditures increased by an annualized 3.7% in the first quarter versus a 2% gain in the prior three-month period.
Merck &amp; Co., Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) reported better-than-expected first-quarter financial results and raised its 2024 guidance. Shares of Bristol Myers Squibb &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>) fell more than 8% on Thursday after the company swung to a loss in the first quarter. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) shares dipped over 10% after reporting first-quarter results.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a negative note, with communication services, health care and real estate stocks recording the biggest losses on Thursday. However, materials and emergy stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session higher.
The Dow Jones closed lower by around 375 points to 38,085.80 on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.46% at 5,048.42, while the Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.64% at 15,611.76 during Wednesday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from Phillips 66 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSX#NYSE">PSX</a>), Chevron Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>) and Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) today.
At a current reading of 40.2, the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday, versus a prior reading of 39.1.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38430578/top-3-financial-stocks-that-could-sink-your-portfolio-this-quarter">Top 3 Financial Stocks That Could Sink Your Portfolio This Quarter</a>

Investor Sentiment Improves Slightly, But Dow Tumbles Over 350 Points

First Savings Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSFG#NASDAQ">FSFG</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.52 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.45 by 15.56 percent. This is a 3.7 percent decrease over earnings of $0.54 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $14.338 which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $14.684 million by 100.00 percent. This is a 100.00 percent decrease over sales of $22.428 million the same period last year.

Earnings Beats

FSFG

First Savings Financial Q2 2024 Adj EPS $0.52 Beats $0.45 Estimate, Sales $14.338 Miss $14.684M Estimate

<table cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="7" rowspan="1">
FINANCIAL RESULTS
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="7" rowspan="1">
4Q23 CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="7" rowspan="1">
(In Ps. Millions, except percentages)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">&nbsp;</td>
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<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
&nbsp;
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
4Q23
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
As % of Revenue
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
4Q22
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
As % of Revenue
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Growth (%)
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Variation (Bps)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Total Revenue
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Ps. 12,316
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
100.0%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Ps. 9,416
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
100.0%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
30.8%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
N/A
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Gross Profit
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Ps. 2,011
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
16.3%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Ps. 1,430
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
15.2%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
40.6%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
114 bps
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Sales Expenses
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Ps. (1,392)
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
11.3%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Ps. (991)
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
10.5%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
40.5%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
78 bps
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Administrative Expenses
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Ps. (354)
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
2.9%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Ps. (232)
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
2.5%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
52.6%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
41 bps
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Other (Expense) Income &ndash; Net
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Ps. (37)
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
(0.3)%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Ps. 7
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
0.1%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
n.m.
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
(38) bps
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
EBITDA
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Ps. 559
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
4.5%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Ps. 421
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
4.5%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
32.9%
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
7 bps
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

TBBB

Tiendas 3B Q4 Revenue Ps. 12,316M Up From Ps. 9,416M YoY, EBITDA Ps. 559M Up From Ps. 421M YoY

Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk on Thursday denied allegations that the use of cobalt in EVs is leading to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/02/37288311/elon-musk-engages-with-racial-iq-content-on-x-while-facing-drug-allegations-tesla-stock-turmoil">human rights violations </a>including child labor. 
What Happened: Unlike cellphone and laptop batteries that use cobalt, most electric cars use none, Musk said. 
&#8220;Those that do use cobalt, use very little, as the cathode is primarily nickel, which performs better and costs less than cobalt,&#8221; Musk wrote.
He was responding to claims made by climate activist Clover Hogan that the demand for cobalt grows with the rise in demand for EVs. A majority of this cobalt is mined in Congo and leads to human rights abuses including child labor, she alleged. 
Hogan thinks that climate change cannot be resolved by tech solutions such as EVs. She instead recommends that cities be made less car-friendly. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Cell phone and laptop batteries use cobalt, but most electric cars use none. Those that do use cobalt, use very little, as the cathode is primarily nickel, which performs better and costs less than cobalt.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1783592081812009076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: Musk has denied the heavy use of cobalt at Tesla going as far back as 2021. &#8220;On a weighted-average basis we might use 2% cobalt compared to say, Apple&#8217;s 100% cobalt,&#8221; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/21/07/22256322/why-elon-musk-thinks-epic-is-right-in-its-fight-against-apple">Musk then said. </a>
In a shareholder meeting last May, Musk said that he would <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/05/32480648/elon-musk-says-he-will-personally-review-teslas-cobalt-supply-chain-audit-to-extend-consumer-trust">personally review the third-party audit</a> of its&nbsp;cobalt supply chain despite shareholders rejecting the proposal for a third-party audit. 
"We will do a third-party audit. In fact, we'll put a webcam on the mine and if anybody sees any children please let us know," Musk said.
"I recommend complaining to the phone manufacturers," the CEO added. "But even for the small amount of cobalt that we do use, we will make sure that no child labor is being exploited.&#8221;
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38426856/gm-unveils-plans-for-autonomous-driving-unit-cruise-relaunch-after-hiatus-expects-1-7b-in-expenses">GM Unveils Plans For Autonomous Driving Unit Cruise Relaunch After Hiatus, Expects $1.7B In Expenses</a>

Tesla CEO Elon Musk Denies Human Rights Abuses In Most EV Battery Production: 'Those That Do...Use Very Little'

Phillips 66 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSX#NYSE">PSX</a>) is expected to release earnings results for its first quarter, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PSX/earnings">opening bell on April 26, 2024.</a>
Analysts expect the Houston, Texas-based company to report quarterly earnings at $2.17 per share, down from $4.21 per share in the year-ago quarter. Phillips 66 is projected to report quarterly revenue of $33.08 billion, compared to $35.09 billion in the year-earlier quarter, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
On April 3, Phillips 66 announced an increase in quarterly dividend from $1.05 to $1.15 per share.
Phillips 66 shares fell 0.4% to close at $157.24 on Thursday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PSX/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Barclays analyst Theresa Chen maintained an Equal-Weight rating and increased the price target from $139 to $155 on April 18. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 82%.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Roger Read maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $179 to $191 on April 8. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%.</li>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst Ryan Todd maintained an Overweight rating and increased the price target from $169 to $187 on April 5. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 78%.</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst John Royall maintained an Overweight rating and boosted the price target from $149 to $167 on April 1. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 73%.</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs analyst Neil Mehta maintained a Buy rating and increased the price target from $152 to $174 on March 22. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 72%.</li>
</ul>
Read This Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38430578/top-3-financial-stocks-that-could-sink-your-portfolio-this-quarter">Top 3 Financial Stocks That Could Sink Your Portfolio This Quarter</a>

Phillips 66 Gears Up For Q1 Print; These Most Accurate Analysts Revise Forecasts Ahead Of Earnings Call

Affirming 2024 Earnings&nbsp;Guidance, Capital Plan and Long-Term EPS Growth
We are affirming 2024 diluted earnings&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;of&nbsp;$3.42&nbsp;-&nbsp;$3.62&nbsp;per diluted share and our&nbsp;$500 million&nbsp;capital plan. This&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;is based upon, but not limited to, the following major assumptions:
<ul>
<li>Normal weather in our service territories;</li>
<li>An effective income tax rate of approximately&nbsp;12%-14%; and</li>
<li>Diluted average shares outstanding of approximately 61.3 million.</li>
</ul>
We are also affirming our long-term (5 year) diluted earnings per share growth&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;of&nbsp;4%&nbsp;to&nbsp;6%&nbsp;from a 2022 base year of&nbsp;$3.18&nbsp;diluted earnings per share on a non-GAAP basis. We expect rate base growth of&nbsp;4%&nbsp;to&nbsp;6%. Our current capital investment program is sized to provide for no equity issuances. Future generation capacity additions or other strategic opportunities may require equity financing.

Guidance

NorthWestern Affirms 2024 Guidance: Sees EPS Of $3.42 - $3.62 Vs. $3.49 Consensus

2024&nbsp;Guidance&nbsp;Reaffirmed
The company&#39;s 2024 full-year&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;is reaffirmed and includes:
<ul>
<li>Net income per diluted common share of&nbsp;$2.68&nbsp;to&nbsp;$2.78; and,</li>
<li>Regulated infrastructure investments of approximately&nbsp;$332 million</li>
</ul>
In addition, we reiterate our non-linear long-term diluted EPS growth of&nbsp;5%&nbsp;to&nbsp;7%, anchored off 2022&#39;s diluted EPS of&nbsp;$2.43.
When considering the company&#39;s 2024&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;relative to actual results in 2023 of&nbsp;$2.68&nbsp;diluted EPS, it is important to note that the company&#39;s adjustment to income tax reserves in 2023 resulted in an increase of&nbsp;$0.14&nbsp;per diluted share.
Our&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;is subject to risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, those factors outlined in the &quot;Forward Looking Statements&quot; of this release and the &quot;Risk Factors&quot; section of the company&#39;s annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SJW Group Reaffirmed 2024 Guidance: Sees EPS Of $2.68 To $2.78 Vs. $3.00 Consensus

ALCC

Reported Earlier, AltC Acquisition Corp. Schedules Special Meeting For Oklo Business Combination Approval

In a report released today, Seth Basham from Wedbush maintained a Buy rating on Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO – Research Report), with a price t...

Wedbush Keeps Their Buy Rating on Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO)

Bank of America Securities analyst Robert Ohmes maintained a Buy rating on Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO – Research Report) today and set a pric...

Bank of America Securities Reaffirms Their Buy Rating on Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO)

Loop Capital Markets analyst Anthony Chukumba reiterated a Buy rating on Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO – Research Report) today and set a price ...

Loop Capital Markets Sticks to Their Buy Rating for Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO)

Academy Sports And Outdoors: Remain Neutral Until Shrink Improves And New Strategy Shows Traction

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
While the market continues to impress &ndash; most recently thanks to another <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-economy-adds-303000-jobs-unemployment-falls-to-38-in-march-as-labor-market-continues-to-impress-123226886.html">robust jobs report</a> &ndash; the usual suspects appear overpriced, which brings us to <a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-types/undervalued-stocks/">undervalued stocks</a>. Yes, it might seem like every idea is overbought. However, there will always be enterprises that don&rsquo;t grab the spotlight.



It&rsquo;s just a matter of mathematical realities. Right now, investors can choose from thousands upon thousands of publicly traded assets. We&rsquo;re not just talking about individual stocks but also baskets of securities, also known as exchange-traded funds. Add in commodities like gold and silver and now you&rsquo;re really competing for people&rsquo;s attention (and limited dollars).



Granted, some ideas are ignored because they should be. Arguably, that&rsquo;s not the case here. Below are undervalued stocks you should carefully examine.



<h2>MGM Resorts (MGM)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mgm-stock-1-300x169.jpg" alt="A photo of the MGM logo on the MGM casino building."><div>Source: Michael Neil Thomas / Shutterstock.com</div></div>I&rsquo;m not going to beat around the bush. MGM Resorts (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mgm-stock-quote/">MGM</a>) is a risky idea for undervalued stocks. As a world-famous resort and casino operator, the brand enjoys social cachet, no doubt about it. However, MGM stock is also dependent on a viable consumer economy. So far this year, shares have gained a bit over 2%. That&rsquo;s not exactly an encouraging sign.



However, it&rsquo;s possible that while the revenge travel sentiment has faded into the background, consumers in the post-pandemic cycle have <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/consumer-business/us-travel-hospitality-industry-outlook-2024.pdf">learned to prioritize their vacations</a>. If this dynamic continues to hold true, MGM would be an intriguing idea to consider. Right now, shares <a href="https://www.gurufocus.com/stock/MGM/summary?search=mgm">trade at 14.72X trailing-year earnings</a>. That&rsquo;s noticeably below the sector median print of 20.68X.



Interestingly, MGM enjoyed an outstanding performance in fiscal 2023. Its average positive earnings surprise clocked in at 107.3%, an impressive statistic. For fiscal 2024, though, analysts are looking for a slight decline in earnings per share to $2.44 (compared to 2023&rsquo;s $2.67).



Still, if the aforementioned prioritization materializes, the high-side EPS estimate of $3.41 would possibly be on the table. Therefore, it&rsquo;s one of the undervalued stocks to consider.



<h2>Bumble (BMBL)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bmbl1600-300x169.jpg" alt="BUMBLE (BMBL) app on a smartphone"><div>Source: XanderSt / Shutterstock.com</div></div>A controversial idea in my opinion, dating app Bumble (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/bmbl-stock-quote/">BMBL</a>) started off with high hopes. Here, we have a woman-founded and led organization that aims to change social behaviors. Essentially, for traditionally oriented relationships, women must make the first move. In Bumble&rsquo;s eyes, this directive encourages parity in relational power structures. It&rsquo;s also a really stupid idea that frustrates roughly half of the target audience.



Notably, new Bumble CEO Lidiane Jones has basically acknowledged that <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/03/13/lifestyle/bumble-is-now-rethinking-women-making-the-first-move-on-app/">the idea is indeed stupid</a>. Don&rsquo;t get me wrong: I think it&rsquo;s important for people to challenge hegemonic ideologies and frameworks. At the same time, you can&rsquo;t use a business to shove an agenda down customers&rsquo; throats, especially if they don&rsquo;t want to play along. Bumble might finally be hearing this message loud and clear.



If so, BMBL stock is trading at attractive multiples. We&rsquo;re talking about 1.55X trailing-year revenue and <a href="https://www.gurufocus.com/stock/BMBL/summary?search=bmbl">only 0.84X book value</a>. For the latter, this stat basically means Bumble is worth less than the sum of its parts.



With a simple and important pivot, BMBL&rsquo;s ridiculously discounted price won&rsquo;t last. It&rsquo;s one of the undervalued stocks to watch.



<h2>Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/baseball_sports_betting_1600-300x169.jpg" alt="A baseball glove rests on a field with a baseball and several hundred dollar bills inside."><div>Source: KAMONRAT / Shutterstock.com</div></div>For my last idea on this list, I&rsquo;m going to go the speculative route with Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/aso-stock-quote/">ASO</a>). From the name, it sounds like some European soccer club&rsquo;s youth academy program. In reality, it&rsquo;s a sporting goods and outdoor recreational retailer. Now, this industry faces pressure due to headwinds working against discretionary consumer spending. However, Academy Sports sells guns and ammunition.



Why is that important amid the scourge in firearms-related violence in this country? Mainly, if the Democrats win big in 2024, they may push for draconian gun control measures. Naturally, this dynamic could spark a buying panic. Combined with the inflationary pressures of a still-robust jobs market, this political catalyst appears to be an underappreciated one.



Right now, shares trade at a <a href="https://www.gurufocus.com/stock/ASO/summary?search=aso">measly 9.07X forward earnings multiple</a>. That&rsquo;s lower than nearly 87% of the cyclical retail space. Here&rsquo;s the counterpoint: analysts only project very modest sales growth for the current fiscal year. They&rsquo;re also forecasting a decline in earnings.



Still, if Democrats win out, ASO would certainly be a name to watch. For speculators, it belongs on the list of undervalued stocks to put on the radar.



On the date of publication, Josh Enomoto did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.&nbsp;The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>A former senior business analyst for Sony Electronics, Josh Enomoto has helped broker major contracts with Fortune Global 500 companies. Over the past several years, he has delivered unique, critical insights for the investment markets, as well as various other industries including legal, construction management, and healthcare. Tweet him at @EnomotoMedia.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/hidden-value-hunters-3-stocks-that-havent-hit-their-peak/">Hidden Value Hunters: 3 Stocks That Haven&#8217;t Hit Their Peak</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

Hidden Value Hunters: 3 Stocks That Haven't Hit Their Peak

Academy Sports and Outdoor attracts bull rating from Jefferies

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
When it comes to Nasdaq stocks with strong buy ratings, mega-cap <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/technology/">tech stocks</a> may be what may first come to mind. To some extent, this is a correct assumption. Wall Street&rsquo;s analyst community has issued &ldquo;strong buy&rdquo; or &ldquo;overweight&rdquo; ratings on quite a few of the &ldquo;Magnificent Seven&rdquo; stocks.



That said, these aren&rsquo;t the only Nasdaq-listed names sell-siders are bullish on right now. Many large-cap tech names have also received similarly high marks from sell-side analysts over the past few months.



Moreover, remember that while heavily associated with tech stocks, scores of non-tech stocks across all sectors also trade on the Nasdaq exchange. Plenty of these names have also garnered a &ldquo;strong buy&rdquo; or &ldquo;overweight&rdquo; ratings since the start of the year.



The accuracy of sell-side ratings has long been subject to debate. It may be worth taking a look at these lauded Nasdaq stocks, such as the following seven.



<h2>Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/retail1600b-300x169.jpg" alt="Woman at the supermarket checkout, she is paying using a credit card, shopping and retail concept"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div>Academy Sports and Outdoors (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/aso-stock-quote/">ASO</a>) is a sporting goods retailer, with stores located primarily in Texas, as well as across the southern and midwestern United States. Last year, I pointed out ASO as being one of the <a href="https://investorplace.com/2023/04/the-7-most-undervalued-nasdaq-stocks-to-buy-in-april-2023/">undervalued Nasdaq stocks</a>.



ASO stock has traded sideways since then. Recent fiscal results and guidance from the company have <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4082193-academy-sports-and-outdoors-slides-after-sales-guidance-disappoints">fallen short of expectations</a>. Yet while I&rsquo;m more skeptical about the stock than before, one sell-side analyst remains very bullish. Last August, Telsey Advisory Group <a href="https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/telsey-sees-a-return-to-growth-for-academy-sports-and-outdoor-in-2024-432SI-3153692">initiated coverage</a> of Academy Sports and Outdoors stock. 



Giving ASO an &ldquo;outperform&rdquo; rating,&rdquo; and a $72 per share price target, Telsey cited the potential for Academy to &ldquo;return to growth&rdquo; during 2024. The analyst firm has <a href="https://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=ASO&amp;p=d">twice reiterated its &ldquo;outperform&rdquo; rating</a>. Telsey raised its price target in the first reiteration to $83 per share, but lowered in the second reiteration to $75 per share.



<h2>Crowdstrike Holdings (CRWD)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/crwd1600-300x169.png" alt="Person holding smartphone with logo of US software company CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (CRWD) on screen in front of website. Focus on phone display. Unmodified photo."><div>Source: T. Schneider / Shutterstock.com</div></div>&ldquo;AI mania&rdquo; has been a boon for tech stocks across the board, and Crowdstrike Holdings (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/crwd-stock-quote/">CRWD</a>) stock is no exception. Shares in the cybersecurity solutions firm have rallied by a staggering 144.73% over the past year. 



While many other large and mega-cap Nasdaq stocks have outperformed it during this time frame, these massive gains for CRWD stock are nothing to sneeze at. That said, following this massive run-up, Crowdstrike shares have become pricey. Right now, CRWD trades for 81.1 times forward earnings.



But while this may have the valuation-conscious leery about entering a position, keep in mind that analysts at Raymond James have yet to reiterate or change an <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4060086-crowdstrike-gets-outperform-rating-as-cyber-security-stocks-flatten">&ldquo;outperform&rdquo;</a> rating on CRWD, issued in January. 



The same goes for analysts at Bernstein, who also issued an <a href="https://www.streetinsider.com/New+Coverage/Bernstein+Starts+CrowdStrike+Holdings+%28CRWD%29+at+Outperform/22641288.html">&ldquo;outperform&rdquo;</a> rating on the stock at that time. This could change, however, after Crowdstike next reports earnings, sometime next month.



<h2>East West Bancorp (EWBC)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/banks1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Image of a grey cityscape with a large corporate building that features the word bank on it"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div>East West Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/ewbc-stock-quote/">EWBC</a>) is a California-based regional bank, focused on providing personal and business banking services to the Chinese-American community. 



Regional banks have contended with many challenges lately, but based on a recent sell-side rating, EWBC has been one of the more resilient names in the space.



Last month, Barclays analyst Jared Shaw issued an <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/barclays-taps-3-mid-cap-bank-stocks-for-up-to-50-upside-potential">&ldquo;overweight&rdquo;</a> rating on EWBC stock, giving it a $106 per share price target. In his bullish assessment, Shaw cited management&rsquo;s strong execution. Per the analyst, East West Bancorp has continued to increase its deposits and loan, all while maintaining &ldquo;excellent credit underwriting&rdquo; and staying well-capitalized.



With EWBC trading for around $74 per share today, reaching Shaw&rsquo;s price target may seem like a tall order. 



However, if the bank&rsquo;s strengths persist, macro conditions improve, and sentiment for regional <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/financial/bank/">bank stocks</a> shift back to bullish, shares could hit this price target sooner than you think.



<h2>Microsoft (MSFT)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/msft1600-1-300x169.png" alt="Microsoft logo close up. Microsoft (MSFT) Flagship Store Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, NYC."><div>Source: The Art of Pics / Shutterstock.com</div></div>You probably don&rsquo;t find it surprising that Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/msft-stock-quote/">MSFT</a>) is one of the Nasdaq stocks getting a lot of love from the analyst community right now. 



The software giant has so far been one of the early-movers in generative artificial intelligence technology. Because of this, the strong buy ratings keep coming in.



For instance, on March 20, Keybanc issued an <a href="https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/paying-todays-premium-multiple-for-microsoft-is-worth-the-price--keybanc-432SI-3348117">&ldquo;overweight&rdquo;</a> rating, and a $490 per share price target, on MSFT stock. In their view, &ldquo;Microsoft sits in the catbird seat in two of the three main ways software vendors can monetize the AI wave.&rdquo;



That&rsquo;s not all. On April 11, Morgan Stanley <a href="https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/microsoft-stock-target-raised-at-morgan-stanley-as-eps-could-double-by-2029-432SI-3375130">reiterated its &ldquo;outperform&rdquo; rating</a> on MSFT, raising its price target to $520 per share. In the sell-side firm&rsquo;s view, Microsoft&rsquo;s lead position in cloud computing and gen AI points to annual earnings doubling to $29 per share by 2029.



<h2>Nvidia (NVDA)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/nvda-1600-300x169.png" alt="Closeup of mobile phone screen with logo lettering of nvidia corporation on computer keyboard. NVDA stock."><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div>Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/nvda-stock-quote/">NVDA</a>) is another &ldquo;Magnificent Seven&rdquo; component that&rsquo;s still earning top grades from Wall Street analysts. 



With the cool down in &ldquo;AI mania,&rdquo; investors have also cooled down in their excitement for this leading AI chip designer.



The next big move for NVDA stock may be just around the corner.. The company is expected to report earnings sometime next month. That said, if you&rsquo;ve been thinking about exiting a NVDA position, a look at the latest sell-side commentary on Nvidia could change your view.



Last week, Raymond James&rsquo; Srini Pajjuri <a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/nvidia-stock-price-buy-sell-2c6124fa?mod=md_stockoverview_news">maintained his &ldquo;strong buy&rdquo; rating</a> on Nvidia, and raised his price target from $850 to $1000 per share. Pajjuri believes concerns about a slowdown in AI chip sales are &ldquo;unwarranted,&rdquo; given demand still exceeds supply. 



Analysts at Morgan Stanley have also recently raised their NVDA price target to <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/morgan-stanley-just-raised-its-price-target-on-nvidia-nvda-stock/">$1000 per share</a>, as InvestorPlace&rsquo;s Larry Ramer discussed on April 11.



<h2>Synopsys (SNPS)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/snps1600-300x169.png" alt="Person holding mobile phone with logo of American technology company Synopsys Inc. (SNPS) on screen in front of web page. Focus on phone display. Unmodified photo."><div>Source: T. Schneider / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Electronic design automation company Synopsys (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/snps-stock-quote/">SNPS</a>) is another of the Nasdaq stocks that have recently received a &ldquo;strong buy&rdquo; rating or the equivalent to a &ldquo;strong buy&rdquo; rating from analysts.



On April 4, Piper Sandler&rsquo;s Clarke Jeffries issued <a href="https://www.streetinsider.com/Analyst+Comments/Piper+Sandler+Starts+Synopsys+%28SNPS%29+at+Overweight%2C+Transformative+Moves+Create+New+Margin+Opportunity/23026006.html">an &ldquo;overweight&rdquo; rating, and a $665 per share price target</a>, on SNPS stock. In the research note, the analyst cited several factors driving this bullish view on shares. 



First, Jeffries pointed out that the company has sustained strong levels of annualized revenue growth. Alongside this, Synopsys&rsquo; margins have improved considerably over the past five years.



Besides the strong performance of its underlying business, the analyst also believes acquisitions and divestitures are also a catalyst for SNPS. 



The company&rsquo;s pending purchase of Ansys (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/anss-stock-quote/">ANSS</a>) is poised to be accretive to shareholders. Synopsys&rsquo; sale of its Software Integrity Group segment stands to be a major positive for further margin expansion.



<h2>Weatherford International (WFRD)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/oil-stocks1600-300x169.png" alt="Oil. 3D Illustration. Oil stocks are up."><div>Source: Pavel Ignatov / Shutterstock.com</div></div>On February 28, Barclays&rsquo; J. David Anderson issued <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4073368-weatherford-started-at-overweight-by-barclays-as-reborn-oil-services-player">an &ldquo;overweight&rdquo; rating, and a $135 per share price target</a>, on Weatherford International (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wfrd-stock-quote/">WFRD</a>). At the time, this oil equipment and services company was trading for just over $100 per share.



WFRD stock has since climbed to $120 per share, but if you decide to take heed of this analyst recommendation, upside may be more substantial than you think. 



In the Barclays research note, Anderson argued that the key factor pointing to higher prices for Weatherford was the company&rsquo;s continued implementation of cost cutting and other efficiency measures.



However, couple this with a recent positive development for the energy sector. That would be the latest surge in oil prices. With <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-22/oil-demand-outpaces-expectations-testing-calculus-on-peak-crude">oil demand outpacing expectations</a>, exploration efforts could rise as well. 



This could further boost demand for Weatherford&rsquo;s products and services. Hence, giving shares an organic growth catalyst, alongside a turnaround catalyst.<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/-stock-quote/"></a>



On the date of publication, Thomas Niel did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com <a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Thomas Niel, contributor for InvestorPlace.com, has been writing single-stock analysis for web-based publications since 2016.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/wall-street-favorites-7-nasdaq-stocks-with-strong-buy-ratings-for-april-2024/">Wall Street Favorites: 7 Nasdaq Stocks With Strong Buy Ratings for April 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

Wall Street Favorites: 7 Nasdaq Stocks With Strong Buy Ratings for April 2024

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