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TransCoastal Corp is an oil and gas exploration and production company. It is engaged in the development of oil and gas reserves in the state of Texas. The company has acquired or divested over 100 wells in Texas and has over 200 undeveloped locations on over 6000 acres of leased oil and gas property located primarily in the panhandle area of west Texas.

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Microsoft Corp&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) CEO&nbsp;Satya Nadella&nbsp;on Thursday announced the company&#8217;s record-breaking <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/04/38049341/microsoft-reportedly-working-on-bringing-ai-chatbot-to-xbox-to-enhance-gaming-experience">gaming performance</a> and its expansion to&nbsp;Nintendo Co., Ltd&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTDOY#OTC">NTDOY</a>) Switch and&nbsp;Sony Group Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SONY#NYSE">SONY</a>) PlayStation.
What Happened: On Thursday, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38444199/microsoft-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-new-era-of-ai-transformation-and-more">during the third-quarter earnings call</a>, Nadella revealed that Microsoft had set new&nbsp;records for game streaming hours,&nbsp;console usage, and monthly active&nbsp;devices. 
The CEO also highlighted the successful addition of&nbsp;Diablo 4, the first&nbsp;Activision Blizzard, title to the&nbsp;Game Pass service. &#8220;Subscribers played over 10 million hours within the first 10 days, making it one of our biggest first-party Game Pass launches ever,&#8221; he said. 
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38345502/elon-musk-reacts-after-nvidia-stock-plunges-10-and-erases-212b-market-cap-rookie-numbers?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Reacts After Nvidia Stock Plunges 10% And Erases $212B Market Cap: &#8216;Rookie Numbers&#8217;</a>
He then went on to speak about the ongoing success of&nbsp;Call of Duty: Modern Warfare&nbsp;3, saying, the game has been attracting new gamers and retaining&nbsp;franchise loyalists.
Nadella also informed that Microsoft is expanding its&nbsp;games to new platforms. &#8220;Finally, we are expanding our games to new platforms, bringing four of our fan-favorite titles to Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation for the first time. In fact, earlier this month, we had seven games among the top 25 on the PlayStation store more than any other publisher,&#8221; he stated. 
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Why It Matters: Microsoft&#8217;s gaming division has been a significant driver of its overall growth. The company&#8217;s third-quarter revenue increased 17% year-over-year to $61.9 billion, beating the consensus estimate of $60.804 billion. Microsoft has now beaten analyst estimates on both the top and bottom lines in five consecutive quarters, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/gxjhpowx7zks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>. 
The company also exceeded analyst expectations by posting quarterly earnings of $2.94 per share, compared to the forecasted $2.82 per share.
This success comes on the heels of Microsoft&#8217;s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Nadella had previously expressed enthusiasm for the acquisition, emphasizing the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/01/36682941/microsofts-satya-nadella-activision-gives-us-a-chance-of-being-a-good-publisher-on-sony-nintendo">opportunity to become a &#8220;good publisher&#8221;</a> across various platforms, including rival consoles like Sony and Nintendo. 
Earlier this month, six months after the acquisition,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/04/38342845/can-blizzard-keep-its-autonomy-post-microsoft-acquisition-no-one-asking-us-to-do-anything-says-wor">Blizzard executives revealed</a>&nbsp;that Microsoft had largely allowed Blizzard to maintain its autonomy.
MSFT Price Action: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft shares</a> were up 4.31% after hours at $416.25 at the time of publication, according to Benzinga Pro.
Photo by WEF on Flickr
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38351566/mark-zuckerberg-didnt-sell-facebook-for-1b-but-would-he-have-sold-for-5t-this-was-meta-ceos-thought?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Zuckerberg Didn&#8217;t Sell Facebook For $1B But Would He Have Sold For $5T? This Was Meta CEO&#8217;s Thought Process</a>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Gaming

News

Tech

ATVI

MSFT

NTDOY

Sony Group Corporation American Depositary Shares

SONY

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Highlights Record-Breaking Gaming Performance, Expansion To Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation

In the recent earnings call, 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>) announced a significant increase in its capital expenditure, reflecting the company&#8217;s strong <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38445001/alphabet-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-70b-buyback-first-ever-dividend-ai-leadership-and-more">financial performance and its commitment to AI</a>.
What Happened: Alphabet&#8217;s CFO Ruth Porat revealed a $12 billion capital expenditure during the company&#8217;s first-quarter earnings call. This substantial investment signifies the company&#8217;s confidence in the potential of AI across its business.
&#8220;Our reported capex in the first quarter was $12 billion, once again driven overwhelmingly by investment in our technical infrastructure with the largest component for servers followed by data centers. The significant year-on-year growth in capex in recent quarters reflects our confidence in the opportunities offered by AI across our business,&#8221; Porat said.
The earnings call also highlighted the company&#8217;s financial results for the first quarter. The consolidated revenues stood at $80.5 billion, marking a 15% increase year-over-year. The growth was primarily driven by the strength in search and cloud services.
Porat also underscored the impact of restructuring charges and employee severance on the total expenses. The company&#8217;s operating income saw a significant rise, reaching $25.5 billion, a 46% increase from the previous year.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38376705/doge-shiba-and-other-memecoins-fueling-mass-adoption-of-bases-l2-network-coinbase-e?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dogecoin, Shiba Inu And Other Memecoins Fueling Mass Adoption Of Base&#8217;s L2 Network, Coinbase Exec Says: &#8216;They Are Going To Be One Of The Biggest Drivers&#8217;</a>
Within the Google Services segment, revenues reached $70.4 billion, with Google Search and other advertising revenues contributing $46.2 billion. YouTube advertising revenues also saw a substantial increase, reaching $8.1 billion.
The Google Cloud segment reported revenues of $9.6 billion, marking a 28% increase. The Other Bets segment saw revenues of $495 million, with an operating loss of $1 billion.
Why It Matters: The first-quarter earnings call reflects Alphabet&#8217;s strong financial performance and its strategic focus on AI. The company&#8217;s CEO, Sundar Pichai, had earlier <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38450406/gene-munster-applauds-sundar-pichais-100b-revenue-projection-for-google-parent-alphabet-a-sign-of-e">projected a combined revenue</a> of $100 billion from its YouTube and Cloud businesses by 2024, indicating a new growth phase for the company.
Moreover, Pichai has expressed confidence in the company&#8217;s ability to manage the costs associated with the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38450393/alphabet-ceo-very-very-confident-that-it-wont-be-costly-to-serve-search-experience-with-generative-a">new search experience</a>, including generative answers. This indicates Alphabet&#8217;s commitment to innovation and its readiness to capitalize on the potential of AI.
Price Action: Alphabet's Class A stock rose 11.56% to $174.04, while Class C stock rose 11.43% in after-hours trading to $176.23, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> at the time of writing
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38392548/ups-earnings-show-the-weight-of-170-000-salaries-while-it-learns-to-navigate-shipping-slump?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UPS Earnings Show The Weight Of $170,000 Compensation While It Learns To Navigate Shipping Slump</a>
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This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Earnings

Equities

Large Cap

Global

Markets

GOOG

GOOGL

Alphabet CFO Underscores Google's $12B Capex Surge: 'Reflects Our Confidence In The Opportunities Offered By AI'

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

BBJP

WisdomTree Trust Japan Total Dividend Fund

Reported Earlier, Japan Tokyo Core Consumer Price Index (YoY) For April 1.6% Vs. 2.2% Est.; 2.4% Prior

Reported Earlier, Japan Interest Rate Decision Unchanged At 0.10%

Reported Earlier, Australia Producer Price Index (YoY) 4.3% Vs. 4.1% Prior

Reported Earlier, Australia Producer Price Index (QoQ) 0.9% Vs. 0.9% Prior

Microsoft Corp&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) CEO&nbsp;Satya Nadella&nbsp;addressed concerns about the demand environment for the company&#8217;s Azure cloud services during the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38444199/microsoft-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-new-era-of-ai-transformation-and-more">third-quarter earnings call</a>.
What Happened: During the call on Thursday, Nadella spoke about the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35333934/analysts-are-bullish-on-microsofts-azure-and-ai-growth-ahead-of-q1-earnings-heres-why">strong demand for Azure</a>, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). He noted that Azure has become a go-to platform for AI projects, which has significantly contributed to acquiring new customers. 
He highlighted three trends Microsoft is observing in Azure from the demand perspective. &#8220;Some of the logos I even referenced in my remarks, our new Azure customers. So, that&#8217;s one. The second thing that we&#8217;re also seeing is AI just doesn&#8217;t sit on its own. So, AI projects obviously start with calls to AI models, but they also use a vector database.&#8221;
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38400945/metas-massive-1b-bet-on-nvidia-h100-gpu-cluster-will-dwarf-every-other-companys-target-but-zuckerber?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta&#8217;s Massive $1B Bet On Nvidia H100 GPU Cluster Will Dwarf Every Other Company&#8217;s Target, But Zuckerberg Reveals Original Goal Was This, Not AI</a>
He then spoke about the growth of adjacent services in Azure. &#8220;Azure Search, which is really used by even ChatGPT is one of the fastest-growing services for us. We have Fabric integration to Azure AI. And so, Cosmos DB integration. So, the data tier, the dev tools is another place where we are seeing great traction,&#8221; he said. 
Nadella also mentioned the increasing migration to Azure and the continuous optimization cycle, which involves customers spending money on new projects, leading to &#8220;continuous&#8221; growth.
Microsoft&#8217;s third-quarter revenue increased by 17% year-over-year to $61.9 billion, beating the consensus estimate of $60.804 billion. The tech giant reported quarterly earnings of $2.94 per share, which also beat analyst estimates,&nbsp;according to the data from&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: In February 2024, it was reported that Microsoft&#8217;s Azure cloud infrastructure was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/37074492/microsofts-azure-gains-ground-on-amazons-aws">rapidly narrowing the gap</a> with&nbsp;Amazon Web Services&nbsp;(AWS), the leading cloud service provider. 
Analysts estimated that Azure, which has grown from half the size of AWS five years ago to approximately three-quarters of its size today, does not explicitly report revenue
In January this year, analysts predicted that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36790599/microsoft-azures-soaring-growth-and-ai-innovations-signal-a-bright-future-for-investors-analysts">Azure&#8217;s growth could accelerate</a> slightly to 29%-30% year-on-year, with a clear revenue path to $95 billion within two years. 
MSFT Price Action: At the time of writing, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft shares</a> were up 4.31% in the after-hours session at $416.25 after ending Thursday&#8217;s regular trading lower by 2.45%, according to Benzinga Pro.
Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38348747/not-something-steve-jobs-would-probably-do-gurman-says-apple-should-go-against-the-grain-and-low?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;Not Something Steve Jobs Would Probably Do&#8217;: Gurman Says Apple Should Go Against The Grain And Lower iPhone&#8217;s Price Point</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Satya Nadella Says Azure Search, Also Used By ChatGPT, Is 'One Of The Fastest-Growing Services' For Microsoft

Arrived, the real estate investment platform that allows individuals to buy shares in single-family rental properties, has released its financial performance report for the first quarter of 2024. The company reported a strong quarter, with investors earning more than $1.1 million in dividend income, a 16% increase from the previous quarter.
During Q1 2024, 352 individual properties paid out dividends, with single-family residential properties earning an average annualized dividend of 3.8% and vacation rental homes earning an average of 3.4%. The Arrived Single Family Residential Fund, which launched in 2023, earned an average annualized dividend of 4.0%.
Update: Arrived is launching three new properties on its platform, with a minimum investment of $100. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/go/arrived-yf">The offerings can be previewed here</a>.&nbsp;
&#8220;Despite affordability challenges, we&#8217;re continually impressed by the resilience of the residential real estate market,&#8221; said Cameron Wu, VP of Investments at Arrived, in a statement. &#8220;While sustained higher interest rates and persistent inflation have tempered expectations for rate reductions, home prices remain steady. This underscores the importance of strategic precision and market selectivity.&#8221;
Wu also noted that Arrived is focusing on areas with strong macroeconomic tailwinds, such as population and job growth, and favorable tax schemes, aligning with the company&#8217;s strongest convictions.
In addition to strong dividend performance, Arrived also reported several product updates, including the launch of Cash Balance, which allows investors to receive dividends directly to their Arrived account and reinvest or withdraw funds at any time. The company also revamped its property pages to include a comprehensive property timeline for all single-family residential properties and vacation rentals, and implemented two-factor authentication across all investor accounts.
Share price performance was mixed during the quarter, with single-family residential properties seeing an average share price change of -1.5% from Q4 2023 to Q1 2024, and vacation rental properties experiencing an average share price change of -2.9%. However, the company emphasized that real estate tends to perform best as a long-term investment, allowing investors to navigate through various market cycles and maximize returns.
&#8220;As we enter the peak season for long-term rentals, our leases are strategically structured to mostly expire between March and June, minimizing lease-up times and maximizing new rents,&#8221; added Wu. &#8220;This positions us well to capitalize on seasonal demand for rentals. Additionally, our vacation rental portfolio is experiencing robust growth, boasting nearly 60% occupancy rates across our portfolio, with 11 properties managed internally by Arrived.&#8221;
Arrived closed Q1 2024 with a stabilized occupancy rate of 92% for single-family residential properties and 95% for properties in the Arrived Single Family Residential Fund. The company also reported strong performance in its vacation rental portfolio, with $705,777 in gross booking revenue across all operational vacation rentals in Q1.
While the real estate market faces challenges, Arrived remains optimistic about the opportunities for investors. By focusing on strategic market selection, operational enhancements, and a commitment to transparency, the company aims to continue delivering value to its investors in the coming quarters.
Investors interested in becoming fractional owners of rental properties can <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/go/arrived-yf">view offerings on the Arrived website</a>. 
Image courtesy of Arrived.

Real Estate

Fractional Landlords Earned Over $1.1 Million In Rent Dividends In Q1: Highlights From Arrived's Latest Performance Review

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) CEO Pat Gelsinger expressed confidence in the company&#8217;s future, despite a disappointing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38444720/intel-shares-fall-on-q1-revenue-miss-weak-q2-eps-guidance">first-quarter performance</a>.
What Happened: Gelsinger, during the first quarter earnings call, highlighted the company&#8217;s upcoming products and their potential to regain market share.
He emphasized the significance of the Sierra Forest, Intel&#8217;s first Xeon 6 product on Intel 3, which marks a return to American soil for the company&#8217;s leading process technology after a decade. 
Gelsinger also mentioned the Granite Rapids, set to launch in the third quarter, and the Clearwater Forest, the second generation of the Ecorepart, scheduled for next year. He believes these products will help Intel regain its leadership position in the data center market.
See Also: <a 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?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Q1 Earnings Highlights: EV Giant Misses Wall Street Estimates, Makes Cost Cuts, Invests In AI, Spee</a>
Despite the disappointing first-quarter results, Gelsinger is confident in Intel&#8217;s future, stating, &#8220;The roadmap is healthy. The execution is strong, and we&#8217;re rebuilding customer trust. They&#8217;re looking at us now and saying, &#8216;Oh, Intel is back.&#8217; And we&#8217;re quite excited by that.&#8221;
Why It Matters: Intel&#8217;s first-quarter performance was less than stellar, with the company&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38444720/intel-shares-fall-on-q1-revenue-miss-weak-q2-eps-guidance">shares falling</a> after it reported lower-than-expected revenue and issued a weak second-quarter EPS guidance. Despite this, Gelsinger&#8217;s optimism about the company&#8217;s future could reassure investors and stakeholders.
Intel&#8217;s subsidiary, Mobileye, also faced challenges in the first quarter, with its revenue dropping by 48% due to a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38432965/intel-spinoff-mobileye-revenue-falls-amid-supply-chain-reset-ceo-optimistic-about-recovery">supply chain reset</a>. However, Mobileye&#8217;s President and CEO, Prof. Amnon Shashua, expressed optimism about the company&#8217;s recovery, indicating a potential turnaround for Intel&#8217;s overall business.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Intel&#8217;s stock price dropped 7.75% after hours to $32.39, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38424795/amazon-pauses-green-card-sponsorship-for-foreign-workers-in-2024-amid-layoffs-report?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon Pauses Green Card Sponsorship For Foreign Workers In 2024 Amid Layoffs: Report</a>
Image Via Shutterstock
This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

INTC

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger Aims To Regain Lost Ground After Disappointing Results: 'The Road Map Is Healthy'

Supporters of Donald Trump are said to be formulating plans that could potentially disrupt the independence of the Federal Reserve, if the former president were to be re-elected.
What Happened: Trump&#8217;s allies have been considering a variety of proposals in recent months. These range from incremental policy changes to a controversial claim that the president should have a say in setting interest rates, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/trump-allies-federal-reserve-independence-54423c2f">reported</a> The Wall Street Journal.
A secretive group of Trump&#8217;s allies has prepared a 10-page document outlining a policy vision for the Federal Reserve, according to sources. The group proposes that Trump should be involved in interest-rate decisions and suggests subjecting Fed regulations to White House review. The document also advocates for a more proactive use of the Treasury Department to oversee the central bank.
The group also asserts that if Trump were to return to the White House, he would have the power to dismiss Jerome Powell as Fed chair before his term concludes in 2026. However, it is still uncertain whether Trump is aware of or has endorsed this initiative.
Senior advisers to Trump, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, have warned that unless a message is directly from Trump or an authorized member of his campaign team, no aspect of future presidential staffing or policy announcements should be considered official, according to the report.
Benzinga has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment, the story will be updated as and when a response is received. 
The prospect of Trump influencing interest rates was described as a &#8220;horrifying thought&#8221; by one former Trump administration official, according to the report.
Trump, known for his preference for low interest rates, has not yet decided how he would approach the Fed in a second term. He has had informal discussions with advisers about potential candidates to lead the central bank and has asked associates if they would be interested in the role.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38394597/elon-musk-reacts-to-marjorie-taylor-greenes-ally-revelation-of-fine-threat-by-house-authorities-mike?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Reacts To Marjorie Taylor Greene&#8217;s Ally Revelation Of Fine Threat By House Authorities: Mike Johnson Removing Traces Of &#8216;Betrayal of America&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Trump has previously expressed his dissatisfaction with Powell&#8217;s leadership of the Federal Reserve. In February 2024, he suggested that Powell&#8217;s decisions, especially regarding interest rate policies, might be <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/36915973/trump-suggests-political-motives-behind-powells-fed-decisions-points-to-threat-of-massive-inflation">politically motivated</a>, favoring the Democratic Party.
In a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in March 2024, Trump was presented with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37770466/if-trump-returns-these-three-candidates-will-be-the-top-choice-to-replace-jerome-powell-say-ex-presi">list of potential candidates</a> to replace Powell, indicating his interest in a change of leadership at the Fed.
This is not the first time Trump has criticized Powell. Back in August 2019, he compared Powell to China&#8217;s President Xi Jinping, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/19/08/14319959/trump-my-only-question-is-who-is-our-bigger-enemy-jay-powell-or-chairman-xi">questioning who was a bigger enemy</a> of the U.S. 
Photo via Shutterstock
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38422645/trumps-niece-says-ex-president-could-see-potential-imprisonment-as-opportunity-donald-is-facing-real?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump&#8217;s Niece Says Ex-President Could See Potential Imprisonment As Opportunity: &#8216;Donald Is Facing Real-Time Consequences For His Transgressions&#8217;</a>
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Politics

General

Secretive Trump Allies Plan To Curtail Federal Reserve's Independence: Report

Drew Baglino, the former Senior Vice President of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), has sold off a significant portion of his shares in the company. This move comes shortly after his resignation from the electric vehicle (EV) giant.
What Happened: Baglino, who had been with Tesla since 2006, sold approximately 1.14 million shares, valued at $181.5 million, as per a <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1318605/000197236224000520/xsl144X01/primary_doc.xml">filing</a> with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday.
The filing listed the &#8220;approximate date of sale&#8221; as Apr. 25, and described it as an exercise of stock options. This sale follows two previous transactions earlier this year, where Baglino offloaded about $4 million worth of shares.
Baglino, who was serving as the Senior Vice President of Powertrain and Energy Engineering, announced his departure from Tesla on Apr. 15, the same day the company revealed a 10% reduction in its global workforce. His resignation was followed by that of another long-serving executive, Rohan Patel.
See Also: <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; Tesl</a>
Despite being a key figure at Tesla, Baglino has chosen to part ways with the company, which is undergoing a significant strategic shift. CEO Elon Musk recently announced that Tesla will prioritize its &#8220;autonomy roadmap,&#8221; focusing on the development of a robotaxi or CyberCab, and investing in AI infrastructure.
Why It Matters: Baglino&#8217;s departure from Tesla comes amid a period of significant change for the company. The EV maker recently reported a 9% drop in <a 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">first-quarter revenue</a>, its steepest year-over-year decline since 2012, due to declining demand and increased global competition.
Despite this, Musk remains optimistic about Tesla&#8217;s future, emphasizing the company&#8217;s investments in AI infrastructure and the potential for self-driving vehicle technology. This has led to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38394792/tesla-stock-surges-despite-ugly-q1-results-heres-why">a surge in Tesla&#8217;s share</a> price, which was down about 40% for the year prior to the earnings report, jumping 18% in the two trading days after Musk&#8217;s commentary.
Analysts, however, remain divided on <a 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">Tesla&#8217;s near-term prospects</a>. While some, like Gary Black of Future Fund, see Tesla on a collision course with Uber and Lyft, others, like Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi, are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38162984/teslas-robotaxi-wont-get-investors-excited-say-analysts-we-see-unveiling-on-august-">more skeptical</a>, questioning whether the affordable EVs Musk promised will &#8220;really be new models, or tweaks on existing models.&#8221;
Price Action: As of Thursday&#8217;s close, Tesla is up 4.97%, at $170.18. The stock is up 14.31% over the last five days, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38384714/whats-going-on-with-trump-media-technology-stock-on-tuesday?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">What&#8217;s Going On With Trump Media &amp; Technology Stock On Tuesday?</a>
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TSLA

Ex-Tesla SVP Drew Baglino Offloads $181.5M Worth Of EV Maker's Shares After Resignation

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/nevada-cannabis">Nevada&#8217;s cannabis sector</a> is undergoing notable transformations as Deep Roots Harvest, a key player in the state&#8217;s cannabis market, announces its acquisition of The Source assets, further solidifying its position in the industry. This move was <a href="https://www.greenmarketreport.com/deep-roots-harvest-to-acquire-the-source-assets/">noted </a>by the Green Market Report and comes against the backdrop of significant strategic maneuvers within Nevada&#8217;s cannabis landscape, including recent acquisitions and funding initiatives.
Building On Previous Acquisitions
Deep Roots Harvest&#8217;s acquisition of The Source assets follows a series of strategic moves in Nevada&#8217;s cannabis market. In March, C21 Investments Inc.&#8217;s wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary, Silver State Relief, LLC, revealed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/03/37757565/canadian-cannabis-co-c21-to-buy-nevadas-deep-roots-in-3-5m-deal">plans to acquire Deep Roots Harvest</a> Inc. store in Reno in a $3.5 million deal. This transaction, aimed at expanding Silver State Relief&#8217;s footprint in Nevada, laid the groundwork for Deep Roots Harvest&#8217;s subsequent acquisition endeavors.
Expansion Strategy
The agreement between <a href="https://deeprootsharvest.com/">Deep Roots Harvest </a>and <a href="https://www.thesourcenv.com/">The Source Holdings LLC</a> marks a significant milestone in Deep Roots Harvest&#8217;s expansion strategy. The acquisition encompasses five retail locations and three essential facilities, positioning Deep Roots Harvest as a formidable player in Nevada&#8217;s cannabis industry. 
Strategic Alliances And Industry Trends
The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/03/37917873/viridian-chart-of-the-week-is-consolidation-increasing-in-cannabis">consolidation </a>within Nevada&#8217;s cannabis market reflects broader industry trends and strategic alliances aimed at capitalizing on the state&#8217;s robust cannabis sales per capita, driven in part by its thriving tourism industry. While recent fiscal data indicated a contraction in cannabis sales, the allure of Nevada&#8217;s market continues to attract companies seeking to establish a strong foothold in the region.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Nevada&#8217;s Industry Consolidation</h3>
The recent acquisition of The Source assets by Deep Roots Harvest signals a strategic maneuver amid a landscape marked by significant shifts and alliances. This move aligns with other notable acquisitions in the region, such as<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/02/37344004/new-cannabis-partnership-set-to-revolutionize-nevadas-market-as-nabis-acquires-blackbird"> Nabis&#8217; recent announcement of its acquisition of Blackbird</a>. As Nabis integrates its technology and infrastructure with Blackbird&#8217;s network of operators and retailers, the industry anticipates enhanced efficiencies and a unified customer experience within Nevada&#8217;s cannabis supply chain. This consolidation trend reflects a concerted effort to strengthen operations and elevate standards across the state&#8217;s cannabis market.
Looking Ahead
As Deep Roots Harvest expands its presence in Nevada&#8217;s cannabis market, the company remains committed to innovation and strategic growth. While specific details regarding the acquisition are forthcoming, this acquisition positions Deep Roots Harvest for sustained growth and market leadership.

Cannabis

Deep Roots Harvest To Acquire The Source Operation In Nevada

Thursday saw a decrease in major U.S. indices, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing the session down by nearly 1% at 38,085.80. Similarly, the S&amp;P 500 dropped by almost 0.5% to 5,048.42, while the Nasdaq experienced a decline of 0.6% to 15,611.76.
Despite the overall market downturn, certain stocks managed to capture the attention of retail traders and investors. Here are the top five trending stocks of the day:
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) ended the day with a 1.97% decrease, closing at $156. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $156.49, and it hit a low of $150.87. The 52-week high and low are $160.22 and $102.63, respectively. The company&#8217;s Class C shares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) ended the day nearly 2% lower at $157.95. Alphabet reported a 15% year-over-year increase in its first-quarter revenue to $80.54 billion, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38445001/alphabet-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-70b-buyback-first-ever-dividend-ai-leadership-and-more">beating the consensus estimate</a>. The company also announced a $70B buyback and its first-ever dividend.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) saw a 2.45% decrease, closing at $399.04. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $399.89, and it hit a low of $388.03. The 52-week high and low are $430.82 and $292.73, respectively. Microsoft reported a 17% year-over-year increase to $61.9 billion in its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38444199/microsoft-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-new-era-of-ai-transformation-and-more">third-quarter revenue</a>, beating the consensus estimate. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38384714/whats-going-on-with-trump-media-technology-stock-on-tuesday?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">What&#8217;s Going On With Trump Media &amp; Technology Stock On Tuesday?</a>
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) closed the day with a 1.77% increase, at $35.11. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $35.3, and it hit a low of $34.5. The 52-week high and low are $51.28 and $26.86, respectively. Intel reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38444720/intel-shares-fall-on-q1-revenue-miss-weak-q2-eps-guidance">worse-than-expected</a> first-quarter sales results and issued earnings guidance below estimates. Quarterly sales came in at $12.7 billion missing the consensus estimate of $12.78. billion by 0.44%.
Roku, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>) saw a 1.58% increase, closing at $62.81. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $63.21, and it hit a low of $59.66. The 52-week high and low are $108.84 and $51.62, respectively. According to the company&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38446113/roku-exceeds-q1-earnings-expectations-provides-upbeat-guidance">first-quarter numbers</a>, Roku reported losses of 35 cents per share beating the analyst consensus estimate of 62 cents and provided upbeat guidance. 
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) ended the day with a 4.97% increase, closing at $170.18. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $170.88, and it hit a low of $158.36. The 52-week high and low are $299.29 and $138.8, respectively. Billionaire investor Ron Baron believes Tesla stock is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/04/38441703/billionaire-ron-baron-calls-the-bottom-in-tesla-stock-says-shares-will-go-up-huge-from-h">ready to rip higher</a> from current levels. 
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Prepare for the day&#8217;s trading <a href="Premarket Movers &amp; News">with top premarket movers and news</a> by Benzinga.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38410320/stock-manipulation-in-trump-media-technology-group-stock-ceo-devin-nunes-urges-house-gop-leaders?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stock Manipulation In Trump Media &amp; Technology Group Stock? CEO Devin Nunes Urges House GOP Leaders To Investigate</a>
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ROKU

Google Parent Alphabet, Microsoft, Intel, Roku, Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

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>) CEO Sundar Pichai has projected that the company&#8217;s YouTube and Cloud businesses will generate a combined revenue of $100 billion by 2024.
What Happened: The forecast was made by Pichai during the first quarter earnings, according to Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management, posted on social media platform X on Thursday. This projection suggests a 25% growth rate for each of the next three quarters, despite YouTube&#8217;s 21% and 28.4% growth in March.
Munster noted, &#8220;Maintaining growth rates around 25% despite larger numbers is a sign Google&#8217;s entering a new growth phase.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Sundar said to <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24GOOG&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$GOOG</a>&#39;s Youtube and Cloud to exit 2024 at a combined revenue of $100B. This implies 25% growth in each of the next three quarters, compared to YouTube up 21% and 28.4% in March. Take away: Maintaining growth rates around 25% despite larger numbers is sign…
&mdash; Gene Munster (@munster_gene) <a href="https://twitter.com/munster_gene/status/1783598005142036526?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38395178/dogecoin-could-outperform-bitcoin-thanks-to-consolidation-in-the-golden-pocket-says-trader?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dogecoin Could Outperform Bitcoin Thanks To Consolidation In The Golden Pocket, Says Trader: &#8216;This Is A Very Good Sign&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: This announcement comes on the heels of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38445001/alphabet-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-70b-buyback-first-ever-dividend-ai-leadership-and-more">Alphabet&#8217;s Q1 earnings report</a>, which revealed a 15% year-over-year increase in revenue to $80.539 billion. The company also reported quarterly earnings of $1.89 per share, surpassing analyst estimates.
Earlier in April, Meta Platforms Inc. took a page out of Google&#8217;s playbook by opening up its Quest operating system to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38372183/meta-takes-a-leaf-out-of-googles-playbook-aims-to-make-quest-os-the-android-of-mixed-reality">third-party hardware manufacturers</a>. This move was a result of Meta&#8217;s investments in mixed reality, starting with Oculus in 2014 for $2 billion.
Despite facing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38133688/sundar-pichais-google-grapples-with-ai-mishaps-amid-worker-criticism-yet-holds-title-of-americas-mos">internal criticism and AI-related challenges</a>, Alphabet has once again secured the top position in the list of &#8220;America&#8217;s Most Innovative Companies 2024.&#8221; This is a testament to the company&#8217;s resilience and continued innovation under Pichai&#8217;s leadership.
Price Action: Alphabet&#8217;s Class C stock rose 11.43% in after-hours trading to $176.23. Similarly, Class A stock rose 11.56% to $174.04, as per data <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">from Benzinga Pro</a> at the time of writing.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38416273/meta-platforms-q1-earnings-highlights-facebook-owner-beats-estimates-but-guidance-higher-costs-ding?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta Platforms Q1 Earnings Highlights: Facebook Owner Beats Estimates, But Guidance, Higher Costs Ding Stock</a>
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Gene Munster Applauds Sundar Pichai's $100B Revenue Projection For Google Parent Alphabet: A Sign Of 'Entering A New Growth Phase'

Alphabet Inc.&nbsp;(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>) CEO&nbsp;Sundar Pichai&nbsp;has expressed confidence in the company&#8217;s ability to manage the costs associated with the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36236482/googles-ai-search-a-double-edged-sword-for-publishers-like-the-atlantic">new search experience</a>, which includes generative answers.
What Happened: During the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38445001/alphabet-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-70b-buyback-first-ever-dividend-ai-leadership-and-more">first-quarter earnings call on Thursday</a>, Pichai addressed the changes in user behavior and the potential impact on the new Search experience given the integration of generative answers. 
The CEO also addressed concerns about the potential costs of serving these queries, latency, and monetization, expressing confidence in the company&#8217;s ability to manage these challenges. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38351566/mark-zuckerberg-didnt-sell-facebook-for-1b-but-would-he-have-sold-for-5t-this-was-meta-ceos-thought?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Zuckerberg Didn't Sell Facebook For $1B But Would He Have Sold For $5T? This Was Meta CEO's Thought Process</a>
&#8220;People question whether these things would be costly to serve, and we are very, very confident we can manage the cost of how to serve these queries,&#8221; he said for new search experience. 
This announcement comes on the heels of Google&#8217;s strong first-quarter earnings, where the company beat analyst estimates on both the top and bottom lines for the fifth consecutive quarter. 
The company&#8217;s revenue increased by 15% year-over-year to $80.539 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of $78.594 billion, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Google was considering&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38079174/alphabet-stock-initially-jumps-as-google-considers-charging-for-ai-search-the-details">charging users for AI-powered search</a>, a move that could potentially generate additional revenue for the company. 
As per the report by Financial Times, this development would mark the first time Google enclosed any segment of its fundamental Search product within a paywall. However, the tech giant&#8217;s traditional search engine will probably remain free of charge regardless.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Alphabet's Class A shares soared 11.6% in the after-hours session at $174.24, while the company's Class C shares shot up 11.4% at $176. The Class A and Class C shares closed nearly 2% lower at $156 and $157.95 respectively in the regular session, according to<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Benzinga Pro data</a>.
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Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38349837/elon-musk-agrees-every-american-household-will-have-a-1-000-per-month-home-robot-in-7-years-time?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Agrees Every American Household Will Have A $1,000-Per-Month Home Robot In 7 Years&#8217; Time</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

AAPL

Alphabet CEO 'Very, Very Confident' That It Won't Be 'Costly To Serve' Search Experience With Generative Answers

Source: <a href="https://www.streetwisereports.com/article/2024/04/23/testing-at-project-in-spain-shows-high-grades-of-zinc-copper.html?utm_medium=feed">Streetwise Reports 04/23/2024</a>
Emerita Resources Corp. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/emotf#OTC">EMOTF</a>) has announced preliminary test results from its ongoing metallurgical testing program at its wholly owned Iberian Belt West (IBW) project in Spain. Find out why one analyst called the company a &quot;very attractive resource stock play.&quot;
Emerita Resources Corp.&nbsp;has announced an update and test results from its ongoing metallurgical testing program at its wholly owned Iberian Belt West (IBW) project in Spain.
Preliminary results, including zinc (Zn) concentrates grading 52.4% with a project average zinc recovery of 84%, indicate that commercial grade concentrates can be produced at the project with the same traditional methods used at other operations in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, the company said.
&quot;We have taken a very comprehensive approach to get to this point, which has extended the timeline&quot; Chief Executive Officer David Gower said. &quot;However, this is a very critical component of developing polymetallic deposits, and it is critical to have optimal results. It is important to note, initial results have indicated opportunities to optimize concentrate grade versus metal recoveries within a future economic model.&quot;
The IBW project hosts three massive sulfide deposits: La Infanta, La Romanera, and El Cura.
Technical Analyst Clive Maund noted that the stock&#39;s current dip is &quot;viewed as presenting what will likely turn out to be the last opportunity to pick up the stock at these sorts of low prices before it moves ahead to break out of the entire pattern against the background of a strengthening broad metals bull market that is expected to include not just gold and silver of course, but also base and industrial metal(s) like copper and zinc.&quot;
Maund called Emerita a &quot;very attractive resource stock play at this juncture&quot; and rated it a Strong Buy for all timeframes, &quot;especially now with it being at an excellent entry point.&quot;
&quot;The price is currently a little below the midpoint of this long-term trading range, and it is clear that if it should succeed in breaking out the top of it by breaking above the key resistance in the CA$1 area, and this is what is expected to happen sooner rather than later, a major bull market will be &#39;on the cards.&#39;&quot;
<h2>Projected Average Zinc Recovery of 84%</h2>
Emerita noted that its projected average zinc recovery of 84% is about 5% to 10% higher than reported results for other mines in the Iberian Pyrite Belt.
Tests on the La Romanera deposit returned a zinc concentrate grade of 49.3% at 85% recovery, and tests of La Infanta deposit have returned 60% Zn concentrate grade with 81% Zn recovery, the company said in its release.
Testing continues, and final results will be released when they are completed.
Copper (Cu)-focused tests of La Romanera (0.67% copper head grade) and La Infanta deposits (0.86% Cu head grade) have shown that commercial-grade copper concentrates of 22.26% Cu and 24.87% Cu with 69.4% and 51.69% copper recoveries, respectively, can be produced, the company said. These results are similar to operating mines in the region and would be expected to improve for ores with significantly higher copper grades.
Both copper concentrates have reported gold and silver content at payable levels of 1.94 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) and 372.8 g/t silver (Ag) for La Romanera copper concentrate, and 7.06 g/t Au and 1534.6 g/t Ag for La Infanta copper concentrate.
<blockquote class="callOut left">Maund called Emerita a &quot;very attractive resource stock play at this juncture&quot; and rated it a Strong Buy for all timeframes, &quot;especially now with it being at an excellent entry point.&quot;</blockquote>
Emerita said test work also showed the potential to produce a lead (Pb) and copper semi-bulk concentrate, increasing a potential payable Pb in concentrate and the potential to improve overall copper recoveries. Project-wide test results averaged 40% Pb and 7.2% Cu at 57% and 36.7% Pb and Cu recoveries, respectively, in semi-bulk concentrate.
These results are comparably higher lead and copper grades and higher lead and copper recoveries than regional operating mines, which are also producing a Cu-Pb bulk concentrate. Individually, La Romanera deposit tests returned Pb/Cu semi-bulk concentrate containing 38.7% Pb and 7.51% Cu with 46.10% Pb and 37.6% Cu recoveries. La Infanta tests returned 44.11% Pb and 6.03% Cu grades in concentrate with 91.6% Pb and 52.2% Cu recoveries.
&quot;We view the results contained within this press release as a baseline and look forward to continuous metallurgical performance improvement as we advance IBW towards a production decision&quot; Gower said.
<h2>The Catalyst: Switching to a Clean Economy</h2>
Both Zinc and copper are in demand as the world&#39;s economies attempt to switch from fossil fuels to cleaner sources &mdash; zinc is used in batteries, and electric vehicles (EVs) use as much as four times the copper as gas-powered cars.
According to Mordor Intelligence, the zinc market will be an estimated 13.58 Mt this year and is expected to rise to 14.68 Mt by 2029, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of greater than 1.5%.
&quot;The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the global zinc market, resulting in a reduction in supply due to mine closures and transportation restrictions, as well as a decline in demand from various sectors&quot; the report said. &quot;This resulted in price fluctuations for zinc. Nonetheless, the market rebounded in 2021 due to an increase in demand from the construction and electronics industries.&quot;
Growing demand for zinc in Zinc-based batteries and rising urbanization and industrialization are expected to provide opportunities for future market growth, Mordor noted.
Despite some cooling due to slower-than-expected electric vehicle (EV) sales, the global copper market was worth US$304.1 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1% from 2023 to 2032 to US$496.8 billion, Acumen Research and Consulting reported.
&quot;The increasing demand for copper could be met through developments in mining technology, well-organized designs for ore processing, and the discovery of new copper reserves&quot; Acumen&#39;s report noted. &quot;According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), international copper reserves rose by approximately 720 million tons in 2017, and undiscovered copper reserves are estimated to be approximately 3,500 million tons.&quot;
Haywood Securities noted in a January 2024 report that based on the time it takes for new copper supply to come online, the market for the metal &quot;will be tightening for the foreseeable future [and] that could eventually lead to a new copper cycle.&quot; Haywood noted predictions are for a copper deficit this year, marked by supply shortfall of about 500,000 tons. [OWNERSHIP_CHART-10036]
<h2>Ownership and Share Structure</h2>
Refinitiv provided a breakdown of the company&#39;s ownership and share structure, where management and insiders own approximately 5.61% of the company. According to Refinitiv, Michael Lawrence Guy owns 1.84% of the company with 4.32 million shares, David Patrick Gower owns 1.18% of the company with 2.76 million shares, Joaquin Merino-Marquez owns 0.89% of the company with 2.09 million shares, Catherine Stretch owns 0.68% of the company with 1.60 million shares, Marilia Bento owns 0.43% of the company with 1.00 million shares, Gregory Duras owns 0.28% of the company with 0.65 million shares, Damian J.D. Lopez owns 0.20% of the company with 0.46 million shares, and Ian T. Parkinson owns 0.11% of the company with 0.25 million shares.
Refinitiv reports that institutions own 1.26% of the company, as Merk Investments L.L.C. owns 1.17% of the company with 2.75 million shares, and Palos Management Inc. owns 0.09% of the company with 0.20 million shares.
According to Refinitiv, there are 234.82 million shares outstanding with 221.63 million free float traded shares, while the company has a market cap of CA$90.41 million and trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.26 and CA$0.92.
Important Disclosures:
<ol>
<li>Emerita Resources Corp. is a billboard sponsor of Streetwise Reports and pays SWR a monthly sponsorship fee between US$4,000 and US$5,000.</li>
<li>Steve Sobek wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an employee.</li>
<li>This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports&#39; terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company.</li>
</ol>
Contributing Author Disclosures
<ol>
<li>Author Certification and Compensation: [Clive Maund of clivemaund.com] is being compensated as an independent contractor by Street Smart, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports, for writing this article. Maund received his UK Technical Analysts&#39; Diploma in 1989. The recommendations and opinions expressed in this content accurately reflect the personal, independent, and objective views of the author regarding any and all of the designated securities discussed. No part of the compensation received by the author was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views expressed</li>
</ol>
Clivemaund.com Disclosures
The above represents the opinion and analysis of Mr. Maund, based on data available to him, at the time of writing. Mr. Maund&#39;s opinions are his own, and are not a recommendation or an offer to buy or sell securities. As trading and investing in any financial markets may involve serious risk of loss, Mr. Maund recommends that you consult with a qualified investment advisor, one licensed by appropriate regulatory agencies in your legal jurisdiction and do your own due diligence and research when making any kind of a transaction with financial ramifications. Although a qualified and experienced stock market analyst, Clive Maund is not a Registered Securities Advisor. Therefore Mr. Maund&#39;s opinions on the market and stocks cannot be only be construed as a recommendation or solicitation to buy and sell securities.

Penny Stocks

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Testing at Project in Spain Shows High Grades of Zinc, Copper

For the quarter ended March 2024, Western Union (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wu#NYSE">WU</a>) reported revenue of $1.05 billion, up 1.2% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.45, compared to $0.43 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.01 billion, representing a surprise of +3.94%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +12.50%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.40.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company&#39;s financial health.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock&#39;s price performance more accurately.
Here is how Western Union performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
<ul>
<li>Consumer Money Transfer transactions- Total: 69 million versus 68.08 million estimated by three analysts on average.</li>
<li>Revenue- Consumer Services: $87.10 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $87.40 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +4.7%.</li>
<li>Revenue- Consumer Money Transfer: $962 million versus $920.74 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +2.5% change.</li>
<li>Segment Operating Income (Loss)- Consumer Services: $18.60 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $18.11 million.</li>
<li>Segment Operating Income (Loss)- Consumer Money Transfer: $187.60 million compared to the $176.15 million average estimate based on two analysts.</li>
</ul>
Shares of Western Union have returned -2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&amp;P 500 composite&#39;s -3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2261755/here-s-what-key-metrics-tell-us-about-western-union-wu-q1-earnings?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-fundamental_analysis|nfm-2261755">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Here's What Key Metrics Tell Us About Western Union Q1 Earnings

Source: <a href="https://www.streetwisereports.com/article/2024/04/18/mineral-exploration-co-makes-important-discovery.html?utm_medium=feed">Ron Struthers 04/18/2024</a>
Ron Struthers of Struthers Resource Stock Report takes a look at the hundreds of M&amp;A agreements recently signed, the current state of copper as it is breaking out, and Zonte Metals, a company that recently made an important discovery.
A sure sign of a market bottom and turnaround in mining is increased merger and acquisition M&amp;A) activity, and this is going through the roof. It does two major things that are very bullish:
<ul>
<li>Shareholders of acquired companies get higher prices and cash;</li>
<li>It reduces the number of mining companies on the market to buy.</li>
</ul>
So, basically, it increases demand and reduces supply at the same time.
How active has M&amp;A been?
Literally, hundreds of agreements have been signed, with most flying under the radar of mainstream media and retail investors. Just the last quarter of 2023 is amazing:
<ul>
<li>In the global mining industry, there were 298 M&amp;A deals announced in Q4 2023, worth a total 
	value of $33.9 billion, according to GlobalData&#39;s Deals Database;</li>
<li>In value terms, M&amp;A activity increased by 142% in Q4 2023 compared with the previous 
	quarter&#39;s total of $14 billion;</li>
<li>In the Canadian mining industry, there were 100 M&amp;A deals announced in Q4 2023 worth a 
	the total value of $8.1 billion, according to GlobalData&#39;s Deals Database;</li>
<li>According to Fitch Ratings &mdash; The rise in M&amp;A activity across the mining industry over the past 
	year is likely to continue into 2024.</li>
</ul>
<img alt="" class="No_img_class" src="https://www.theaureport.com/images/auto_up/202441875948_1.png" style="height:429px; width:838px" />
Those in the industry know the market best, and they have been buying hand over fist for the last two years at the bottom and turnaround. We should be buying, too. 
A lot of junior explorers are being bought out as well. I was surprised this week when Great Pacific Gold announced a buyout of a private copper junior, Tinya Valley Copper, for $16 million in stock. What surprised me is how grassroots the project is, as it has not had one drill hole yet. It is in a known copper belt, though, to its credit.
The key reason for this is that copper is in high demand, there will be shortages, and prices are rising. All the major mining companies are scrambling, trying to find more copper. I did a major dive into the copper market in December, which you can review&nbsp;on my Substack. I picked Capstone Mining CS, and it is our top-performing producer, up almost +50%. 
In that report, I showed the next two levels of resistance on the chart, and copper just took out the 2nd resistance level this week. Copper is in a steep rising projection and will soon reach all-time new highs around $5. And copper is going to double digits. It is not a matter of if but when.
<img alt="" class="No_img_class" src="https://www.theaureport.com/images/auto_up/202441880014_2.png" style="height:506px; width:1000px" />
About 15% of copper supply comes from scrap, and usually, higher prices will bring out more scrap, but a lot of this has already happened in the past couple of years with the recent price rise. Copper mining is different and unique.
Copper mining is very rare in Canada as only about 1% of the world mine supply is from here. That means if Zonte or other juniors in Canada prove a copper deposit, it is quite unique and will be sought after.
Another huge factor is there is really no junior copper producers, small production is coming as a byproduct of other mines such as zinc, gold and silver mines. There are a lot of junior and small gold producers that major gold miners can buy, but not so with copper. The majority of growth and acquisitions will be with juniors who have exploration projects. They are about the only real target for the big producers. That is why we see a deal like Great Pacific; more of these will come. The big producers of copper are spread out among many, many miners, as this chart reveals. The biggest producers just have around 6% of the market.
<img alt="" class="No_img_class" src="https://www.theaureport.com/images/auto_up/202441880042_3.png" style="height:549px; width:706px" />
This copper market is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Never before has there been such a strong rising demand and price for copper and mining companies at such low valuations. There are going to be 10-fold increases and more with junior copper explorers.
My two favorites right now are Zonte Metals Inc. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/erepf#OTC">EREPF</a>), with a very low valuation, and Midnight Sun Mining Corp. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mdngf#OTC">MDNGF</a>), with their deal with Kobold Metals and proximity to large copper mines. I am looking at others and plan on adding to the list this year. I am also planning a video interview with Zonte and Midnight Sun.
For today, Zonte had very strong news. It is mostly technical, and I will do my best to explain.
<h2>Zonte Metals</h2>
Recent Price - $0.09 
Entry Price - $0.09
Opinion &ndash; Strong Buy 
Metal deposits all have one main mineralization event in their history, and many have two events over time. Three events are not as common in the same place, and that is what Zonte Metals Inc. (ZON:TSX.V) has proven in this news. The more events of mineral injection over time means higher grades and concentration.
What is more, the third event at Zonte&#39;s Cross Hills was Chalcocite, the strongest type of copper mineralization. I talked about the types in my January 8 newsletter.
I was aware Zonte was doing more analysis on the drill core and have been eagerly waiting for this. In preparation for the follow-up drill program at the K6 target, Zonte commissioned a thin section (TS) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analyses of select samples from the recent drill core. These analyses were conducted by Hamilton Geoconsulting of Hamilton, Ontario. I am pasting Terry&#39;s comments as they explain this pretty well. It might be a bit technical for some, so read over twice. Hypogene refers to an event below the surface.
Terry Christopher, President and CEO, comments, &quot;A number of samples from the recently completed K6 drill core were analyzed via thin section and scanning electron microscope. The findings from this examination, coupled with characteristics derived from core logs, reveal several significant aspects of the copper system at K6. Firstly, there were up to three distinct pulses of mineralization, with the final one manifesting as a hypogene chalcocite event that overlaid earlier mineralization. This observation is significant as these late overprinting chalcocite events can lead to elevated grades. Moreover, changes in the overall character of the mineralization offer insights into the copper system, suggesting a potential increase in grade with depth. These features are evidenced by a progressive increase in copper grade with depth in the drill holes, along with a notable augmentation in chalcocite content, particularly evident in the deepest drill hole, CH23-05. This hole exhibited higher mineral contents, with recorded grades in individual samples reaching up to 2.64%, as noted in our February 29, 2024 press release. These observations will be used to vector in on stronger parts of the mineral system in the up coming drill program.&quot;
<img alt="" class="No_img_class" src="https://www.theaureport.com/images/auto_up/202441880115_4.png" style="height:528px; width:672px" />
Mineralization looks to start about 50 meters below surface, and higher grades begin at around 100 to 150 meters. Remember this is just early days and higher grades could come closer to surface elsewhere on the K6 target, plus there are 11 more targets to drill.
I know many have lost patience with this stock and other juniors, but you have to look ahead, not backward. History is just that, and too many project history into the future, which is quite unreliable. I find the best use of history is resistance levels on charts, and that is because too many investors judge by history, so it is good to know and make use of.
The most common comment I hear is: &quot;When it gets back to this price, I am selling.&quot;
These investors are making emotional trades based on a price that relieves their past anguish. The majority of investors trade on emotion, mostly fear and greed, and this is not easy to overcome. It took me many years.
I have a strong buy because of the low valuation and a new future now that a discovery has been made and some of Mother Nature&#39;s secrets at Cross hills now revealed.
Looking at the history on the chart, I expect resistance to be around 15 cents and then around 23 cents. There is some resistance around 10.5 cents, but 15 is more important because it would be a breakout.
<img alt="" class="No_img_class" src="https://www.theaureport.com/images/auto_up/202441880143_5.png" style="height:543px; width:830px" />
Important Disclosures:
<ol>
<li>Ron Struthers: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own securities of: Capstone, Zonte Metals, and Midnight Sun. I determined which companies would be included in this article based on my research and understanding of the sector.</li>
<li>Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports, Street Smart, or their officers. The author is wholly responsible for the accuracy of the statements. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Any disclosures from the author can be found below. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy.</li>
<li>This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports&#39; terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company.</li>
</ol>
Struthers Resource Stock Report Disclosures
All forecasts and recommendations are based on opinion. Markets change direction with consensus beliefs, which may change at any time and without notice. The author/publisher of this publication has taken every precaution to provide the most accurate information possible. The information &amp; data were obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but because the information &amp; data source are beyond the author&#39;s control, no representation or guarantee is made that it is complete or accurate. The reader accepts information on the condition that errors or omissions shall not be made the basis for any claim, demand or cause for action. Because of the ever-changing nature of information &amp; statistics the author/publisher strongly encourages the reader to communicate directly with the company and/or with their personal investment adviser to obtain up to date information. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. Any statements non-factual in nature constitute only current opinions, which are subject to change. The author/publisher may or may not have a position in the securities and/or options relating thereto, &amp; may make purchases and/or sales of these securities relating thereto from time to time in the open market or otherwise. Neither the information, nor opinions expressed, shall be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any stock, futures or options contract mentioned herein. The author/publisher of this letter is not a qualified financial adviser &amp; is not acting as such in this publication.

EREPF

MDNGF

Mineral Exploration Co. Makes Important Discovery

<div>The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) International Roadcheck is coming up next month. It is a high-visibility, high-volume inspection and compliance enforcement initiative, and carriers should begin preparing now to avoid racking up unexpected violations.</div>

This three-day Roadcheck — which takes place in Canada, Mexico and the United States — is scheduled for May 14-16.

"Don't let this three-day event sneak up on you. Out-of-service inspections can dramatically impact a carrier's safety scores across multiple CSA BASICs" J. J. Keller Industry Business Adviser Josh Lovan said. In contrast, "clean inspections will improve safety scores, so start planning today to ensure success during Roadcheck 2024."

Each year, the CVSA International Roadcheck focuses on slightly different areas, depending on the issues and trends observed over the past 12 months. For 2024, focus areas will include:

<ol><li>Alcohol and controlled substance possession</li>
</ol>

Motor carriers must establish and strictly enforce clear policies to prevent controlled substance and alcohol possession or use in the workplace. The number of prohibited drivers listed in the U.S. Drug &amp; Alcohol Clearinghouse (DACH) has been increasing. U.S. motor carriers should regularly query the DACH to ensure their drivers are not in prohibited status.

<ol><li>Tractor protection systems</li>
</ol>

Roadcheck aims to increase awareness for drivers, motor carriers, technicians and enforcement personnel of these critically important vehicle components. Emphasis will be placed on the tractor protection valve, trailer supply valve and anti-bleed-back valve.

Requirements for tractor protection systems:

<ul><li>Every commercial motor vehicle equipped with an air brake system and used to tow a trailer with air brakes must be equipped with a tractor or towing-vehicle protection system.</li>
	<li>The test will only be performed on a vehicle that is towing a trailer equipped with an air brake system.</li>
	<li>Air-braked power units converted to tow trailers equipped with air brakes from a nontowing operation must have these systems properly retrofitted into the air brake system.</li>
	<li>Air escaping from either the supply/emergency or service/control gladhand line of any vehicle equipped to tow an air brake-equipped trailer indicates the unit has a defective tractor protection system and the vehicle is in an out-of-service condition.</li>
</ul>

Carriers can take a number of steps to prepare for this Roadcheck, including ensuring all company credentials are current, verifying that all driver paperwork is up to date and making sure all necessary vehicle maintenance has been completed.

Beyond paperwork and other housekeeping steps, carriers should focus on preparing drivers for Roadcheck. This means refreshing and retraining drivers on topics like vehicle inspections, hours-of-service limits, electronic recordkeeping and qualification requirements.

Safety personnel can take a handful of practical steps ahead of time to minimize violations during the event.

<div>
Conduct your own safety blitz  
This can ensure drivers fully understand what is expected of them during a roadside inspection. A safety blitz will provide drivers — especially new drivers — with the knowledge and confidence needed to obtain clean inspections.
</div>

Conduct an audit on pre-trip inspections before drivers exit the yard

Previous experience revealed that more than 15% of drivers were failing to conduct a proper pre-trip. Safety teams should make sure drivers are walking around the trucks to assess lights, tires and placards. Drivers need to understand the importance of completing this step even when someone else hooks the set for them.

Investigate safety and maintenance collaboration

There should be a clear line of communication between a carrier's safety and maintenance teams. For example, if a brake or tire violation occurs, the safety team should collaborate with maintenance to determine when the unit was last serviced. If the brakes were examined by the maintenance team within a couple of weeks of a brake violation, then there may be an issue with the maintenance team.

It is imperative that all roadside violations are investigated to prevent the same violations from occurring frequently.

When preparing for CVSA International Roadcheck — and discussing safety in general — it is imperative that every member of a carrier's team understand and respect the scope of the job that safety personnel must perform on a daily basis. 

"Until you wear the shoes of a safety manager, there is no way to truly understand the unique challenges in safety" Lovan said. "Today's safety professionals are responsible for driver coaching, injuries and accidents. There are no excuses for lack of preparation."

The pressure safety managers face is high, but with preparation — and good partners — it is possible to keep everyone safe while minimizing violations every day, not just during Roadcheck.

Minimize downtime and out-of-service events with the J. J. Keller Encompass Fleet Management System. It can help you identify risks to your operation related to vehicle inspections and driver recordkeeping, ensuring you are prepared for every roadside inspection.

The post <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-to-prepare-for-cvsa-international-roadcheck-2024">How to prepare for CVSA International Roadcheck 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com">FreightWaves</a>.

Education

How to Prepare for CVSA International Roadcheck 2024

<div>Old Dominion Freight Line (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/odfl#NASDAQ">ODFL</a>) said it is seeing promising signs around demand but that it isn't yet ready to call a cycle upturn. However, its operating ratio guidance for the second quarter was weaker than the historical trend, which may be the reason shares of less-than-truckload carriers sold off on Wednesday.</div>

Old Dominion reported earnings per share of $1.34 for the 2024 first quarter, which was in line with the consensus estimate and 5 cents ahead of the year-ago result when accounting for the company's March two-for-one stock split.

The in-line result wasn't enough for investors.

Shares of ODFL were down 10.9% at 12:46 p.m. EDT Wednesday compared to the S&amp;P 500, which was down 0.5%. Other LTL competitors saw shares sag as well. ArcBest (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/arcb#NASDAQ">ARCB</a>) was down 8.4%, XPO (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xpo#NYSE">XPO</a>) was down 7.3% and Saia (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/saia#NASDAQ">SAIA</a>) was off 5.9%. <script type="text/javascript">
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Old Dominion's revenue increased 1.2% year over year (y/y) to $1.46 billion as tonnage fell 3.2% (shipments and weight per shipment were down 0.5% and 2.7%, respectively), which was offset by a 4.1% increase in revenue per hundredweight, or yield. (Yield was up 6.7% excluding fuel surcharges.) Lower shipment weights helped boost the yield calculations.

Revenue per shipment (excluding fuel surcharges) was up 3.8% y/y even though weight per shipment and length of haul were detractors.

The company said revenue per day is up 5.5% to 6% so far in April as tonnage per day is 2% to 2.5% higher and yield is 4% higher (up 4.5% excluding fuel surcharges). At 48,000 shipments per day, April isn't seeing the historical sequential uptick from March when accounting for the timing of Good Friday. Over the past 10 years, Old Dominion has recorded an average sequential increase of 8.7% in revenue per day from the first to the second quarter. It's seeing about half that growth rate currently.

Management said the smaller increase in yield during April is tied to freight mix changes and that it hasn't altered its approach to pricing. It said the increase it has seen in revenue per shipment excluding fuel so far in April (not disclosed) is close to the increase it logged in the first quarter. <script type="text/javascript">
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"It feels similar to 2017 where things are kind of on the edge of getting ready to start showing improvement again, and hopefully we'll continue to see some growth as we go through the middle part of the year. Some year-over-year growth and further sequential improvement, and then things really start taking off" said CFO Adam Satterfield on a Wednesday call with analysts.

<img alt="" src="https://www.freightwaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24/Old-Dominions-KPI-table.jpg" />

Table: Old Dominion's key performance indicators

The company reported a 73.5% operating ratio, which was 10 basis points worse y/y and 170 bps worse than the fourth-quarter result (150 bps worse than the fourth quarter on an adjusted basis). The unadjusted result was in line with management's guidance of 170 to 220 bps of sequential deterioration.

Salaries, wages and benefits expenses (up 60 bps as a percentage of revenue) and higher depreciation and amortization expenses (up 50 bps) were the primary headwinds in the period.

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The company's first-quarter OR was its worst since the fourth quarter of 2021. However, it is carrying some growth-related costs currently. Its head count is up 3% since the third quarter even though shipments are off roughly 6%. It is also carrying 30% excess capacity throughout the network as it plans for an eventual turnaround.

Old Dominion expects 150 bps in OR improvement from the first to the second quarter this year compared to the historical average of 350 to 400 bps of improvement. Softer sequential revenue trends so far in the quarter are the reason for the weaker guidance.

The company reiterated a long-term goal of a sub-70% annual OR as it plans to continue to price freight 100 to 150 bps above costs. However, the spread between the increases in revenue per shipment and cost per shipment was 50 bps negative during the first quarter.

Total capital expenditures guidance of $750 million for the year was reiterated. The allocation also remained unchanged with $350 million slated for real estate projects, $325 million for tractors and trailers, and $75 million for IT and other assets.

"Once we have that tailwind coming at us from an overall industry demand standpoint, we'll be able to capitalize and be able to significantly grow our volumes like we've been able to do in the past, and then leverage that growth through the operating ratio" Satterfield said.

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