Vnue Stock (OTC:VNUE), Trade Ideas

Vnue Inc is a music technology company that utilizes its platforms to record live concerts and commercializes the content by making the content immediately available for purchase through its website and the website at Set.fm, a technology platform that enables musical artists to capture, promote and sell high-fidelity recordings instantly. Its technology provides an income source to artists and record labels from the recorded content. Additionally, it offers high-end collectible products such as CDs, USB drives, and laminates, which feature its fully mixed and mastered live concert content, through its exclusive partner DiscLive Network. It has created content from live concerts, including Rob Thomas, Patty Smyth and Scandal, King's X, Paul Rodgers, Scott Stapp, and many others.

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Stocks That Hit 52-Week Lows On Friday

Vnue Inc

Colgate-Palmolive Company&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CL#NYSE">CL</a>) shares are trading slightly higher after the consumer giant reported first-quarter FY24 sales growth of 6.2% year-on-year to $5.065 billion,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/04/b38455591/colgate-announces-1st-quarter-2024-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">beating the analyst consensus estimate of $4.956 billion</a>.
Organic sales increased by 9.8%. Total Oral, Personal, and Home Care net sales increased&nbsp;by&nbsp;6.8% to $3.96 billion.
Non-GAAP EPS of $0.86&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">beat the consensus estimate of $0.81.</a>
Gross profit was $3.03 billion, while the margin expanded 310 basis points to 60%. Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 9% to $1.9 billion.
Operating margin expanded 160 basis points to 20.7%, and operating income for the quarter increased 15.2% to $1.04 billion.
The company held $1.07 billion in cash and equivalents as of March-end. Operating cash flow totaled $681 million.
&#8220;The strong gross and operating margin expansion in the quarter funded a 16% increase in advertising&nbsp;and&nbsp;we expect strong levels of brand investment over the balance of 2024,&#8221; said Chairman, President, and CEO Noel Wallace.
Outlook: Colgate raised FY24 net sales growth guidance to 2%-5% (prior view 1%-4%). The company also raised its organic sales growth <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance">outlook to 5%-7% (prior view 3%-5%).</a>
On a non-GAAP basis, the company still expects gross profit margin expansion, increased advertising investment,&nbsp;and mid to high-single-digit earnings-per-share growth.
Price Action: CL shares are trading higher by 0.85% at $90.05 in premarket at the last check Friday.
Photo by Nik on Unsplash

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General

Colgate-Palmolive Eyes Strong Levels of Brand Investment Following Q1 Performance, Raises Annual Revenue Growth Outlook

Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak maintains Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $165 to $195.

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GOOG

GOOGL

Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight on Alphabet, Raises Price Target to $195

JMP Securities analyst Andrew Boone maintains Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) with a Market Outperform and raises the price target from $160 to $200.

JMP Securities Maintains Market Outperform on Alphabet, Raises Price Target to $200

Paramount Global&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>) and Skydance Media are advancing towards a merger, with discussions to purchase out controlling shareholder Shari Redstone underway, CNBC&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/25/paramount-skydance-inch-closer-to-a-merger-agreement.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">cites</a>&nbsp;sources.
Paramount Global&#8217;s special committee and David Ellison&#8217;s Skydance Media, supported by private equity firms KKR and RedBird Capital Partners, are honing the valuation of Skydance&#8217;s assets for the merger and determining the equity to&nbsp;be added&nbsp;for recapitalization.
The parties are nearing an agreement on valuing Skydance at about $5 billion to merge with Paramount Global, CNBC writes.&nbsp;
Ellison and the supporting private equity firms intend to raise approximately $4.5 billion to $5 billion in new equity. Around $2 billion would go towards paying Redstone, with a significant amount also allocated for debt reduction.
The buyers are aiming to finalize the deal in May. However, delays in data provision by Paramount Global during due diligence have slightly postponed the timeline, according to three sources, CNBC notes.
The exclusivity period for merger discussions ends on May 3, but the Skydance consortium seeks a two-week extension.
Ellison is slated to become the CEO of the merged entity, Paramount Global, and former NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell will likely be appointed president. Current Paramount CEO Bob Bakish would leave the company.
The deal had&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38219573/paramount-shareholders-express-concerns-over-potential-skydance-media-merger-any-merger-talks-th" rel="noreferrer noopener">sparked investor concerns</a>&nbsp;about the deal&#8217;s fairness and the exploration of alternative options. Not all shareholders&nbsp;are in favor of&nbsp;the potential $4 billion to $5 billion stock deal. Four Paramount directors departed amid Skydance merger discussions.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38335444/why-paramount-global-shares-are-gaining-today" rel="noreferrer noopener">In a separate development</a>, private equity firm&nbsp;Apollo Global Management, Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APO#NYSE">APO</a>) and&nbsp;Sony Group Corp&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SONY#NYSE">SONY</a>) have engaged in preliminary talks about a potential deal to buy out all Paramount Global shareholders at a premium.&nbsp;
Apollo had previously offered a $26 billion bid for the company and a $11 billion proposal for Paramount&#8217;s film studio.&nbsp;
PARA stock lost 44% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Communication Services ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSPC#NYSE">RSPC</a>) and&nbsp;Invesco Leisure And Entertainment ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEJ#NYSE">PEJ</a>).
Price Action: PARA shares were down 1.72% to $11.87 at the last check on Friday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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Enphase Energy shares are trading higher after Barclays upgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Overweight.

Keybanc analyst Brett Fishbin maintains ResMed (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RMD#NYSE">RMD</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $227 to $238.

Keybanc Maintains Overweight on ResMed, Raises Price Target to $238

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/yield-investments">high dividend payout</a>.
Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">by analyst accuracy</a>.
Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the industrials sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Kennametal Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMT#NYSE">KMT</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.37%</li>
<li>Barclays analyst Julian Mitchell maintained an Equal-Weight rating and cut the price target from $25 to $24 on April 2. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 77%.</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst Tami Zakaria maintained an Underweight rating and lowered the price target from $26 to $24 on Feb. 8. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 76%.</li>
<li>Recent News: Kennametal said it will host its third quarter fiscal year 2024 earnings call on Wednesday, May 8.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHRW#NASDAQ">CHRW</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.47%</li>
<li>B of A Securities analyst Ken Hoexter maintained an Underperform rating and cut the price target from $70 to $68 on April 15, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 70%.</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst Brian Ossenbeck maintained an Underweight rating and slashed the price target from $75 to $70 on April 9. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 75%.</li>
<li>Recent News: C.H. Robinson Worldwide said it will issue its first quarter results after the closing bell on Wednesday, May 1.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSM#NYSE">MSM</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.56%</li>
<li>Stephens &amp; Co. analyst Tommy Moll reiterated an Overweight rating with a price target of $110 on April 1. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 75%.</li>
<li>Keybanc analyst Ken Newman maintained an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $105 to $102 on Jan. 10. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 80%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On March 28, MSC Industrial Direct posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings.</li>
</ul>
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38452338/microsoft-alphabet-and-3-stocks-to-watch-heading-into-friday">Microsoft, Alphabet And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday</a>

Dividends

Pre-Market Outlook

CHRW

Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts' Views On 3 Industrials Stocks With Over 3% Dividend Yields

Comfort Systems shares are trading higher after the company reported better-than-expected Q1 financial results and increased its quarterly dividend.

Evercore ISI Group analyst Mark Lipacis maintains Intel (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) with a In-Line and lowers the price target from $40 to $36.

INTC

Evercore ISI Group Maintains In-Line on Intel, Lowers Price Target to $36

The Novera QPU Partner Program aims to enable high-performing, on-premises quantum computing by creating an ecosystem of quantum computing hardware, software, and service providers who build and offer integral components of a functional quantum computing system. Novera QPU customers can work with Novera QPU partners to build a quantum computer powered by the Novera QPU that satisfies their system requirements and quantum computing research objectives.
BERKELEY, Calif., April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) ("Rigetti" or the "Company"), a pioneer in full-stack quantum-classical computing, announces the launch of the Novera&#x2122; QPU Partner Program. The Novera QPU Partner Program is an ecosystem of quantum computing hardware, software and service providers who build and offer integral components of a functional quantum computing system. Novera QPU customers who need control systems, a dilution refrigerator, quantum computing software tools, or integration services can integrate their Novera QPU with Novera QPU Partners' technology with the assurance of compatibility and quality. &nbsp;
The founding members of the Novera QPU Partner Program include some of Rigetti's most long-time partners and are leaders in their respective areas of quantum computing technology:
<ul>
<li>Cryogenics: Bluefors</li>
<li>Control Systems:
<ul>
<li>Quantum Machines</li>
<li>Zurich Instruments</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Software:
<ul>
<li>Q-CTRL</li>
<li>Strangeworks</li>
<li>Classiq</li>
<li>Horizon Quantum Computing</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Integration and Service Providers:
<ul>
<li>TreQ</li>
<li>ParTec AG</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>QEC Solutions: Riverlane</li>
</ul>
Rigetti intends on growing the Novera QPU Partner Program with additional partners on an ongoing basis.
The Novera QPU is a 9-qubit quantum processing unit (QPU) based on the Company's fourth generation Ankaa&#x2122;-class architecture featuring tunable couplers and a square lattice for denser connectivity and fast 2-qubit operations. The Novera QPU is manufactured in Rigetti's Fab-1, the industry's first dedicated and integrated quantum device manufacturing facility.
The Novera QPU includes all of the hardware below the mixing chamber plate (MXC) of a dilution refrigerator. In addition to a 9-qubit chip with a 3x3 array of tunable transmons, a 5-qubit chip with no tunable couplers or qubit-qubit coupling which can be used for developing and characterizing single-qubit operations on a simpler circuit, the Novera QPU components include:
<ul>
<li>A puck that contains both the 9-qubit and 5-qubit chips, interposers and a PCB to route signals to SMPM connectors at the puck periphery.</li>
<li>A tower that hangs from the MXC and connects coaxial cables between the puck and the SMA patch panel. The tower delivers cooling power from the MXC to the chips.</li>
<li>Shields that surround the tower to isolate the puck from infrared radiation and stray magnetic fields.</li>
<li>Payload brackets and a signal chain installed around the tower with mounted signal conditioning devices, including ferrite isolators, diplexers, filters, and optional quantum-limited amplifiers.</li>
</ul>
While a QPU is the core of a quantum computer, in order to have a functioning quantum computing system, the installation must also include (1) a dilution refrigerator and (2) a control system. Depending on a customer's research goals, system requirements, and use cases, there are also a variety of quantum software and integration resources that can be integrated with the Novera QPU.
Dr. Subodh Kulkarni, Rigetti CEO, said: "With the Novera QPU, we have a unique opportunity to support the development of on-premises quantum computing capabilities worldwide. At Rigetti, we are experts at overcoming the challenges of building, installing, and supporting a quantum computing system. After a decade in the quantum computing industry, we've also forged long lasting partnerships with world-leading quantum technology companies whose collaborations and expertise helped us advance our capabilities even further. We want to empower Novera QPU customers with an ecosystem of our trusted partners to support their own quantum computing research pursuits, and to help prepare us for a quantum-ready society."
David Gunnarsson, Bluefors CTO, said: "Bluefors' Dilution Refrigerator Measurement Systems are renowned for their unmatched reliability, and today we have more than 1,250 units in operation worldwide. It's important for us to continue to innovate and develop critical components of a high performing quantum computer. Bluefors next generation gas handling system supports the deployment and easy to use cryogenics for on-premises quantum systems. We have the capability to support our customers with best in industry lead time and we are thrilled to be leading the field and pushing the boundaries of ultra-low temperature cooling."
Nir Minerbi, Classiq CEO, said: "Quantum computing relies on bringing together a collection of technologies in order to achieve the best fitting and performing solution. Classiq is proud to be providing efficient, scalable quantum computing software to facilitate best-practice algorithm development with Novera."
Joe Fitzsimons, Horizon Quantum Computing CEO, said: "Rigetti was one of the pioneers of cloud-based quantum computing, and we are delighted to partner with them as Rigetti processors begin to power on-premises systems. As the industry pushes towards quantum advantage, a strong ecosystem and close collaboration between hardware and software efforts is more important than ever. The Novera QPU Partner Program is a welcome new instrument for building collaboration and allowing for tight integration between technologies at all levels of the quantum computing stack."
Bernhard Frohwitter, ParTec AG CEO, said: "The Novera QPU Partner Program is an essential building block in ParTec's strategy of becoming a quantum computing system integrator, building full-stack solutions using a component-based design that relies on a supply chain of quantum technology providers. ParTec looks forward to integrating the Novera QPU in our holistic quantum computer solutions and working with customers on unleashing its potential."
Michael J. Biercuk, Q-CTRL CEO and Founder, said: "The team at Q-CTRL has been excited to work with the Rigetti team to show how the right combination of hardware and infrastructure software can help deliver huge capabilities&nbsp;and performance enhancements to end users. Now we're thrilled to be delivering this capability directly to researchers and customers of the Novera QPU to help them achieve their goals using quantum computing with optimal performance."
Dr. Itamar Sivan, co-founder and CEO of Quantum Machines, said: "We're excited to be one of the founding members of the Novera QPU Partner Program. OPX1000 enables users to control their Novera QPU in real-time and push the boundaries of what algorithms and experiments can be performed. By integrating our OPX family of high-performance, processor-based controllers with Rigetti's advanced QPU technology, we are paving the path to accessible, powerful quantum computing solutions and accelerated time-to-market. Our partnership embodies our commitment to delivering industry-leading quantum control capabilities that push the boundaries of our industry closer to real-world applications."
Steve Brierley, founder and CEO of Riverlane said: "Together, Riverlane's Quantum Error Correction Stack and Rigetti's Novera QPU go hand in glove. End users can use our stack holistically or in parts. This includes our hardware decoder, optimized for Rigetti's architecture; our suite of public and proprietary software decoders, ‘QEC Explorer'; and ‘Aqueduct', our open quantum experiment management platform."
whurley, founder and CEO of Strangeworks, said: ​​"This Partner Program will enable organizations to procure and build powerful quantum computers at a fraction of the price of commercial systems today. We are thrilled to be one of the first members of the Novera QPU Partner Program and deepen our existing partnership with Rigetti."
Mandy Birch, CEO of TreQ said: "TreQ is delighted to partner with Rigetti to build and operate on-premises quantum computing systems that include the Novera QPU. We look forward to supporting pathfinders around the world who are expediting useful and usable next-gen computing infrastructure to elevate their businesses, institutions, and communities."
Moritz Kirste, Head of Business Development Quantum Technologies at Zurich Instruments, said: "We are excited to be one of the founding members of Rigetti's Novera QPU Partner Program. Zurich Instruments started contributing to quantum technologies in 2015, and ever since we are committed to Swiss quality standards in R&amp;D and in production. This partnership opens new pathways to support our customers with full-stack solutions, locally by our experts in seven international offices."
Among the early adopters of small-scale, high performing QPUs like the Novera QPU, are government agencies. The first two Novera QPU sales were to leading US government labs — the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS) led by Fermilab, and the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL). Rigetti also recently sold a Novera QPU to Horizon Quantum Computing for their first quantum computing system, to be installed in their new hardware testbed in Singapore. Quantum computing researchers across academia and industry are also beginning to invest in this technology as it is a promising resource to advance quantum computing workforce development.
The Novera QPU Partner Program launch follows Rigetti's recent achievements with its larger-scale Ankaa-class quantum systems. Rigetti's 84-qubit Ankaa-2 system, which is available over the cloud via Rigetti's Quantum Cloud Services (QCS&#xAE;) cloud computing platform, recently achieved a 98% median 2-qubit gate fidelity. This performance marks a 2.5X increase in error performance compared to the Company's previous QPUs. Rigetti was also recently awarded an Innovate UK competition to deliver a 24-qubit Ankaa-class quantum computing system to the UK's National Quantum Computing Centre.

RGTI

Rigetti Computing Launches The Novera QPU Partner Program

The most oversold stocks in the materials sector presents an opportunity to buy into undervalued companies.
The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock&#8217;s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock&#8217;s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered oversold when the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/rsi">RSI is below 30</a>, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Here's the latest list of major oversold players in this sector, having an RSI near or below 30.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/X#NYSE">X</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>United States Steel is expected to release financial results for the first quarter 2024 on Thursday, May 2. The company's stock fell around 9% over the past month and has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/X">52-week low of $20.40</a>.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 29.95</li>
<li>X Price Action: Shares of United States Steel gained 1.6% to close at $37.17 on Thursday.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMP#NYSE">CMP</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>
<ul>
<li>On March 25, Compass Minerals announced the U.S. Forest Service has informed the company that it will not be entering into a contract for the use of magnesium chloride-based aerial fire retardants for the 2024 fire season. The company's stock fell around 8% over the past month. It <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CMP">has a 52-week low</a> of $11.85.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 28.86</li>
<li>CMP Price Action: Shares of Compass Minerals fell 1.3% to close at $12.62 on Thursday.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Nucor Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NUE#NYSE">NUE</a>)</h2>
<ul>
<li>On April 22, Nucor reported worse-than-expected first-quarter financial results. "Nucor's performance continues to be strong even as steel market conditions have come off their post-pandemic record highs," said Leon Topalian, Nucor's CEO. "We also took several bold steps to advance our growth, sustainability and commercial strategies during the first quarter." The company's stock fell around 8% over the past five days and has a 52-week <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NUE">low of $129.79</a></li>
<li>RSI Value: 29.36</li>
<li>NUE Price Action: Shares of Nucor rose 1.8% to close at $175.88 on Thursday.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLF#NYSE">CLF</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On April 22, Cleveland-Cliffs reported first-quarter revenue of $5.2 billion, which missed the consensus estimate of $5.346 billion. "Our first quarter results were highlighted by the resiliency of automotive production in the United States, which helped to offset a temporary buyers strike from service centers in January and February," said Lourenco Goncalves, chairman, president and CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs. The company's shares lost around 12% over the past five days. The company's 52-week low is $13.61.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 25.26</li>
<li>CLF Price Action: Shares of Cleveland-Cliffs fell 0.5% to close at $18.23 on Thursday.</li>
</ul>
Now Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38452338/microsoft-alphabet-and-3-stocks-to-watch-heading-into-friday">Microsoft, Alphabet And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday</a>

Long Ideas

Top 4 Materials Stocks That May Explode In Q2

I am writing to share some exciting news regarding WiSA Technologies and our upcoming Special Meeting of Stockholders on May 13, 2024.
At its core, WiSA Technologies is an innovative company, a company whose dynamic products are built on a strong R&amp;D foundation. Over the past decade, we have been at the forefront of innovation in the audio/video entertainment space. Our bold vision to deliver a superior at-home entertainment listening experience has guided us to prioritize significant investments in R&amp;D in order to create a company that is built to last. With this foundation firmly in place, we strongly believe that, at this juncture, we have set the stage for sustainable long-term success because we have a dynamic core product that will help us and our customers advance multichannel wireless audio to become the ubiquitous standard in the industry.
Our journey has been marked by several milestones:
Formation of a Strong Foundation: In our early years, we focused on building talented teams of R&amp;D, sales, marketing, and management, while fostering a culture that embraced our vision.
Industry Recognition: We formed the 70+ member WiSA Association focused on standardizing the delivery of multichannel wireless audio and we showcased our technology solutions at prestigious events like CES, forging strong relationships with the world's leading consumer electronics manufacturers.
Continuous Innovation: Year after year, we invested heavily in R&amp;D to introduce robust technology solutions to consumer electronics manufacturers.
Today, I am proud to say that WiSA Technologies is well-positioned to transform the spatial audio industry. Culminating from our years of hard work and investment in R&amp;D, we introduced a groundbreaking technology in 2023, WiSA E. This breakthrough represents a transformative milestone and new chapter for WiSA Technologies. Leading consumer electronics manufacturers are partnering with us to bring WiSA E to market through their channels and products by licensing our IP, which is expected to unlock new revenue streams for our company for years to come.
To realize the promise of WiSA E, we are introducing a new program, called Propel, that will consist of several strategic initiatives over the next 18 months that include:
Enhanced Value for Shareholders: Standardizing industry solutions and implementing initiatives to achieve consistent revenue performance, reduce infrastructure costs and maximize long-term shareholder value.
Revenue Growth: Creating new revenue streams that are expected to significantly impact our company's top-line growth. This includes enhancing our WiSA E technology to attract partnerships with TV/Audio speaker and chip manufacturers, resulting in increased licensing agreements and certifications.
Path to Profitability: Developing stringent specifications compliance and close working partnerships with consumer electronics manufacturers and chip makers to produce high-volume, lower cost solutions that will deliver positive benefits to our bottom line.
Industry Leadership: Expanding interbrand operability among premier audio manufacturers and delivering premium technology solutions to mass-market audio systems. WiSA Technologies aims to solidify its position as an industry innovator through this expansion.
Strong Governance: Implementing amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. These changes are expected to provide WiSA Technologies with the flexibility and governance needed to swiftly execute and adapt to market demands.
To achieve these ambitious goals, we need your support. At the upcoming Special Meeting of Stockholders, we will be presenting several proposals that are crucial for the successful execution of our Propel program:
Proposal #1: Authorize a Reverse Stock Split&nbsp; Proposal #2: Approve an Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to Allow the Board of Directors to Amend the Bylaws&nbsp; Proposal #3: Approve Issuance of Shares upon Exercise of February 2024 Warrants&nbsp; Proposal #4: Approve Issuance of Shares upon Exercise of March 2024 Warrants&nbsp; Proposal #5: Consider and Act Upon Other Business
The WiSA Board of Directors and I wholeheartedly recommend that you VOTE FOR each of the proposals.
Each of these proposals is vital for us to move forward with confidence and realize the full potential of WiSA E and Propel. I urge you to read about these proposals in detail in the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Your vote is important regardless of the number of shares you own. Please take the time to vote today to ensure your vote is received prior to the special meeting on May 13, 2024. For assistance with voting your shares, please reach out to our proxy solicitor, Lioness Consulting, via email at <a href="mailto:info@lionessconsultingllc.com">info@lionessconsultingllc.com</a>.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our vision and our efforts to be the industry standard for wireless innovation.
Warm regards,
Brett Moyer
CEO and Founder&nbsp; WiSA Technologies Inc.

WISA

WiSA Technologies Issues Letter To Shareholders

Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TYL#NYSE">TYL</a>) reported better-than-expected first-quarter results and issued upbeat guidance for FY24, after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TYL/earnings">closing bell on Wednesday</a>.
Tyler Technologies posted quarterly earnings of $2.20 per share, beating market expectations of $2.04 per share. The company's quarterly sales came in at $512.36 million topping estimates of $507.15 million, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Tyler Technologies said it sees FY24 earnings of $9.10 to $9.30 per share, versus estimates of $9.02 per share. The company expects revenue of $2.11 billion to $2.14 billion, versus expectations of 2.12 billion.
Tyler Technologies shares gained 9.3% to close at $458.07 on Thursday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on Tyler Technologies following earnings announcement.
<ul>
<li>Oppenheimer increased the price target on Tyler Technologies from $480 to $500.. Oppenheimer analyst Ken Wong maintained an Outperform rating.</li>
<li>Baird boosted the price target on Tyler Technologies from $500 to $525. Baird analyst Rob Oliver maintained an Outperform rating.</li>
<li>Needham analyst Joshua Reilly, meanwhile, reiterated Tyler Technologies with a Buy and maintained a $500 price target.</li>
</ul>
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38452338/microsoft-alphabet-and-3-stocks-to-watch-heading-into-friday">Microsoft, Alphabet And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday</a>

These Analysts Boost Their Forecasts On Tyler Technologies Following Strong Earnings

Offerings

Hilton Worldwide Files Shelf Registration For Stock, Debt

Burke &amp; Herbert Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BHRB#NASDAQ">BHRB</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.69 per share. This is a 31 percent decrease over earnings of $1.00 per share from the same period last year. The company reported $26.39 million in sales this quarter. This is a 8.98 percent decrease over sales of $28.99 million the same period last year.

BHRB

Burke & Herbert Financial Q1 EPS $0.69 Down From $1.00 YoY, Sales $26.39M Down From $28.99M YoY

— If approved in the European Union, fruquintinib will be the first novel targeted therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer regardless of biomarker status in over a decade&nbsp;—— Positive opinion based on results from
— If approved in the European Union, fruquintinib will be the first novel targeted therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer regardless of biomarker status in over a decade&nbsp;—
— Positive opinion based on results from FRESCO-2 Phase III clinical trial&nbsp;—

Biotech

HUTCHMED Announces Positive CHMP Opinion For Fruquintinib In Previously Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Received By Takeda

Tenaris shares are trading lower after the company reported Q1 financial results.

BDRX

Biodexa shares are trading higher after the company entered an exclusive license agreement with Rapamycin Holdings for the rights to eRapa.

The Federal Reserve&#8217;s preferred measure of inflation – the Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) price index – rose more than expected in March, confirming concerning signs of a resurgence in inflationary pressures in the first <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38434513/us-growth-slows-in-q1-yet-inflation-acceleration-signals-stagflation-the-worst-poss">quarter of the year</a>.
The higher-than-expected PCE report serves as a stark reality check for traders, further postponing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut that had already been dwindling in recent weeks.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">March PCE Report: Key Highlights</h3>
<ul>
<li>The headline PCE price index rose from 2.5% in February 2024 to 2.7% year-on-year in March, beating forecasts of a 2.6% increase, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Friday. </li>
<li>On a monthly basis, the headline PCE accelerated by 0.3%, unchanged from the 0.3% recorded in February, and matching expectations. </li>
<li>When excluding energy and food expenses, the core PCE price index held steady at 2.8% year-on-year, surpassing predictions of a decline to 2.6%. </li>
<li>On a month-over-month basis, the core PCE advanced at a 0.3% pace, unchanged from both the previous and expected 0.3%. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Indicator</th>
<th>February 2024</th>
<th>March 2024</th>
<th>March (expected)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Headline PCE YoY</td>
<td>2.5%</td>
<td>2.7%</td>
<td>2.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Headline PCE MoM</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Core PCE YoY (excl. energy &amp; food)</td>
<td>2.8%</td>
<td>2.8%</td>
<td>2.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Core PCE MoM (excl. energy &amp; food)</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions</h3>
Market-implied probabilities indicated a 60% chance of a rate cut by September 2024, and priced in cumulatively 35 basis points of rate cuts by year-end, implying just one rate cut. 
The U.S. dollar index (DXY), as tracked by the Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>), inched higher minutes after the PCE release. 
Futures on major U.S. averages rallied during Friday&#8217;s pre-market trading following upbeat quarterly results from Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) and Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>), which offset Thursday&#8217;s negative sentiment stemming from Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)&#8217;s weaker-than-expected guidance.
However, with the Fed&#8217;s preferred inflation gauge pushing any rate cut talks further into the future, traders may potentially brace for macro-related volatility in the last session of the week.
Read now: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38455462/wall-street-futures-ride-high-on-microsoft-alphabet-cheer-but-will-inflation-data-burst-the-bubble-">Wall Street Futures Ride High On Microsoft, Alphabet Cheer, But Will Inflation Data Burst The Bubble? Why This Analyst Thinks Bull Run Isn&#8217;t Over Yet</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Macro Notification

Currency ETFs

Econ #s

Economics

ETFs

MSFT

PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund

Fed's Key Inflation Indicator Hits 2.8%, Dashes Rate Cut Hopes; Traders On Alert

Evercore ISI Group analyst Mark Mahaney maintains Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $160 to $220.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains Outperform on Alphabet, Raises Price Target to $220

VNUE GAAP EPS of $0.00, revenue of $389.9M

VNUE

Entertainment

Small Cap

Press Releases

VNUE Radio Expands Its Reach to Help Those in Need

Exciting Music Tech Company Ramping Up Marketing Options for Top Bands; Matchbox Twenty & Goo Goo Dolls Musician: VNUE, Inc., (Stock Symbol: VNUE)

Major Media Expansion Reaching Over 70 Million through TuneIn and Audacy Helping People in Need; Music Technology Company Now on Tour and Recording with Matchbox Twenty: VNUE, Inc.

Accelerating Revenue Growth and Strong Fundamental Improvements for Multi-Faceted Music Technology Company; Just Completed Successful 2023 Tour and Marketing Programs with Matchbox Twenty: VNUE, Inc.

TONY CARDENAS-MONTANA PROMOTED TO CTO OF VNUE, INC.

Big Plans in Music Industry Disruptive Tech for Rights Holders, Artists, and Venues of All Sizes, Fueled by Accelerating Revenue Growth and Strong Fundamental Improvements: VNUE, Inc.

Contracts

COLLECTIVE SPORTS AGENCY JOINS VNUE'S ADVISORY BOARD

Sporting Events Expansion with the Aid of Collective Sports Agency for Established Music Technology Company Serving Top Artists and Venues of All Sizes; VNUE, Inc. (Stock Symbol: VNUE)

SOUNDSTR'S #MUSICREVOLUTION CONTINUES

VNUE TO RECORD AND RELEASE MATCHBOX TWENTY'S AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND SLOW DREAM TOUR

Vnue