ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) received a price target raise from Barclays to $134 from $132 on May 5, with an Overweight rating following the company’s Q1 2026 earnings report. ServiceNow “did all it could do to increase confidence in the investment story,” driven by AI product innovation and a still-expanding addressable market. The bump confirms the existing ... ServiceNow Did Everything Right: Barclays...
ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) received a price target raise from Barclays to $134 from $132 on May 5, with an Overweight rating following the company’s Q1 2026 earnings report. ServiceNow “did all it could do to increase confidence in the investment story,” driven by AI product innovation and a still-expanding addressable market. The bump confirms the existing ... ServiceNow Did Everything Right: Barclays Raises Price Target on the AI Innovation Story
Martin Makary, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), during a news conference at the US Food and Drug Administration headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, US, on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Valerie Plesch | Bloomberg | Getty Images U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary defended himself in a CNBC interview aired Tuesday after months of pressure over recent dr...
Martin Makary, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), during a news conference at the US Food and Drug Administration headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, US, on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Valerie Plesch | Bloomberg | Getty Images U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary defended himself in a CNBC interview aired Tuesday after months of pressure over recent drug rejections . The relentless heat reached a new fever pitch this week with a report from Bloomberg News detailing "paranoia, turmoil and backlash" at the agency under Makary's tenure. An opinion piece from The Wall Street Journal asked if any administration official has created more headaches for President Donald Trump than Makary. The editorial specifically cited the FDA's controversial rejection of a drug candidate for melanoma from Replimune . "I think that article in The Wall Street Journal is the ninth article they've posted in that opinion section, begging for Replimune's approval," Makary said in an interview with CNBC's David Faber. "I don't work for Replimune, I work for the American people, and I stand by the scientists at the FDA." Makary said three independent teams have arrived at the same conclusion, adding that the FDA has not made "corrupt sweetheart deals." Replimune representatives have said the FDA has unfairly treated the company. Makary said he stands behind his review teams and that FDA commissioners overruling agency scientists has been a "disaster" every time it has happened. He cited examples like the FDA's approval of an Alzheimer's disease drug called Aduhelm and the its clearance of a Covid-19 vaccine booster for young, healthy kids. Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.
Soaring government bond yields are attracting dip-buyers eager to lock in lofty, long-term returns — but only within their own borders, according to BNY. In the US, the 30-year Treasury yield now trades above 5% as rising oil prices catalyze fears of inflation, coupled with higher government borrowing estimates. In the UK, the 30-year gilt yield touched its highest mark since 1998 ahead of upcomin...
Soaring government bond yields are attracting dip-buyers eager to lock in lofty, long-term returns — but only within their own borders, according to BNY. In the US, the 30-year Treasury yield now trades above 5% as rising oil prices catalyze fears of inflation, coupled with higher government borrowing estimates. In the UK, the 30-year gilt yield touched its highest mark since 1998 ahead of upcoming local government elections. And in Germany, the yield on 30-year bunds similarly trades near its highest mark in about 15 years, as expectations increase of a rate hike by the European Central Bank . “Our data is showing our clients are loving this in terms of bonds, with the key caveat — if you don’t have to worry about FX exposure,” Geoffrey Yu , a senior strategist at BNY, told Bloomberg Television Tuesday. “What we’re seeing is US investors buying Treasuries, European investors buying Eurozone treasuries, UK investors buying gilts.” Read more: Key US Yield at 5% Highlights Mounting Pressure in Bond Market Traders are expecting less volatile currency markets over the next 12 months than they were last month, as fears about the Middle East war have ebbed. But for many global investors, there’s still a risk to holding foreign assets and a cost to hedge that exposure. Hedging decisions hinge on both interest-rate differentials, which determine the price of foreign-exchange forwards, as well as currency volatility. For unhedged European investors, attractive returns from owning Treasuries can fall if the single currency strengthens versus the dollar, and it’s safer for many to avoid the risk. The euro is up about 1.5% versus the greenback over the last month. What Bloomberg Strategists Say... “The UK does carry a higher term premium than the US or Europe, but there are reasons for that, including greater exposure to fiscal deterioration from higher energy prices. The UK also lacks the support of a global reserve currency or the institutional backing of the EU.” - Skylar Mo...
Consumer sentiment sits at 53.3 in March 2026, deep in the pessimistic zone, while retail sales just hit a fresh high of $752.1 billion. That gap between how Americans feel and how much they spend is the entire reason a fund like the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLP) exists. People grumble, then they ... This Boring ETF Owns Some Of The Toughest Businesses In America
Consumer sentiment sits at 53.3 in March 2026, deep in the pessimistic zone, while retail sales just hit a fresh high of $752.1 billion. That gap between how Americans feel and how much they spend is the entire reason a fund like the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLP) exists. People grumble, then they ... This Boring ETF Owns Some Of The Toughest Businesses In America
As investors conduct their quarterly or yearly portfolio reviews, they may notice their holdings have gotten a little tech-heavy. That's not a surprise, as tech sector companies not only tend to be the most interesting and exciting, but also offer the potential for the biggest gains. There's also nothing wrong with owning tech stocks. But investing too heavily in them can come at the expense of bu...
As investors conduct their quarterly or yearly portfolio reviews, they may notice their holdings have gotten a little tech-heavy. That's not a surprise, as tech sector companies not only tend to be the most interesting and exciting, but also offer the potential for the biggest gains. There's also nothing wrong with owning tech stocks. But investing too heavily in them can come at the expense of building a well-balanced portfolio that can better withstand surprises, economic downturns, and prolonged turbulence. One way to add some balance to a portfolio is by picking up shares of some companies in the consumer goods space, and in that realm, I see Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) , Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) , and Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) serving as pillars of consistency and reliability. With $500, you can start a foundational stake in all three, or dedicate that whole sum to your highest-conviction pick. Continue reading
Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) received another bullish call from Wall Street. Barclays analyst Emily Field raised her price target on Eli Lilly stock to $1,400 from $1,350 and reiterated an Overweight rating, citing tirzepatide momentum that “takes focus back to the big picture.” The firm also lifted its estimates following the company’s Q1 2026 report. For ... Barclays Hikes Eli Lilly Price Target to $1,4...
Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) received another bullish call from Wall Street. Barclays analyst Emily Field raised her price target on Eli Lilly stock to $1,400 from $1,350 and reiterated an Overweight rating, citing tirzepatide momentum that “takes focus back to the big picture.” The firm also lifted its estimates following the company’s Q1 2026 report. For ... Barclays Hikes Eli Lilly Price Target to $1,400: Tirzepatide Momentum Steals the Show
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images News U.S. officials on Tuesday sought to calm fears of a renewed war with Iran after fresh clashes in the Strait of Hormuz and missile strikes targeting the United Arab Emirates. At the Pentagon, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine said Iran’s attacks on ships and regional targets didn’t violate the ceasefire reached last month. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth adde...
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images News U.S. officials on Tuesday sought to calm fears of a renewed war with Iran after fresh clashes in the Strait of Hormuz and missile strikes targeting the United Arab Emirates. At the Pentagon, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine said Iran’s attacks on ships and regional targets didn’t violate the ceasefire reached last month. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added that the truce remains intact, even as tensions flared. The violence followed President Donald Trump’s launch of “Project Freedom,” an operation aimed at escorting stranded commercial vessels through the strait. U.S. forces helped guide at least two ships while fending off drones, missiles and small-boat attacks, and deployed additional naval assets to the region. Hegseth described the mission as temporary and defensive, while confirming that U.S. restrictions on Iranian shipping remain in place. Both he and Caine said American forces are prepared to escalate if necessary, while urging other countries to help secure the waterway. Roughly 1,500 commercial ships and more than 20,000 sailors remain stuck in the Gulf, underscoring the disruption to global trade. Iran warned vessels against transiting Hormuz without its approval and struck a South Korean bulk carrier and a UAE-linked tanker, though no injuries were reported. The UAE said it intercepted most incoming missiles, but a strike on a Fujairah oil terminal injured three workers and triggered alerts in major cities. The confrontation comes as diplomacy remains stalled. Tehran is demanding an end to the U.S. naval blockade as a condition for talks, while Washington says the pressure is limiting Iran’s oil exports. Oil prices pulled back Tuesday after a sharp jump the day before, reflecting ongoing uncertainty around one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Dear Readers: We recognize that politics often intersect with the financial news of the day, so we invite you to click here to join the separate political d...
DenisTangneyJr/iStock via Getty Images After the closing bell on April 28, Western New England Bancorp ( WNEB ) released its Q1 2026 earnings report that included an upside profit surprise of 14.3%. The company said its net income for the first three months of this year totaled $4.8 million, or $0.24 per share. This was $0.03 higher than analysts’ expectations and $0.13 better than Q1 2025. Revenu...
DenisTangneyJr/iStock via Getty Images After the closing bell on April 28, Western New England Bancorp ( WNEB ) released its Q1 2026 earnings report that included an upside profit surprise of 14.3%. The company said its net income for the first three months of this year totaled $4.8 million, or $0.24 per share. This was $0.03 higher than analysts’ expectations and $0.13 better than Q1 2025. Revenue of $18.8 million was 21.2% more than the same quarter last year but missed analysts’ projections by just over $57,000. The company’s stock received a relatively muted reaction from the market, falling slightly as trading opened on April 29 but recapturing most of its losses by the end of the week. WNEB shareholders certainly cannot be too disappointed with their recent returns, as the stock has gained 11.6% year-to-date and over 52% in the last 12 months. Over the last five years, the stock has only trailed the returns from the S&P 500 by a little over 3%. One Year Price Chart for WNEB (Seeking Alpha) This is my first analysis of the micro-cap bank holding company that operates four branch locations of Westfield Bank in Connecticut and 21 additional branches in its home state of Massachusetts. From a first glance at its stock performance, WNEB looked like it could be a diamond in the rough. The company has not been written about on Seeking Alpha since 2020, and it is only followed by three Wall Street analysts. Unfortunately, my take on the operations of Western New England Bancorp is not currently reflected by its stock chart. I see some significant risks ahead for the company, and I consider WNEB to be a Hold at the current time. Company Overview The origination of Westfield Bank dates back to 1853. The company was a single-branch operation until 1948. Today, Western New England Bancorp controls not only the bank but also several other smaller subsidiaries, including Elm Street Securities Corporation, WFD Securities, Inc., and WB Real Estate Holdings, LLC. As of March 3...
OlekStock/iStock via Getty Images Performance The portfolio trailed its reference benchmark, the S&P 500 Index ( SP500 ). The portfolio has no exposure to Energy, which was by far the strongest performing sector over the period. This accounted for approximately one-third of the total relative underperformance and was also the main driver of negative sector allocation, as a lack of Energy exposure ...
OlekStock/iStock via Getty Images Performance The portfolio trailed its reference benchmark, the S&P 500 Index ( SP500 ). The portfolio has no exposure to Energy, which was by far the strongest performing sector over the period. This accounted for approximately one-third of the total relative underperformance and was also the main driver of negative sector allocation, as a lack of Energy exposure offset positive relative gains from the overweight to Industrials. Stock selection was negatively impacted by two trends: a de-rating of software companies and asset-light business models, and a de-rating of quality and growth as a result of rising bond yields. These trends were particularly felt in Information Technology, where, in addition to the above, market gains were concentrated in AI momentum plays such as semiconductors and peripheral equipment, whereas the portfolio maintains a more diversified set of holdings. Within Health Care, portfolio holdings were weaker as growth-oriented stocks de-rated. The portfolio also has limited exposure to those parts of the sector that performed well, such as hospitals, health care providers and pharmaceutical companies, which were favored as sectors perceived to be less likely to be disrupted by AI. The investment team believes these areas face significant regulatory risk and pricing pressure, however, and instead focuses on companies providing truly innovative solutions to healthcare challenges. On the other hand, Financials and Industrials holdings were areas of strength. Within Industrials, the portfolio was well positioned to capture renewed interest in energy security, energy efficiency and investment in more efficient data centers. Despite the challenging quarter, portfolio holdings have generally been delivering solid results, with earnings growth estimates trending above that of the index. Market overview US equity markets finished lower over the quarter, in what was a period of two distinct halves. Early support from sol...
Earnings Call Insights: Atkore (ATKR) Q2 fiscal 2026 Management View "We achieved net sales of $731 million and adjusted EBITDA of $81 million. Adjusted EPS came in at $1.23. All 3 metrics were sequentially better than our Q1 performance." (President, CEO & Director William Waltz) "After the quarter concluded, we completed the divestitures of our high-density polyethylene or HDPE business, and we ...
Earnings Call Insights: Atkore (ATKR) Q2 fiscal 2026 Management View "We achieved net sales of $731 million and adjusted EBITDA of $81 million. Adjusted EPS came in at $1.23. All 3 metrics were sequentially better than our Q1 performance." (President, CEO & Director William Waltz) "After the quarter concluded, we completed the divestitures of our high-density polyethylene or HDPE business, and we also just announced the sale of our surface protection and powder coating business in Belgium." (President, CEO & Director Waltz) "The combined proposed settlement for the 2 punitive classes is $136.5 million and is reflected in our second quarter results. We anticipate making payment within the third quarter." (President, CEO & Director Waltz) "This was the first quarterly increase in net sales since the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022." (VP & CFO John Deitzer) "We recorded a pretax liability of $136.5 million, which is reflected as a nonoperating expense in our second quarter results." (VP & CFO Deitzer) "Excluding the impact of our HDPE business, the electrical adjusted EBITDA margins would have been around 150 basis points higher in fiscal Q2." (COO & President of Electrical John Pregenzer) Outlook "For the full year, we expect net sales to be in the range of $2.9 billion to $2.95 billion." (VP & CFO Deitzer) "We continue to expect adjusted EBITDA in the range of $340 million to $360 million and adjusted EPS in the range of $5.05 and $5.55." (VP & CFO Deitzer) "As we look at end market demand, we expect our third quarter to grow sequentially in net sales, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS from Q2 and then slightly grow sequentially from Q3 to Q4 in all 3 metrics." (VP & CFO Deitzer) Compared with last quarter’s revenue outlook range, management changed the full-year net sales range; "We are adjusting our expectation for net sales to reflect a reduction from our HDPE divestiture and the divestiture of the 2 facilities in Belgium." (VP & CFO Deitzer) Financial Results "Organ...
Earnings Call Insights: James River Group Holdings, Inc. (JRVR) Q1 2026 Management View CEO Frank D'Orazio said E&S results were hit by a legacy reinsurance item: "This quarter, our E&S results were negatively impacted by a sizable reinsurance reinstatement charge on a 2022 casualty treaty triggered by an individual claim, a disappointing development on an otherwise solid quarter." D'Orazio framed...
Earnings Call Insights: James River Group Holdings, Inc. (JRVR) Q1 2026 Management View CEO Frank D'Orazio said E&S results were hit by a legacy reinsurance item: "This quarter, our E&S results were negatively impacted by a sizable reinsurance reinstatement charge on a 2022 casualty treaty triggered by an individual claim, a disappointing development on an otherwise solid quarter." D'Orazio framed 2026 underwriting priorities around pricing and mix, stating, "For 2026, we feel our greatest opportunity to push rate remains in our Excess Casualty division and the greatest opportunities for overall growth reside in our specialty lines division as well as our small business unit." He also said "casualty rates were positive at 7.7% for the quarter" and added that the company is seeing "increasing competitive pressure in our primary general casualty department." On growth and portfolio actions, D'Orazio said "submission growth was strong at 4%" and that "for the first time in several quarters, we modestly grew gross written premiums across our E&S Casualty and Specialty portfolios." He also highlighted mix, saying "specialty lines were up 6%" and "excess casualty premiums increased 15%." CFO Sarah Doran reported the quarter’s headline loss and operating earnings: "This quarter, we reported a net loss to common shareholders of $10.9 million" and "Operating earnings were $5.8 million or $0.12 per diluted share." She attributed the key driver to reinsurance: "our results this quarter were negatively impacted by $6.7 million of reinsurance reinstatement premiums, largely related to a single E&S claim from 2022 that was booked and settled in the first quarter." On efficiency and technology, D'Orazio said "we also reduced G&A expenses across the group during the quarter by 11%" and described early deployment of new tools: "The rollout of AI-enabled underwriting workbench technology is already underway with our first 2 underwriting departments being rolled out this quarter." Out...
Earnings Call Insights: JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. (JELD) Q1 2026 Management view CEO William Christensen said the company operated in a soft macro backdrop and leaned into execution, stating, "The macro environment remained soft in the first quarter consistent with our expectations," while emphasizing that pricing actions taken in Q1 are expected to show up more in Q2 and beyond. Christensen highligh...
Earnings Call Insights: JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. (JELD) Q1 2026 Management view CEO William Christensen said the company operated in a soft macro backdrop and leaned into execution, stating, "The macro environment remained soft in the first quarter consistent with our expectations," while emphasizing that pricing actions taken in Q1 are expected to show up more in Q2 and beyond. Christensen highlighted operational and commercial priorities tied to customer retention and recovery, saying, "customers are very clear that consistent delivery and follow-through are what they value most," and added that JELD-WEN now expects "improved execution and service levels to contribute to incremental sales versus the 2026 expectations we shared in the fourth quarter results call." Christensen pointed to portfolio actions and liquidity optionality, stating, "we continue to progress the strategic review of our European business" and that the review "could provide meaningful liquidity and help further strengthen our balance sheet," while noting, "we have nothing to announce at this time." CFO Samantha Stoddard described the quarter’s profitability and balance sheet pressure, saying, "First quarter net revenue was $722 million, down 7% year-over-year" and "Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $6 million," while adding, "net debt leverage increased to 11.3x at the end of the first quarter" and, "we drew $40 million on our revolver." Outlook Christensen said the market view is largely unchanged from the Q4 framework, stating, "our view of the market has not meaningfully changed from what we outlined previously in our fourth quarter 2025 results call," and framed guidance around demand levels rather than a recovery. Christensen raised full-year 2026 revenue expectations while holding profit and cash assumptions, saying, "We now expect net revenue in the range of $3.05 billion to $3.2 billion, up from our prior range of $2.95 billion to $3.1 billion," and "The adjusted EBITDA range remains un...
Activists found guilty over break-in at Israeli defence firm’s UK site after jury deliberated for more than 14 hours Four out of six Palestine Action activists who stood trial over a break-in at an Israeli defence firm’s UK site have been convicted of criminal damage. Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, and Fatema Rajwani, 21 were all found guilty on Tuesday of smashing up prop...
Activists found guilty over break-in at Israeli defence firm’s UK site after jury deliberated for more than 14 hours Four out of six Palestine Action activists who stood trial over a break-in at an Israeli defence firm’s UK site have been convicted of criminal damage. Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, and Fatema Rajwani, 21 were all found guilty on Tuesday of smashing up property, including drones, manufactured by Elbit Systems and computers at its factory in Filton, near Bristol, on 6 August 2024. Continue reading...