Morning News Call

TOP NEWS

Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader, signaling hardliner control and likely prolonging the Middle East conflict; oil prices soared.
A summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping is unlikely to reset business and investment ties.
Live Nation Entertainment is reportedly close to settling a federal antitrust lawsuit without selling Ticketmaster.
Hims & Hers' shares jumped after reports of a partnership with Novo Nordisk for weight-loss drugs, potentially ending a legal dispute.
U.S. President Donald Trump met defense executives to boost production amidst U.S. strikes on Iran.

BEFORE THE BELL

U.S. stock index futures tumbled due to escalating Middle East conflict, increasing investor caution and strengthening the dollar.
Crude oil climbed to a mid-2022 high, driven by supply curbs and fears of shipping disruptions from the widening conflict.
Gold eased as a stronger dollar outweighed safe-haven demand; rising energy costs added to concerns about interest rate cuts.
European shares sank to two-month lows, and Asian markets (Japan, Hong Kong, China) also fell significantly, with Chinese stocks losing year-to-date gains.

STOCKS TO WATCH

Agilent Technologies Inc: To acquire Biocare Medical for $950 million in an all-cash deal.
Apollo Global Management Inc: Its sports investment arm will complete the acquisition of 55% of Atletico Madrid on March 12.
Boeing Co: CEO Kelly Ortberg's 2025 compensation was approximately $9.4 million.
Hims & Hers Health Inc: Shares surged on reports Novo Nordisk plans to sell weight-loss drugs on its platform, potentially ending a dispute.
KKR & Co Inc: Working with advisers on a potential sale of data center cooling company CoolIT Systems, valued over $3 billion.
Lamb Weston Holdings Inc: Activist investor Starboard Value has built a sizable stake, urging operational improvements and cost cuts.
Lantheus Holdings Inc: FDA approved a new formulation of its prostate cancer imaging agent, Pylarify TruVu, to increase production capacity.
Live Nation Entertainment Inc: Close to settling a federal antitrust lawsuit without selling Ticketmaster.
Nvidia Corp: Adopted a new variable compensation plan for fiscal 2027, setting a $4 million target cash bonus for CEO Jensen Huang; Nscale, backed by Nvidia, valued at $14.6 billion after a $2 billion funding round.
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp: Robert Lighthizer resigned from its board of directors.

ANALYSIS

Oil options and futures indicate traders expect the impact of the latest Middle East conflict on prices to be short-lived.

ANALYSTS' RECOMMENDATION

Coterra Energy Inc: Rating cut to hold from buy; target price lowered to $31 from $34.
Oracle Corp: Target price cut to $230 from $310.
Solv Energy Inc: Initiated coverage with a target price of $34.
Syndax Pharmaceuticals Inc: Target price raised to $45 from $33.
USA Compression Partners LP: Rating upgraded to buy from hold; target price raised to $31 from $26.

ECONOMIC EVENTS

COMPANIES REPORTING RESULTS

CORPORATE EVENTS

EX-DIVIDENDS

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