Articles written by Shivani Kumaresan - Benzinga

Dollar General's Strategy To Tackle Debt And Shrink Could Drive Margin Expansion, Analyst Says

|Dollar General is set to benefit from increasing trade-in activity, driving comparable sales and stabilizing core customer demand. The company saw early signs of this trend in Q3, with stronger trade-in levels in Q4 leading to larger basket sizes.

Sphere Entertainment's Las Vegas Momentum And Global Expansion Opportunities Overlooked, Goldman Sachs Says

|Goldman Sachs has initiated coverage on Sphere Entertainment with a Buy rating and a $42 price target. Analyst notes the market is underestimating Sphere's growth potential, including Las Vegas Sphere's revenue expansion and global franchise opportunities.

Goldman Sachs Forecasts High Gas Prices And LNG Demand Drive Kinder Morgan's Revenue

|Goldman Sachs reaffirms its Buy rating on Kinder Morgan with a $31 price target, citing higher Q1 EBITDA expectations of $2.18 billion, above consensus. Analysts highlight LNG-driven gas demand growth and improved commodity pricing as key drivers, with the company positioned to benefit from smaller infrastructure projects in 2025.

Silynxcom Partners With AR Firm For Aerospace Communications Solution

|Silynxcom Ltd. (NYSE American: SYNX) has signed an MOU with an AR software firm to develop next-generation communication solutions for aerospace. By integrating its in-ear headset technology with augmented reality, the company aims to enhance communication and situational awareness in demanding aviation environments.

NASA And Boeing Push Forward With Starliner Crew Certification

|NASA and Boeing are moving forward with certifying the CST-100 Starliner for human spaceflight following its recent test mission to the International Space Station. Engineers are addressing technical challenges while preparing for key propulsion system evaluations.

Assassin's Creed Maker Ubisoft's Gaming Subsidiary Secures $1.25 Billion Tencent Backing In Major Deal

|Ubisoft Entertainment is restructuring its business by creating a new subsidiary focused on Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. Tencent is investing €1.16 billion for a minority stake, valuing the entity at €4 billion.

Lockheed Martin And Google Partner To Advance AI In Defense

|Lockheed Martin and Google Public Sector are teaming up to integrate advanced AI into Lockheed's AI Factory. The collaboration aims to enhance AI-driven solutions for national security, aerospace, and scientific innovation.

Rocket Lab Joins US Space Force's $5.6 Billion Launch Program; Stock Soars

|Rocket Lab USA secures eligibility for the U.S. Space Force's NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1, a $5.6 billion initiative. The company plans to deploy its Neutron rocket, a reusable medium-lift vehicle, for critical national security launches. With 63 Electron missions completed, Rocket Lab strengthens its position as a key player in the defense and space industry.

Goldman Sees Premium Pet Food As Bright Spot For Colgate And General Mills Amid Consumer Caution

|Colgate-Palmolive and General Mills are poised for growth in the premium pet food market, with analysts projecting a 5% annual expansion through 2030. Innovation, increased advertising, and expanded production capacity are expected to drive sales, reinforcing their market position.

Paychex Analyst Sees Limited Upside Despite Q3 Profitability Surge

|Paychex reported Q3 revenue of $1.509 billion, a 4.8% YoY increase, with EPS of $1.49 surpassing expectations. RBC analyst reiterated a Sector Perform rating on the shares of Paychex.

IBM Expands Cloud Storage To On-Premises With Ceph As A Service

|IBM has introduced IBM Storage Ceph as a Service, enhancing its cloud-integrated, on-premises infrastructure solutions.

Nokia Launches Six New Industry 4.0 Applications To Boost Digitalization

|Nokia expands its MX Industrial Edge (MXIE) platform with six new Industry 4.0 applications. These solutions, including tools from Bosch Rexroth, Ipsotek, and Nozomi Networks, enhance digital transformation in industries by leveraging AI, machine automation, and industrial connectivity for better efficiency and security.

EV Maker Mullen Automotive To Further Cut Costs And Slash Workforce: Details

|Mullen Automotive has announced new cost-saving initiatives, including staff reductions, to optimize operations. Mullen continues to focus on expanding EV sales and advancing battery technology.

Cognizant, ServiceNow Launch AI-Driven Solution For Banking Disputes

|Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) and ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) have launched an AI-powered dispute resolution solution for mid-sized banks in North America. This BPaaS offering leverages generative AI, automation, and multi-channel intake to streamline dispute management, reduce chargeback losses, and enhance customer experience.

Fashion Retailer H&M Reports Modest Sales Growth In Q1, Faces Margin Pressures

|Hennes & Mauritz saw a 3% rise in Q1 net sales, reaching SEK 55.3 billion ($5.1 billion). However, gross margin declined to 49.1% due to economic pressures and increased markdowns. Operating profit fell to SEK 1.2 billion, impacted by higher costs and logistics challenges.

Winnebago Stock Climbs On Q2 Earnings Beat, But FY25 Forecast Slashed On Market Headwinds

|Winnebago Industries saw an 11.8% YoY drop in Q2 sales to $620.2 million, though it exceeded analyst expectations. Gross profit fell 21.1% as margins tightened, while adjusted EPS of $0.19 beat estimates. The company revised its FY25 revenue outlook downward to $2.8B-$3.0B, citing market challenges.

Hyundai's Metaplant Opens In Georgia, Expanding EV Production

|Hyundai Motor has opened its Metaplant America in Georgia, marking a major milestone in U.S. manufacturing. With a $12.6 billion investment, the facility will produce up to 500,000 electric and hybrid vehicles annually for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.

Why Is Mobile Games Giant Playtika Soaring On Wednesday?

|BofA Securities analyst upgrades Playtika to Buy, raising price target to $6.50. The company boasts the highest profitability in the mobile gaming industry, with 30% EBITDA margins and significant franchises.

Goldman Sees Bath & Body Works Valuation As Highly Attractive, Remains Bullish

|Goldman Sachs analyst Kate McShane maintains a Buy rating on Bath & Body Works with a price target of $49. The company's Disney Princess collaboration boosted app downloads by 42% year-over-year, showing its strong market impact.

Exxon Mobil Eyes Semiconductor Boom With 99.999% Pure Isopropyl Alcohol Production Expansion: Details

|Exxon Mobil plans to ramp up production of 99.999% ultra-pure isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to support the growing semiconductor sector. Upgrades at its Baton Rouge plant will ensure a reliable domestic supply of high-purity IPA, critical for next-gen chip production.