Construction commenced on a $12 billion high-speed passenger rail linking Los Angeles and Las Vegas, promising to cut travel time between the two cities by half. The Brightline West project will lay 218 miles of track between Rancho Cucamonga, California, and Las Vegas by 2028. The train will reach speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, transporting passengers between the cities in just over two hours. Upon completion, the rail is expected to accommodate millions of passengers annually, reducing traffic congestion on Interstate 15. Brightline, which already operates a high-speed line in Florida, aims to have trains operating in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Results for: Business
Despite mixed market performance on Friday, several insider trades suggest confidence in the prospects of specific companies. RXO’s 10% owner acquired a significant number of shares, while Harrow’s 10% owner also made purchases. Sunoco, an energy company, saw insider buying as well. These insider purchases indicate potential opportunities for investors to consider.
According to the London Labour Market Pulse Check, starting salaries in London are rising at their slowest pace since the Covid lockdowns. The survey found that the lowest rate of growth in starting salaries for 37 months. The temporary wage growth figure for London is also well behind the national figure. For permanent roles, wage growth in London is roughly in line with the national average.
Amid market uncertainty, dividend-yielding stocks offer stability. Benzinga presents the latest analyst ratings for three high-yielding consumer staples stocks: Cal-Maine Foods (CALM), Philip Morris International (PM), and The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC). Analysts have varying opinions on these stocks, with some maintaining an ‘Equal-Weight’ rating while others suggest ‘Sell’ or ‘Overweight’ recommendations. Cal-Maine Foods has a dividend yield of 3.13%, Philip Morris International has a yield of 5.55%, and The Kraft Heinz Company yields 4.23%.
Danimer Scientific (DNMR) has announced an asset-based revolving credit and security agreement with Mountain Ridge Capital, providing the company with $20 million in borrowing capacity. The facility, secured primarily by accounts receivable and inventory, allows for increases in the commitment up to an additional $5 million. The agreement matures on April 19, 2027, and the loan proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes and working capital needs.
In its recent earnings report for FQ4, Albertsons Companies (ACI) surpassed EPS estimates while providing an update on its merger plans with Kroger (KR). Despite flat revenue year-over-year, ACI’s 1.0% increase in identical sales fell short of expectations. Strong growth in pharmacy sales compensated for lower fuel and wholesale revenue. The company’s digital business continued to expand, showing a 24% sales surge. Albertsons improved its gross margin to 28.0% of sales, up from 27.8% the previous year. However, excluding fuel and LIFO, the gross margin rate declined 58 basis points. ACI credited its productivity initiatives for enabling continued targeted price investments for customers. ACI and Kroger announced modifications to their divestiture agreement with C&S Wholesale Grocers, expanding the store count to be sold by 166. Shares of ACI rose 0.69% in premarket trading.
CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNHI) has been downgraded to Neutral from Buy by analysts at Bank of America, citing uncertainty following the appointment of a new CEO. The move prompted a 4.3% premarket stock decline. Gerrit Marx will take over as CEO on July 1, succeeding Scott Wine. BofA noted that Wine’s strategy had recently improved cost-cutting, inventory management, and product simplification. The new price target for CNH is $13.20 per share, reflecting a reduced price-to-earnings multiple.
Snap-Loc Cargo Control Systems is introducing a range of cargo-securing innovations, including ratchet tie-downs, heavy-duty dolly E-Track carts, and more, designed to transform supply chain logistics and enhance safety and efficiency. The company’s E-Track Dolly and E-Track Singles are at the forefront of cargo-securing technology, offering ease of use and reliability for businesses across the nation.
Alstom has sold its North American conventional rail signaling business to Knorr-Bremse for ~€630M ($670.5M) as part of its deleveraging plan. The sale will enable Knorr-Bremse to enter the “highly attractive” control, command and signaling segment and become a leader in the U.S. market.
Invesco BuyBack Achievers ETF (PKW) is a smart beta ETF that invests in companies with a history of share buybacks. The fund has outperformed the broad market over the long term and offers investors a unique way to play the share buyback trend. In this article, we will take a deep dive into PKW’s performance, strategy, and holdings. We will also compare PKW to other buyback-focused ETFs and provide our takeaway on the fund.