Early Look

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Futures	Up/Down	%	Last
Dow	20.00	0.06%	34,484
S&P 500	6.25	0.14%	4,441
Nasdaq	34.50	0.22%	15,414

 

 

S&P futures are higher as major averages look to rebound from selling pressure yesterday that saw all 11 sectors close in the red, with basic materials and industrials being the largest losers, followed not far behind by financials which dropped on cautious trading commentary from various banks at a sell-side conference and a drop in Treasury yields as CPI inflation data for August was tamer than expected. Healthcare and technology were among the sectors that faced the least downside pressure. Megacaps were mixed at the close as Apple (AAPL) continues to fade even after it unveiled the much-awaited iPhone 13, managing to settle just above its 50-day moving average. U.S. listed China stocks tumble again overnight, led by declines in the casino/gaming sector on stricter restrictions. Overnight, Microsoft (MSFT) board approves new share buyback of up to $60B in shares; raises quarterly dividend 11% to 62c per share. Overseas, China economic data disappointed across the board as monthly retail sales came in well below views, along with misses in industrial production and as China’s new home prices grew at their slowest pace in eight months. In Asian markets, The Nikkei Index fell -158 points to 30,511, the Shanghai Index dipped -6 points to 3,656, and the Hang Seng Index declined -469 points to 25,033. In Europe, the German DAX is down about -15 points to 15,705, while the FTSE 100 is up a few points at 7,040. Busy morning of economic data with manufacturing, import prices and industrial production on the calendar.

Market Closing Prices Yesterday

·     The S&P 500 Index dropped -25.68 points, or 0.57%, to 4,443.05

·     The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell -292.06 points, or 0.84%, to 34,577.57

·     The Nasdaq Composite slumped -67.82 points, or 0.45%, to 15,037.76

·     The Russell 2000 Index declined -30.80 points, or 1.37% to 2,209.98

 

Events Calendar for Today

·     7:00 AM ET         MBA Mortgage Applications Data

·     8:30 AM ET         Empire Manufacturing for September…est. 18.0

·     8:30 AM ET         Import Prices MoM for Aug…est. +0.3%

·     8:30 AM ET         Export Prices MoM for Aug…est. +0.4%

·     9:15 AM ET         Industrial Production MoM for Aug…est. 0.4%

·     9:15 AM ET         Capacity Utilization for Aug…est. 76.4%

·     10:30 AM ET      Weekly DOE Inventory Data

 

Earnings Calendar:

·     Earnings Before the Open: WEBR

·     Earnings After the Close: none

 

Other Key Events:

·     Barclay’s Financial Services Conference (virtual) 2021, 9/13-9/15

·     Citigroup 2021 Global Technology Conference (virtual), 9/13-9/15

·     Piper 2021 D.C. Bank Field Trip, 9/13-9/15

·     Baird Global Healthcare Conference 2021 (virtual), 9/14-9/15

·     Barclay’s Financial Services Conference (virtual) 2021, 9/13-9/15

·     HC Wainwright 23rd Annual Global Investment Conference (virtual), 9/13-9/15

·     Jefferies Software Conference (virtual), 9/14-9/15

·     Lake Street 5th Annual Best Ideas Growth Conference (virtual), 9/14-9/15

 

 

Macro	Up/Down	Last
Nymex	1.09	71.52
Brent	1.04	74.63
Gold	-2.80	1,801.70
EUR/USD	0.0023	1.1826
JPY/USD	-0.35	109.34
10-Year Note	+0.00	1.279%

 

 

World News

·     China’s retail sales grew a disappointing 2.5% in August from a year ago, well below the forecast for 7% growth, as the country dealt with the worst outbreak of Covid-19 since its initial spread in early 2020. Industrial production growth was also slightly below expectations, up 5.3% in August versus predictions of 5.8% growth

·     China’s new home prices grew at their slowest pace in eight months in August, official data showed on Wednesday. Average new home prices in China’s 70 major cities grew 0.2% month-on-month in August after increasing 0.3% in July. Compared with a year earlier, China’s new home prices grew 4.2% in August, down from a 4.6% increase in July.

·     North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Wednesday, South Korean and Japanese officials said, as Pyongyang returns to weapons tests after saying that its patience for talking had worn thin.

·     UK Aug CPI higher at +0.7% m/m vs 0.5% consensus, 3.2% y/y vs 2.9% consensus; UK Aug CPI Core higher at +0.7% m/m vs 0.4% cons, 3.1% y/y vs 2.9% consensus – U.K. inflation surge prompts bets for sharper rate increases

 

Sector News Breakdown

Consumer

·     Yum China (YUMC) said its adjusted operating profit would take a 50% to 60% hit in Q3 as the spread of the Delta variant in China led to restaurant closures and “sharply reduced sales”; says same-store sales in August declined by mid-teens percentage Y/Y, or close to an approximately 20% decline compared to August 2019

·     U.S. casinos with operations in Macau looking sharply lower for a second straight day as Macau government proposes to revise the city’s gaming law, tightening direct supervision of casinos in the world’s largest gambling hub. Reuters noted Macau’s secretary for economy and finance said there were still some deficiencies in industry supervision.

·     J.P. Morgan downgraded Macau gaming names Galaxy Entertainment (GXYEF), MGM China (MCHVF) SJM Holdings (SJMHY), Melco (MLCO), Wynn Macau (WYNMF) and Sands China (SCHYY) from overweight to neutral or underweight due to heightened scrutiny on capital management and daily operations ahead of license renewals

·     Academy Sports (ASO) 18.645M share Secondary priced at $44.75

·     Leslie’s (LESL) 15.8M share Secondary priced at $22.00

·     DavidsTea (DTEA) tumbled 25% after the tea retailer said its ecommerce and wholesale sales fell by nearly one-third in its fiscal second quarter

·     European Wax Center (EWCZ) guides FY21 revs $173-178Mm vs est. $178.2Mm, sees FY system-wide sales $788-793Mm; sees FY adj net income $26.5-28.5Mm

·     Dutch Bros (BROS) 21M share IPO priced at $23.00

·     On Holding (ONON) 31.1M share IPO priced at $24.00

 

Energy, Industrials and Materials

·     Workhorse Group (WKHS) shares fell after hours Tuesday as the co voluntarily dismissed its legal challenge against a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) move to award a multibillion-dollar contract to Oshkosh Defense (OSK) for making postal delivery vehicles, Reuters reported

·     The American Petroleum Institute (API) showed a draw of 5.44M barrels of oil for the week ending September 10, while gasoline inventories showed a draw of 2.76M barrels, distillate inventories show a draw of 2.89M barrels and Cushing inventories show a draw of 1.36M barrels

·     The first all-civilian mission to orbit Earth is set to take off tonight, within a five-hour launch window that opens at 8:02 p.m. ET. SpaceX will power the expedition, known as Inspiration4, using one of its Dragon capsules atop a reusable Falcon 9 rocket

·     JinkoSolar (JKS) Q2 EPS $0.22 vs. et. Loss (-$0.16); Q2 revs $1.23B vs. est. $1.22B; Q2 shipments were 5,203 MW; said total Q3 revenue is expected to be in range of $1.24B-$1.37B vs. est. $1.6B; for FY 2021, estimates total shipments (including solar modules, cells and wafers) to be in range of 25 GW-30GW

·     FTC Solar (FTCI) announced that Tony Etnyre will step down as CEO and board member; board has appointed Sean Hunkler as his successor effective Sep.24.

·     Raytheon Technologies (RTX) has agreed to acquire advanced space electronics supplier SEAKR Engineering

 

Financials

·     BRP Group (BRP) 8M share Secondary priced at $30.50

·     Capital One (COF) reports August net charge-offs 1.54% vs. 1.45% last month and reports August 30-plus day delinquencies 1.79% vs. 1.71% last month

·     Synchrony (SYF) reported August charge-off rate 2.59% vs. 2.24% last month and also reports August 30-plus day delinquencies 1.33% vs. 1.37% last month

·     The Federal Housing Finance Agency and the U.S. Department of Treasury suspend certain parts of the 2021 Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement with Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FMCC). “This suspension will provide FHFA time to review the extent to which these requirements are redundant or inconsistent with existing FHFA standards, policies, and directives that mandate sustainable lending standards,” said Acting Director Sandra L. Thompson

·     CPI Card Group (PMTS) files to sell 6.56M shares of common stock for holders

 

Healthcare

·     Dice Molecules Holdings (DICE) 12M share IPO priced at $17.00

·     Procept BioRobotics (PRCT) 6.56M share IPO price $25.00

·     Tyra Biosciences (TYRA) 10.8M share IPO priced at $16.00

·     Pfizer (PFE) is seeking FDA approval for use of its COVID-19 vaccine in children aged six months to five years, the Financial Times reports. The company is aiming to gain such approval in November

·     Avalo Therapeutics (AVTX) 12.5M share Spot Secondary priced at $2.20

·     Sage Therapeutics (SAGE) announced that the U.S. FDA has granted Fast Track Designation to SAGE-718 for development as a potential treatment for Huntington’s disease. Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development and review of new treatments for serious conditions with unmet medical need such as HD

·     Theravance Biopharma (TBPH) shares down over 30% after announcing its hypotension treatment did not meet main goal, halts non-respiratory disease related programs; also announces cost reduction program to focus on commercializing respiratory therapeutics to maximize shareholder value; will reduce the headcount by ~75%, which will result in annualized operating expense savings of ~$165M in 2022;

·     Unicycive Therapeutics (UNCY) will be added as a member of the Russell Microcap Index as part of the 2021 Russell indexes reconstitution after the market opens on September 20, 2021

 

Technology, Media & Telecom

·     Microsoft (MSFT) board approves new share buyback of up to $60B in shares; raises quarterly dividend 11% to 62c per share

·     Skillsoft (SKIL) raises FY22 revenue view to $670M-$690M from $645M-$675M and boosts FY22 bookings view to $690M-$710M from $660M-$690M; reaffirms FY22 adjusted EBITDA view $155M-$175M

·     Live Nation (LYV) 5.23M share Spot Secondary priced at $86.90

·     CS Disco (LAW) 5.5M share Secondary priced at $53.00

·     Aspen Group (ASPU) 1Q EPS ($0.03) vs est. ($0.05) on revs $19.4Mm vs est. $19.2Mm

·     Bentley Systems, Incorporated (BSY) announced that its Seequent business unit has acquired Canadian software company Minalytix, the developer of MX Deposit.

·     Sonim Technologies (SONM) said it plans to effect a one-for-ten reverse split of its issued and outstanding common stock, effective Sep.15.