-- 瑞銀證券週一在一份報告中指出，由於投資者對野火風險的擔憂似乎被過度消化，加之強勁的盈利增長、支出計劃的潛在利好、有利的監管結果以及估值提升空間，Xcel Energy (XEL) 的股價可能進一步上漲。 Xcel 預計將實現公用事業板塊最強勁的每股收益增長率之一，超過 9%，其發電和輸電項目還有進一步增長的空間，包括科羅拉多州新增的產能以及其服務區域內大型谷歌數據中心帶來的需求。 瑞銀證券表示，投資人的擔憂主要集中在科羅拉多州和德州的野火狀況上，但市場基於該公司迄今為止的有限責任記錄，過度低估了這一風險。 Xcel 的獲利成長表現突出，同時其所需的股權融資水準也比許多同業更為可控，瑞銀認為這是支撐其股價的另一個因素。 瑞銀維持對Xcel的買入評級，並將目標價從89美元上調至91美元，並表示隨著Xcel執行其成長計畫並減少投資者擔憂，預計其股價將更接近該公用事業集團的歷史平均估值。
Price: $81.49, Change: $+0.41, Percent Change: +0.51%
Energy stocks were mixed late Monday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 0.2% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) shedding 0.1%.The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index fell 0.8%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index fell 0.6%.West Texas Intermediate crude oil jumped 5.9% to $88.79 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent rose 5.3% to $95.19 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures increased 0.3% to $2.68 per 1 million BTU.In corporate news, Devon Energy (DVN) shares rose 1.3% after Tudor Pickering Holt upgraded the stock to buy from hold with a $63 price target.USA Rare Earth (USAR) agreed to acquire Brazilian rare earths miner Serra Verde in a cash-and-stock deal with an equity value of about $2.8 billion. USA Rare Earth shares jumped 13%.Eni (E) and Repsol reached a deal with the Venezuelan government to begin exporting natural gas from the country's Perla field in the Gulf of Venezuela, shipping the fuel in the form of liquefied natural gas from a floating terminal, Bloomberg reported. Separately, Eni made a gas discovery in the Kutei Basin off the coast of Indonesia. Eni shares rose 0.4%.Sable Offshore (SOC) shares climbed 3.4% after it said capital expenditures across its assets are expected to be around $180 million from April through December.
Most US softline retailers are expected to report upcoming quarterly earnings either in line or above Wall Street's estimates, while consumer spending could rise notably if the Middle East conflict ends soon, UBS Securities said Monday.A survey conducted by the brokerage during the first two weeks of this month showed that consumer spending intentions remained "good," particularly for apparel and footwear despite headwinds from the US-Israel war with Iran that started at the end of February, UBS analysts, including Jay Sole said in a note to clients."We believe the market is overestimating the negative impact of high oil prices on softline company margins," UBS said. "We see most softline companies either meeting or beating (first-quarter) expectations during this upcoming earnings season."The war, which has impacted several Middle East countries, has sent energy prices soaring amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important chokepoint for crude flows.US retail gasoline prices averaged $4.042 per gallon Monday, compared with $3.151 a year ago, according to data from AAA, a travel organization that tracks fuel prices in the country."US consumers' view of the economy has been somewhat impacted (month on month) by the Middle East conflict and rising gas prices," the UBS analysts said Monday. "Yet, the data show potential for a strong pop in US consumer spending if the Middle East conflict ends soon and gas prices return to pre-conflict levels. This is a main reason we remain bullish."On Holding (ONON), Deckers Outdoor (DECK), Gildan Activewear (GIL), Burlington Stores (BURL), Levi Strauss (LEVI), Ralph Lauren (RL), and TJX (TJX) are among the softline stocks that UBS said it likes and rates as buy. The brokerage said it likes these stocks over several big names such as Nike (NKE) and Lululemon Athletica (LULU), according to the note."We believe the market is significantly underestimating the potential for (artificial intelligence) to positively impact softline companies' sales and margins," the analysts said.On Saturday, Iran took back control the Strait of Hormuz after temporarily opening the waterway to commercial vessels Friday. The US and Iran have accused each other of violating a two-week ceasefire announced April 7, leaving the situation in the Middle East in limbo.Price: $37.24, Change: $+0.29, Percent Change: +0.78%
Financial stocks were mixed in late Monday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index decreasing 0.1% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) adding 0.3%.The Philadelphia Housing Index was rising 0.7%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) was up 0.2%.Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was climbing 3.3% to $76,265, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was slightly higher at 4.25%.In corporate news, Intercontinental Exchange-backed (ICE) predictions site Polymarket is in talks to raise about $400 million at a valuation of roughly $15 billion, including the new proceeds, The Information reported. Intercontinental Exchange shares were down 0.5%.Sila Realty Trust (SILA) agreed to be acquired and taken private by affiliates of Blue Owl Capital's (OWL) real estate unit in an all-cash deal worth roughly $2.4 billion. Sila shares jumped 19%, and Blue Owl was up 0.5%.Apollo Global Management (APO) has agreed to invest $1.25 billion in convertible preferred equity in McKesson's (MCK) Medical-Surgical Solutions business, acquiring about a 13% minority stake as part of the unit's planned separation, McKesson said Monday. Apollo shares rose nearly 2%.Blackstone-backed (BX) Jersey Mike's Subs said Monday that it has confidentially filed a draft registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering. Blackstone shares were decreasing 0.2%.