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By Nicole Jao

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Oil prices edged lower on Friday, and were on course for their steepest weekly loss in three months, as investors weighed weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs data and the timing of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.

futures for July were down 46 cents, or 0.55%, to $83.21 a barrel at 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for June fell 51 cents, or 0.65%, to $78.44 a barrel.

Both benchmarks are set for weekly losses as investors are concerned that higher-for-longer interest rates will curb economic growth in the United States, the world’s leading oil consumer, as well as in other parts of the world.

Brent was on course for a weekly decline of about 7% while WTI was headed for a loss of 6.5% on the week.

U.S. job growth slowed more than expected in April and the annual wage gain cooled, data showed on Friday, prompting traders to raise bets that the U.S. central bank will deliver its first interest rate cut this year in September.

“The economy is slowing a little bit,” said Tim Snyder, economist at Matador Economics. “But (the data) gives a path forward for the Fed to have at least one rate cut this year,” he said.

The Fed held rates steady this week and flagged high inflation readings that could delay rate cuts. Higher rates typically weigh on the economy and can reduce oil demand.

The market is repricing the expected timing of possible rate cuts after the release of softer-than-expected monthly jobs data, said Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS.

U.S. energy companies this week cut the number of oil and rigs operating for a second week in a row, to the lowest since January 2022, Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report on Friday.

The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by eight to 605 in the week to May 3, in the biggest weekly decline since September 2023. The number of oil rigs fell seven to 499 this week, in the biggest weekly drop since November 2023. [RIG/U]

Geopolitical risk premiums due to the Israel-Hamas war have faded as the two sides consider a temporary ceasefire and hold talks with international mediators.

Further ahead, the next meeting of OPEC+ oil producers – members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia – is set for June 1.

Three sources from the OPEC+ group said it could extend its voluntary oil output cuts beyond June if oil demand does not increase.

On Friday, RBC Capital made adjustments to its outlook on Fortinet shares (NASDAQ:), a company specializing in cybersecurity solutions. The firm reduced its price target on the stock to $68.00 from the previous $71.00. Despite the change in stock price target, the analyst maintained a Sector Perform rating on the shares.

The analyst from RBC Capital provided insights into the rationale behind the price target adjustment, citing a mixed financial performance in the recent quarter and forecast that might impact the stock’s performance in the short term.

The commentary highlighted that while the additional information regarding backlog and billings, as well as the firewall cycle, was beneficial, the second quarter of 2024 is expected to be the last period facing high comparative figures.

The report further mentioned that a rebound in billings and product revenue is anticipated in the third quarter of 2024. This optimism is based on the expectation that the current pressures on Fortinet’s business model will start to subside in the second half of 2024, potentially leading to a more favorable position for the company’s stock.

Fortinet’s financials and future prospects were a significant focus of the analysis, with the expectation that easing pressures would contribute to growth. The analyst’s comments did not include specific details on the financial results but provided a general expectation of improvement in the company’s performance later in the year.

The stock price target revision and maintained rating by RBC Capital reflect a cautious but stable outlook for Fortinet as it navigates through its current financial cycle and prepares for the latter half of 2024.

InvestingPro Insights

In light of the recent analysis by RBC Capital, Fortinet (NASDAQ:FTNT) shows a blend of strengths and valuation concerns as per InvestingPro data.

With a robust gross profit margin of 77.13% for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, the company demonstrates a strong ability to retain earnings after the cost of goods sold. The management’s confidence is reflected in their aggressive share buyback strategy, which is an InvestingPro Tip indicating a bullish stance on the company’s value.

Still, investors should note that Fortinet is trading at a high earnings multiple, with a P/E ratio of 41.52, suggesting a premium valuation. This is also supported by a PEG ratio of 1.12, which may indicate that the stock’s price is high relative to its earnings growth potential.

Furthermore, the company has experienced a significant price uptick over the last six months with a 29.16% return, which aligns with the analyst’s anticipation of a rebound in billings and product revenue in the third quarter of 2024.

For those considering an investment in Fortinet, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available that can provide deeper insights into the company’s financial health and market position. Currently, there are 14 more InvestingPro Tips listed, which can be accessed for a more comprehensive analysis. Interested readers can take advantage of a special offer using the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription at InvestingPro.

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