Stock Markets
This week in tech: A tepid response to Apple’s Vision Pro; SEC vs. Coinbase
Here is your weekly Pro Recap on the biggest headlines out of a big earnings week for tech: reactions to Apple’s Vision Pro launch; the SEC’s lawsuit against Coinbase; GM’s collaboration with Tesla; Amazon Prime’s coming ad-supported tier; and Netflix’s win on password-sharing crackdown.
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A lackluster response to Apple’s Vision Pro
Wall Street reacted with caution to Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) launch of its much-anticipated mixed reality headset, Vision Pro, which comes at a higher-than-expected price of $3,499.
Although we are impressed by its best-in-class hardware/immersive capabilities, we think AAPL failed to identify why it’s a must-own device for consumers, at least for now. Still, the company’s entry into the space and greater engagement from developers will help support adoption and new use cases over time.
Goldman Sachs said it is encouraged by long-term growth prospects, “but expect near-term financial contributions to be limited” particularly given the high retail price point and media reports that it may be sold at breakeven.
And BofA similarly said it expects that “adoption will take time.”
Apple shares initially sank on news of the launch but partially recovered, and ended the week down just 0.9%. The stock is up some 45% year to date.
Coinbase sued by SEC
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) took a dive early in the week after it was sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for an alleged breach of U.S. securities rules.
“We allege that Coinbase, despite being subject to the securities laws, commingled and unlawfully offered exchange, broker-dealer, and clearinghouse functions,” said SEC Chair Gary Gensler in a press release.
The exchange is accused of making billions of dollars “unlawfully facilitating the buying and selling of crypto asset securities.”
BofA reiterated its Underperform rating on the stock and said, “[W]e think these latest developments illustrate ongoing regulatory headwinds, which not only could threaten part of [Coinbase]’s business model, but also represent a big management distraction.”
Meanwhile, Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest increased its stake in the company, as the stock hit near five-month lows. Wood has repeatedly expressed confidence in Coinbase and the broader crypto industry, and has cited a $1 million long-term price target for Bitcoin on the belief that it is an effective inflation hedge.
Coinbase shares fell nearly 16% for the week, having lost ground Monday as well after the SEC sued Binance. It’s still up nearly 60% for the year.
General Motors to partake in Tesla’s charging network
General Motors (NYSE:GM) CEO Mary Barra confirmed this week that the company is preparing to integrate the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector, designed by Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), into its EVs beginning in 2025.
The announcement, made during a live meeting on Twitter Space with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, mirrors a similar revolution made late last month when neighboring rival Ford Motor (NYSE:F) also announced a collaboration with Musk’s Tesla.
These partnerships allow Ford and GM customers to access the extensive network of Tesla Superchargers.
The next day, White House officials handed Tesla another win when they announced that the company’s Superchargers would be eligible to receive a portion of federal funds, amounting in the billions, so long as the chargers also included CCS connections.
After the GM news, Wedbush raised its price target on Tesla to $300 from $215, reiterated its “Outperform” rating, and added the shares to the “Wedbush Best Ideas List.”
GM climbed more than 5% for the week to $36.23. Tesla was up 4% to $244.40, extending an over 117% gain year to date.
Amazon to launch ad-supported Prime Video tier: report
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) plans to launch an advertising-supported tier of its Prime Video streaming services as part of a move to bolster growth from entertainment, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing unnamed sources.
Plans to launch an ad-supported tier for its Prime Video streaming service follow similar moves by rivals including Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) and Disney (NYSE:DIS) as streaming platforms look for ways to support content spending amid an ongoing battle for dominance.
Warner Bros Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) and Paramount (NASDAQ:PARAA), meanwhile, are reportedly in talks with Amazon to add the ad-based tiers of their streaming services through Amazon’s Prime Video channels.
Bank of America analysts believe the ad-supported tier makes sense for Prime Video.
“Amazon’s user data, existing relationships with retail advertisers, and extensive ad sales teams provide a competitive advantage for monetizing ad-streaming. Also, tiering may enable Amazon to raise fees on ad-free Prime tiers, which would follow recent fee increases for various Prime and 3P services,” it wrote in a client note.
The analysts also expect Amazon to continue to lean into video content vs. pulling back in a bid to drive usage.
Warner Discovery and Paramount closed the week up 18% and 5%, respectively, following the news. Amazon ended nearly breakeven for the week.
Netflix scoops up new subscribers amid password-sharing crackdown
Netflix climbed after The Wall Street Journal reported that the crackdown on password sharing in the U.S. delivered a new subscriber windfall in its earliest days.
Citing data from Antenna, the WSJ said the streaming giant gained more new U.S. subscriptions between May 25 and May 28, not long after it notified users in the U.S. and other countries of the limits than in any other four-day period since Antenna commenced compiling the data in 2019.
The jump in subscribers suggests Netflix’s decision to end password sharing is yielding results.
The move to end password sharing means users who share an account outside the same home must pay an extra $7.99 a month to watch. In addition, the number of extra members customers could add to their account is limited, depending on the tier they pay for.
Shares rose just under 5% for the week, with year-to-date gains totaling over 40%.
Senad Karaahmetovic, Sam Boughedda, Ambar Warrick, and Michael Elkins contributed to this report.
Jump on the biggest tech news for your portfolio amid a barrage of market headlines: Always be the first to know with InvestingPro.
Stock Markets
OSPN stock soars to 52-week high, hits $17.73 amid robust growth
In a remarkable display of market confidence, shares of OneSpan Inc. (NASDAQ:) surged to a 52-week high, reaching a price level of $17.73. This peak reflects a significant turnaround for the company, which specializes in digital identity and anti-fraud solutions, marking a substantial 91.47% increase over the past year. Investors have rallied behind OneSpan’s strategic initiatives and strong performance, propelling the stock to new heights and signaling a robust growth trajectory for the company’s future.
In other recent news, OneSpan demonstrated a strong financial performance in the third quarter of 2024, with a notable increase in its Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and subscription revenues. Despite a dip in total revenue, primarily attributed to an expected decrease in hardware sales, the company’s adjusted EBITDA hit $17 million, marking 30% of revenue, and a 9% rise in ARR to $164 million.
The company also reported a significant turnaround with a GAAP net income per share of $0.21, a stark contrast to a loss in the previous year. OneSpan’s Digital Agreements segment achieved profitability for the first time, and the Security segment continued its high profitability with an increased gross profit margin.
In terms of earnings, OneSpan’s subscription revenue grew by 29%, making up 60% of total revenue. The company’s operating income rose to $11.3 million, a considerable improvement from a $4.8 million loss year-over-year.
The company’s full-year 2024 revenue guidance was revised to range between $238 million and $242 million, with an increased adjusted EBITDA forecast of $65 million to $67 million. These recent developments indicate OneSpan’s strategic shift towards higher-margin software revenue and a focus on operational efficiency and profitability.
InvestingPro Insights
OneSpan Inc.’s recent surge to a 52-week high is supported by several key financial metrics and analyst observations. According to InvestingPro data, OSPN’s market capitalization stands at $672.06 million, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 23.47. This valuation appears reasonable considering the company’s growth prospects.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that OneSpan is trading near its 52-week high, corroborating the article’s main point. Additionally, the company has shown a strong return over the last month and a large price uptick over the last six months, aligning with the reported 91.47% increase over the past year.
The company’s financial health appears solid, with InvestingPro Tips noting that OneSpan holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet and that its liquid assets exceed short-term obligations. This financial stability may be contributing to investor confidence and the stock’s upward trajectory.
Looking ahead, analysts predict that OneSpan will be profitable this year, and net income is expected to grow. This positive outlook is further supported by the fact that two analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, suggesting potential for continued stock appreciation.
For investors seeking a deeper dive into OneSpan’s prospects, InvestingPro offers 8 additional tips that could provide valuable insights into the company’s future performance and investment potential.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.
Stock Markets
‘Strong likelihood’ famine imminent in north Gaza, say food security experts
By Lena Masri, Michelle Nichols
LONDON/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -There is a “strong likelihood that famine is imminent in areas” of the northern Gaza Strip, a committee of global food security experts warned on Friday, as Israel pursues a military offensive against Palestinian militant group Hamas in the area.
“Immediate action, within days not weeks, is required from all actors who are directly taking part in the conflict, or have influence on its conduct, to avert and alleviate this catastrophic situation,” the independent Famine Review Committee (FRC) said in a rare alert.
The warning comes just days ahead of a U.S. deadline for Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza or face potential restrictions on U.S. military aid.
Israel’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“If no effective action is taken by stakeholders with influence, the scale of this looming catastrophe is likely to dwarf anything we have seen so far in the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023,” the FRC committee said.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that there are between 75,000 and 95,000 people still in northern Gaza.
The Famine Review Committee said that it could be “assumed that starvation, malnutrition, and excess mortality due to malnutrition and disease, are rapidly increasing” in north Gaza.
“Famine thresholds may have already been crossed or else will be in the near future,” it said.
Israel began a wide military push in northern Gaza last month. The United States has said it is watching to ensure that its ally’s actions on the ground show it does not have a “policy of starvation” in the north.
The Famine Review Committee reviews findings by the global hunger monitor – an internationally recognised standard known as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification ().
The IPC defines famine as when at least 20% of people in an area are suffering extreme food shortages, with at least 30% of children acutely malnourished and two people out of every 10,000 dying daily from starvation or malnutrition and disease.
The IPC is an initiative involving U.N. agencies, national governments and aid groups that sets the global standard on measuring food crises.
The IPC warned last month that the entire Gaza Strip was at risk of famine, while top U.N. officials last week described the northern Gaza Strip as “apocalyptic” and everyone there was “at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence.”
The amount of aid entering Gaza has plummeted to its lowest level in a year, according to U.N. data, and the U.N. has repeatedly accused Israel of hindering and blocking attempts to deliver aid, particularly to Gaza’s north.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon last month told the Security Council that the issue in Gaza was not a lack of aid, saying more than a million tons had been delivered during the past year. He accused Hamas of hijacking the assistance.
Hamas has repeatedly denied Israeli allegations that it was stealing aid and says Israel is to blame for shortages.
“The daily average number of trucks entering Gaza in late October was about 58 per day,” Jean-Martin Bauer, the U.N. World Food Programme’s director of food security and nutrition analysis, told Reuters on Friday.
“We were getting about 200 a day in September and August, so that’s really a big, big decline,” he said.
Stock Markets
West Chester Capital Advisors, Inc. Announces Rebrand, Name Change to AmeriServ Wealth Advisors, Inc.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa., Nov. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — (NASDAQ: ASRV) “ West Chester Capital Advisors, Inc., the registered investment advisor of AmeriServ Financial Bank, announced today that it has changed its name to AmeriServ Wealth Advisors, Inc. The name change and rebranding, which includes a new visual identity, web presence and enhanced positioning, is intended to better reflect the company’s business and its strong partnership with AmeriServ Bank.
“We are excited to now be more closely aligned with our parent company. This name change enables us to capitalize on the brand equity associated with the AmeriServ name while continuing to provide investment advisory services to our clients,” Frank Lapinsky, president, and CEO of AmeriServ Wealth Advisors, said.
He described the firm’s performance as “our team of investment and wealth professionals brings over 100 years of assisting clients to plan for their present and future financial needs. We have a deep understanding of clients’ needs, a history enabling them to identify and chart their investments goals and a strong commitment to providing an exceptional level of personal and professional service. This expertise coupled with the bank’s almost 125-year history provides our clients with the reassurance and recognizability that we are committed to working with them through every stage of their financial life.”
AmeriServ Wealth Advisors’ investment management and advisory services range from individual portfolio management to pension and profit-sharing plans for individuals and institutions, including bank and trust companies, charitable organizations, and government entities. The firm’s proactive, disciplined approach is also applied to the signature Pathroad Account ® portfolios which are sponsored by AmeriServ Financial Bank and designed to produce solid long-term investment results for both equity and fixed income clients. The combined years of experience of the advisors allows for delivery of personalized services through one-on-one consultations with a local investment firm.
About AmeriServ Wealth Advisors, Inc.
AmeriServ Wealth Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment advisor with its principal place of business located in Johnstown, PA. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of AmeriServ Financial Bank ®. AmeriServ Financial Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of AmeriServ Financial, Inc., a publicly held bank holding company trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the symbol ASRV.
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