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This week in tech: Salesforce slowdown; Amazon denies plans to disrupt telecom

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Here is your weekly Pro Recap on the biggest headlines out of a big earnings week for tech: Investors are disappointed by Salesforce and HP; Broadcom and Dell hearten the market; Amazon denies report of its plans to enter the wireless-services game.

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Soft guidance at Salesforce

Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) shares slumped 4.7% on Thursday even after the company reported better-than-expected earnings.

Analysts say the stock sold off because Salesforce revenue outperformance was below historical trends, and it also missed on under-contract sales expected in the next 12 months (that is, cRPO, or current revenue performance obligation). Moreover, its revenue growth for the quarter came in at its slowest pace since 2010, per Reuters.

For the quarter, adjusted earnings per share totaled $1.69, $0.08 better than the average analyst estimate, and $8.25 billion in sales was ahead of the $8.18B consensus. Next quarter Salesforce expects sales of $8.51B to $8.53B, higher than the $8.49B estimates.

Despite the market’s reaction, Goldman Sachs reiterated its Buy rating on CRM shares, saying the results were “strong in light of the challenging macro backdrop.”

Bank of America reaffirmed a Top Pick status on CRM, noting it is “impressed” by the 1% guidance beat for cRPO growth “given the tough macro and disruption from restructuring actions.”

Shares closed the week at $213.03.

Broadcom’s better-than-expected print

On Thursday, Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) said it recorded earnings of $10.32 per share, easily beating the $10.12 consensus, on slightly better-than-expected revenue of $8.73B. It expects $8.85B in sales for the third quarter, comfortably above estimates for $8.72B.

Goldman Sachs said the company delivered “another solid quarter,” citing its expectations for that generative artificial intelligence “has the potential to support a ‘soft-landing’ in the near term and drive above-model growth in the medium- to long-term.”

Similarly, BofA argues that Broadcom’s AI portfolio is “underappreciated,” and assigned the stock a new Street-high price target of $950.

Shares dipped in the premarket on Friday, but ultimately closed the regular session up 2.5%. Shares ended the week at $812 even.

HP sees weakness in PC demand

HP (NYSE:HPQ) shares slid some 6% Wednesday after the PC maker posted its lowest revenue for a quarter since early 2020, noting ongoing weakness in demand for personal computers.

For the fiscal second quarter ended in April, HP reported a 21.7% drop in overall revenue to $12.9B – below expectations for $13.1B – encompassing a 29% slide in PC business sales and a 5% dip in printing revenue.

Adjusted earnings per share of $0.80 beat expectations for $0.76. Third-quarter (ending July) guidance calls for adjusted earnings of $0.81 to $0.91 a share vs. the $0.85 consensus, and it expects $3.30 to $3.50 for the full year, up from a prior analysts’ estimate of $3.34.

BofA reiterated its Underperform rating on the company, saying it remains cautious on HPQ shares even though guidance implies a second-half sales recovery: “We expect margins to normalize lower, and estimates to be revised lower over the next couple of qtrs.”

Barclays said the guidance may prove to be “aggressive,” adding, “We continue to see downside for shares with near term top-line, margin and cash flow pressures, though cost cuts help offset some of the underlying weaknesses.”

HP shares staged a partial recovery to end the week, rising 3.8% to $30.55.

Dell throttles estimates amid challenging macro environment

On Thursday Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) said adjusted EPS totaled $1.31, smashing the $0.86 average Street estimate, on better-than-expected revenue of $20.9B.

The beat on the bottom line comes even as margins and revenue fell amid a weaker backdrop for PC demand, and Dell guided for Q2 revenue of $20.7B at the midpoint of the range – worse than the Street at $21.1B.

Dell’s client solutions group and infrastructure solutions group business saw revenue fall 23% and 18% respectively amid “challenging economic backdrop,” the company said.

The stock saw a premarket slump before climbing 4% in Friday’s regular session.

Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank each kept their buy ratings on the stock, although the former highlighted a weak recovery in Dell’s core PC business.

Deutsche said it believes “the risk-reward is attractive” for the stock, noting, “Considering a tough macro environment suggested by other IT hardware peers, we are not too surprised by DELL’s cautious comments in the near term, and we view a delayed recovery as reasonable.”

Amazon denies report it is setting its sights on telecom space

An Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) spokesperson said the company doesn’t have plans to add wireless services at this time, Reuters reported, following a Bloomberg story that said Amazon is in talks to offer low-cost or free nationwide mobile phone service to Prime subscribers – news that shook the shares of telecom companies.

“We are always exploring adding even more benefits for Prime members, but don’t have plans to add wireless at this time,” the spokesperson said, according to Reuters, while AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile “denied any talks.”

Amazon stock had gotten a lift on the initial report, while telecom companies like T-Mobile (NASDAQ:TMUS), AT&T Inc (NYSE:T), and Verizon (NYSE:VZ) took sharp slides.

On the other hand, shares in DISH Network (NASDAQ:DISH) gained as much as 8.3% on the report. The satellite services provider is already working with Amazon and is expected to start selling its wireless services on Amazon in July.

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A-Mark Precious Metals extends credit agreement to 2026

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EL SEGUNDO, CA – A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. (NASDAQ:), a leading wholesaler of precious metals, has amended its existing credit agreement, extending the facility’s termination date and modifying certain covenants. This development was formalized on Monday, with the company entering into the Tenth Amendment to its Credit Agreement.

The amendment pushes the termination date of the revolving credit facility to September 30, 2026, or an earlier date if certain conditions outlined in the agreement are met. This extension provides A-Mark with continued access to its credit line for nearly two additional years beyond the original termination date.

In addition to the extension, the Tenth Amendment also introduces changes to the covenants of the Credit Agreement. While the specific details of these modifications were not disclosed in the press release, such changes typically aim to adjust the company’s operational and financial flexibility within the scope of the credit facility.

A-Mark’s original Credit Agreement was established on December 21, 2021, and has since undergone several amendments leading up to this latest, the Tenth Amendment. CIBC Bank USA serves as the administrative agent for the lenders involved in this credit facility.

In other recent news, A-Mark Precious Metals has seen significant developments in its financial performance and business strategy. The company’s fiscal year results, ending June 30, 2024, reported a net income of $66.2 million, with diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.75.

After excluding a re-measurement gain from its investment in Silver Gold Bull, the diluted EPS was $2.15. Despite a 19% decrease in fourth-quarter revenues to $2.52 billion, A-Mark concluded the fiscal year with over $3 million direct-to-consumer customers and repurchased $22.4 million of its common stock.

Analysts from B.Riley and DA Davidson have shown confidence in A-Mark Precious Metals, raising their stock price targets to $44 and $47 respectively. B.Riley’s new forecast expects A-Mark Precious Metals to achieve an adjusted EBITDA of $31.6 million and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.91 for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, up from its previous estimates. This optimism is based on the assumption of increased gold and silver pricing and improved sales volumes.

In strategic developments, A-Mark Precious Metals is contemplating expanding its market reach, potentially through a trading hub in Singapore. The company has also broadened its presence in Asia with the acquisition of LPM and increased its investment in Silver Gold Bull Canada.

Despite facing a 25% increase in interest expenses and a 54% decrease in full-year EBITDA compared to the previous fiscal year, A-Mark remains optimistic about potential M&A opportunities and maintaining profitability.

InvestingPro Insights

A-Mark Precious Metals’ recent amendment to its credit agreement aligns with the company’s strong financial performance and market position. According to InvestingPro data, A-Mark has demonstrated impressive growth with a 60.24% price total return over the past year and a substantial 46.43% return in the last six months. This positive momentum is further reflected in the company’s market capitalization of $1.03 billion.

InvestingPro Tips highlight that A-Mark’s stock price often moves in the opposite direction of the market, which could be advantageous for investors seeking portfolio diversification. Additionally, the company’s liquid assets exceed short-term obligations, suggesting a solid financial foundation that supports the extended credit facility.

While A-Mark suffers from weak gross profit margins, as noted by an InvestingPro Tip, the company remains profitable with a P/E ratio of 15.05, indicating reasonable valuation relative to earnings. This profitability, combined with the extended credit agreement, positions A-Mark well for potential future growth in the precious metals market.

For investors interested in a deeper analysis, InvestingPro offers 13 additional tips for A-Mark Precious Metals, providing a more comprehensive view of the company’s financial health and market position.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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Camden National Corporation to Announce Quarter Ended September 30, 2024 Financial Results on October 29, 2024

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CAMDEN, Maine, Oct. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Camden National (NASDAQ:) Corporation (NASDAQ: ) will report financial and operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.  A conference call and webcast will be held at 3:00 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 hosted by Simon Griffiths, President and Chief Executive Officer and Michael Archer, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer.

Parties interested in listening to the teleconference should dial into the call or connect to the webcast link 10 “ 15 minutes before it begins. Dial-in and webcast information to participate is as follows:

Live Dial-In (Domestic): (833) 470-1428
Live Dial-In (International): (929) 526-1599
Participant access code: 504894
Live Webcast URL:    https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/685424551

A link to the live webcast will be available on Camden National Corporation’s website at CamdenNationalCorporation.com  prior to the meeting. The transcript and replay of the conference call will also be made available on Camden National’s website following the conference call.

About Camden National Corporation

Camden National Corporation (NASDAQ: CAC) is Northern New England’s largest publicly traded bank holding company, with $5.7 billion in assets. Founded in 1875, Camden National Bank has 57 branches in Maine and New Hampshire, is a full-service community bank offering the latest digital banking, complemented by award-winning, personalized service. Additional information is available at CamdenNational.bank. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

Comprehensive wealth management, investment, and financial planning services are delivered by Camden National Wealth Management.

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MESA LABS DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

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LAKEWOOD, Colo., Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Mesa Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ:MLAB) (we, us, our, Mesa or the Company) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share of common stock. The dividend will be payable on December 16, 2024, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 29, 2024.

About Mesa Laboratories (NASDAQ:), Inc.

Mesa is a global leader in the design and manufacture of life science tools and critical quality control solutions for regulated applications in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and medical device industries. Mesa offers products and services to help our customers ensure product integrity, increase patient and worker safety, and improve the quality of life throughout the world.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain information that constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and present expectations or projections.   Forward-looking statements include statements relating to revenues and growth, operating results, profit margin pressure, industry conditions, economic conditions, demand, competition, the effects of additional actions taken to become more efficient or lower costs, risks related to the integration of acquired businesses, changes in legal and regulatory matters, the ability to generate additional cash flow, and any events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future. Generally, the words expect, anticipate, seek, intend, plan, believe, could, estimate, may, target, project, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These statements are based upon current information and expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those estimated or anticipated as a result of these risks and unknowns or other risks and uncertainties. For additional information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties that could affect these statements, and our business, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2024, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K subsequently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to republish revised forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, to provide any updates, or to reflect the occurrence of future events.

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