Steph Curry made NBA playoff history during Game 7 between the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings. Curry's 21-point performance in the game elevated him to 13th place on the all-time playoff scoring list, ahead of Hall of Famer John Havlicek. He now has 3,777 playoff points and is set to surpass Larry Bird's 3,897 points next. The Warriors faced a possible elimination, but Curry's performance helped lead them to a win, advancing them to the second round of playoffs. The team will now face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Curry's excellent season continues, with superb performances so far in the playoffs, averaging 31.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Curry, a two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star, has been with the Warriors for 14 seasons and led them to the NBA championship four times in the previous eight seasons. The win marked an important milestone for Curry as he continues to elevate his legacy as one of basketball’s all-time greats.
As the Golden State Warriors face off against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second-round playoff series, many are focused on the headlining discussions surrounding Steph Curry and LeBron James. However, X-factors like Kevon Looney could prove key to determining the outcome of the series. Looney's performance is crucial for optimizing both single- and dual-big lineups, especially as he battles on the boards alongside Anthony Davis. Keeping Davis under control will fall predominantly to Looney, making their matchup a crucial one to watch. On offense, Looney lacks the range to yank Davis away from the basket, but he will still need to pitch in against LeBron James. If Looney can hold his own against AD, the Lakers' defensive disruption will be more controlled, and the Warriors can pull Green elsewhere. As both teams enter the game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, every player's performance will be critical to winning this best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series.
Los Angeles Lakers power forward, Mo Bamba, has been ruled out for Tuesday's Game 1 contest against the Golden State Warriors due to left ankle soreness. According to sources, Bamba received an injection to treat the soreness and was using a crutch to walk at the team's shootaround. This injury report has listed Bamba as questionable before the game, and he may return for the next game. Though the Lakers' backup centers are Wenyen Gabriel and Tristan Thompson, Bamba, who played just 88 minutes total in the regular season for Los Angeles, figured unlikely to get many minutes in the matchup anyway because of his defensive limitations. However, his absence meant that the Lakers would be more likely to turn to Rui Hachimura/LeBron James frontcourt that wasn't effective versus Memphis. This grouping is unlikely to do better against ace rebounder Kevon Looney. Although Bamba's absence may not have a huge impact on the rotation, it is still a significant loss for the Lakers and may affect their performance against the Warriors.
After a dominant performance by Anthony Davis in Game 1 of the Lakers-Warriors Western Conference semifinals series, the Lakers are looking to take a 2-0 lead over the Golden State Warriors before heading back to Los Angeles. Davis had an impressive stat line with 30 points, 23 rebounds, five assists, and four blocked shots. The Lakers are hoping to avoid a repeat of their first-round playoff series with the Memphis Grizzlies, where they dropped Game 2 after winning Game 1. Davis emphasized the importance of being "greedy" and not settling for a split with the Warriors. The Lakers understand the threat that the Warriors pose and are looking to bring their best defensive effort in Game 2 to secure another victory. Kerr acknowledges the difficulty of facing Davis and says, "You can see it on tape, but you got to feel it in order to understand how to attack." With Davis and LeBron James leading the Lakers, they are aiming to make a deep playoff run and cement Davis's legacy as a franchise great.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt has taken on the challenge of defending Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry throughout the second-round playoff series. Vanderbilt, who guarded Ja Morant in the series against the Memphis Grizzlies, held his own against Curry in Game 1, where he was credited with allowing only one 3-point attempt, which Curry made. Curry still managed to score 27 points, but he worked hard for them due to Vanderbilt's defense, which hounded him into committing three turnovers. The Lakers won the game 117-112.
Vanderbilt welcomed the assignment, stating that this was his calling and what he was brought to the team to do. He also credited the team effort and various bodies thrown at Curry, including reserve point guard Dennis Schroder. Vanderbilt's 6'9" frame and 7'1 wingspan gave him an advantage in dictating where he wanted to send Curry and forcing him inside the 3-point line. Vanderbilt's versatility as a defender, capable of guarding all five positions, impressed Lakers coach Frank Vogel.
The Lakers will look to maintain this level of defense and take a 2-0 series lead in Game 2 against the Warriors.
Apple’s Q2 earnings report was a hit, causing its stock to surge and leaving some investors wondering if now is the time to invest. However, analysts warn that Apple's valuation is cause for investor skepticism. William Power of Baird is one such skeptic. While he reiterated their Outperform rating on the stock, Power noted that “valuation vs. the S&P 500 near all-time highs, we'd also be more aggressive buyers on any pullbacks.” For context, Power noted that Apple is trading at nearly 28 times 2023's estimated earnings and 26.3 times 2024's estimated earnings, whereas the benchmark S&P 500 index is trading at roughly 19 times estimated earnings, making it the highest premium relative to the index since 2020. Furthermore, Apple now represents a record 7.1% of the S&P 500 Index, which has historically indicated a bubble.
Despite a myriad of bearish calls, including a Trade of the Week short on AAPL, some believe Apple could still be a profitable investment, especially given the strong performance of tech in this season's earnings. MarketBeat rates Apple shares as a Moderate Buy, and the company's recent impressive update and strong long-term eco-system benefits make it a possible investment opportunity. Investors must be mindful of Apple's high valuation relative to the S&P 500 and the possible dangers of being overly dependent on a handful of large-cap tech stocks driving the market.
Andrew Wiggins has played a crucial role in the Warriors' playoff push, and he believes they're ready to defend their championship crown. Wiggins' return from a 23-game absence due to a family matter has given the Warriors a much-needed boost in scoring and rebounding. He's averaging 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in the series against the Kings. Wiggins' performance has been a welcome sight for the defending champions, who struggled with consistency throughout the regular season. His solid all-around stat line in Game 6 (13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals) proves that he's back to his pre-absence form.
According to Wiggins, "We've got the pieces. We know we got the coaching for it. We've got the fans. I feel like we're in good shape. I feel like this series has prepared us, because this was tough. It was a dogfight, every game. It was hard." With his impressive performance so far in the playoffs, Wiggins may just be the key to the Warriors' championship aspirations.
LeBron James has changed his playing style since joining the Lakers, as noted by Warriors' Draymond Green. Green stated that LeBron "is playing a totally different style, totally different game than he's ever played before." LeBron's usage rate in the playoffs is 27.2%, considerably lower than his regular season rate of 33.3%, and in his first game against the Warriors in the regular season, his role had changed drastically. This adjustment is partly due to the Lakers' strong roster which gives LeBron more flexibility and the opportunity to take a back seat when necessary. LeBron has also been dealing with a foot tendon injury that has limited him through the playoffs. Although he has been effective with the injury, the Lakers' new playing style complements this, rather than relying on him to carry extra weight. Draymond's observation shows how this Lakers' team is shaping up as one of LeBron's most offensively talented teams; his ability to be a fourth-option offensively is indicative of this.
Jonathan Kuminga, the seventh pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has found himself out of the Golden State Warriors' rotation lately, and he has expressed his struggle with this situation. He played only a total of 27 minutes in the first four playoff games, and he had a DNP-CD in the Warriors' series-opening loss against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, experts say that the decision to not play Kuminga is not a failure on the youngster's end. The Warriors' veteran players, like Draymond Green, are coming back to full strength, resulting in Kuminga's reduction in minutes. But, bringing Kuminga back in the rotation, especially in the second-round playoff series against the Lakers, could provide the Warriors with a new dimension of play.
Kuminga's athleticism and budding skills could make him a valuable asset in some of Golden State's better bench lineups, and his ability to block and score at an above-average rate as a pick-and-roll player should be explored. Moreover, playing Kuminga will not have to kill spacing either. The Lakers may leave him outside, but Kuminga's ability to shoot is above average, which becomes an advantage for Golden State. Thus, the Warriors' coach, Steve Kerr, must consider employing Jonathan Kuminga against the Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is on track to earn almost $14 million through Instagram posts in 2023, more than double the earning of the next athlete on the list. A study by Betting.com shows that James reportedly earns $380,501 per post, a sum greater than what he is paid per game in the 2022-23 NBA season. The study also showed that the athletes with the highest earning power on Instagram are all current and former NBA players. James' earning from Instagram will likely decrease with every game he plays in the playoffs, but this is still a huge figure for posting on social media. It is clear that James' offseason activities have proved immensely profitable, as he also turned down a $15 million extension from McDonald's in order to grow his stake in Blaze Pizzas, a decision now resulting in earnings of $35-40 million.
Former Golden State Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson certainly thinks so, noting that Looney has been a crucial part of the team's success over the years. Looney's contributions were on full display in Game 5 against the Sacramento Kings, where he outrebounded Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis to the tune of 22 rebounds, seven assists, and four points.
Looney has now recorded multiple 20-rebound games in the same playoff series, joining the ranks of Warriors greats Wilt Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond. Despite being undersized and lacking athleticism, Looney uses his impeccable nose for the ball to make himself indispensable. His value to the Warriors both on and off the court has not gone unnoticed, with former teammates and coaches singing his praises.
While it remains to be seen whether Looney's number will join the seven already retired by the Warriors, his teammates are glad to see him recognized for his hard work and selflessness. For now, Looney's focus is on helping the Warriors continue their playoff success and possibly securing his team a championship ring.
The Miami Heat have made NBA history as the fifth eighth-seeded team to defeat a first seed in the playoffs. Now they face their next challenge - the team that was the only eighth seed in NBA history to make it to the Finals. That team? The 1998-1999 New York Knicks.
Led by defensive anchor Dikembe Mutombo and Steve Smith, the Knicks also made it as an eight-seed in the Eastern Conference. Like the Heat, they struggled with consistency in the regular season but were able to change gears in the playoffs. After a hard-fought series against the Heat, the Knicks achieved their own magical run, beating out higher-seeded teams such as the Hawks and Pacers to make it to the Finals. Even though it has been 22 years since the Knicks' run, it remains one of the greatest upsets in NBA Playoff history.
Now, the Heat face the same challenge against a heavyweight team that the Knicks once conquered. The Heat have already shown that they have what it takes to upset a top seed, but will they be able to follow in the Knicks' footsteps and make history as the second eighth-seeded team to ever reach the NBA Finals? Only time will tell, but as history has shown us, anything can happen in the NBA Playoffs.
As the Golden State Warriors advance in the Western Conference Semifinals, local businesses in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood are hoping for a much-needed boost in sales after a difficult year during the pandemic. Restaurants and hotels in the area are expecting more customers and increased activity thanks to the basketball games and tourism they bring in. City leaders also noted the advantages of the semifinals starting in San Francisco, with fans of both teams coming to the city and spiking hotel occupancy. The postseason run also gives the city nationwide visibility as a travel destination. While businesses are grateful for the boost, they also recognize the need to plan ahead for when the games eventually stop. Some, like Mission Bay Wine & Cheese, have been creating events outside of the Warriors foot traffic to draw their own traffic. Nonetheless, this playoff run could be critical in helping small businesses recover from the impact of the pandemic.
The Golden State Warriors are set to face off against the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference semi-finals, and Klay Thompson couldn't be more excited. In a recent press conference, Thompson described playing against the Lakers in the playoffs as a "dream come true." The last time these two California-based franchises met in the postseason was back in 1991 when Thompson was just a year old. This will also mark the first playoff rematch between the Warriors and Lebron James since he left the Cavaliers in 2018. It's the fifth time the Warriors have faced James in the playoffs, with him being one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
One notable storyline is the Warriors' historical record against the Lakers, having only won one playoff series against them in 1967. However, Thompson is determined to make his mark in the upcoming series. He has scored at least 22 points in five of his last seven games, and he's eager to continue his hot streak against the Lakers. The first game is set for Tuesday night, and fans eagerly anticipate the showdown between these two legendary franchises.
The recent sale of thousands of shares by key executives at KLA Corp has left investors speculating and alarmed as to the future of the promising semiconductor company that has experienced unprecedented growth in recent months. Despite reporting quarterly earnings of $2.43 billion, exceeding analyst estimates, CFO Bren D Higgins has sold 6,964 shares at an average price of $382.43, and EVP Brian Lorig has also dumped a considerable number of shares.
Trading volume has remained low, and KLA Corp stock fell 1.08% on May 2nd, ending in its second consecutive day of losses. While KLAC has a market capitalization of $53.53 billion, its 50-day moving average stands at $378.98 and its two-hundred-day moving average resting at $375.22. KLA Corp has a current ratio of 2.35 and a quick ratio of 1:61, signaling the firm is well-positioned in terms of cash flows.
It is unclear what prompted these sales, and insiders are not very forthcoming. Despite consistent growth, shareholders and investors continue to speculate and remain concerned about the future of the business venture.
Matador Resources (NYSE:MTDR) has become an intriguing investment opportunity in light of its recent insider purchases and positive Q1 earnings results. CEO Joseph Wm Foran and insider Billy E. Goodwin purchased over 10,300 shares valued at over $465,000 in the past 90 days, a bullish signal for the company. The company’s Q1 earnings per share (EPS) rose YoY from $0.32 to $1.50, beating analysts’ estimates by $0.26 per share. Even though Q1 revenue declined by nearly 20% ($502 million) YoY, it wasn’t unexpected by analysts. MTDR's product prices are strongly connected to global energy prices, with the global market remaining volatile which may leave the company vulnerable to fluctuations.
According to Cowen, Roth Capital, JPMorgan Chase, and Mizuho, the varied target price of MTDR ranges from $66 to $78 with a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $70.56. Despite the positive earnings results, investors must still take into account the broader macro-trends across the global oil market regarding variables like future economic growth rates, geopolitical tensions, and the overall health of key multinational industries such as energy infrastructure. In conclusion, investors may want to take advantage of this opportunity in the energy sector by considering Matador Resources, but they should remain cautious and conduct thorough due diligence before making any investment decisions.
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Los Angeles Capital Management LLC has increased its stake in Grid Dynamics Holdings Inc. by 30.4%, according to a recent securities and exchange commission filing. The move has been met with no surprise, given Grid Dynamics' reputation for delivering complex technical consulting solutions and internet service operations, with deep expertise in emerging technologies such as cloud computing, data science, and DevOps. The digital engineering and IT services company had a market capitalization of $839.63 million USD as of May 3, and despite recent bearish trends in the market, analysts remain positive about future growth. Wasatch Advisors Inc. alone increased holdings by 101.7% in Q1 2023, acquiring an additional 2,585,803 shares of the company's stock valued at $72,215,000. The company received several analyst reports in recent months, with Citigroup boosting its target price to $19 and a "buy" rating, while TheStreet downgraded Grid Dynamics from a "c" to a "d+" rating. CEO Leonard Livschitz sold over 70,000 shares in March 2023. Investors are showing a keen interest in Grid Dynamics Holdings due to their expertise in cutting-edge technology innovation and design practices that emphasize lean approaches, which can make businesses more agile in developing innovative digital products.
According to Senior Managing Director and Chief Market Strategist for Virtus Investment Partners, Joe Terranova, Visa is the ideal stock to own at the moment. Terranova believes that as travel spending increases in the coming years, investors in Visa will significantly benefit. Terranova notes that for the first quarter of 2023, Visa posted year-on-year cross-border spending growth of 24%, making it a great play for geographical diversification. Travel spending is expected to rise as we continue post-pandemic reopening. Visa is the perfect stock to benefit from this rise in travel spending due to its reputation as a global payments company. In response to Terranova's comments, Edward Sheldon, a freelance investment writer/analyst, also agrees that Visa is the perfect stock to own. Sheldon recently bought more shares in the payments processing company for his Stocks and Shares ISA. Sheldon's stock-picking strategy combines “growth,” “quality,” and “thematic” approaches, and he believes that Visa is an ideal stock to own for diversification purposes.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed lower on Wednesday, ending their eight-day rally as investors exercised caution ahead of the US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision and mixed global market trends. The 30-share BSE Sensex lost 161.41 points or 0.26% to settle at 61,193.30, while the broader NSE Nifty fell 57.80 points or 0.32% to end at 18,089.85. Stocks of information technology, metals and public sector banks witnessed a decline of roughly 1% each. Reliance Industries, Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and Larsen & Toubro were among the index majors that added to the weak trends in equity, while Hindustan Unilever, Asian Paints, Tata Motors, UltraTech Cement, ITC, and Nestle ended among the gainers. The caution ahead of the Fed's decision was also prompted partly by fears among investors that any upward rate hike could lead major economies into a recession and hinder growth. Foreign institutional investors, however, bought equities worth Rs. 1,997.35 crore according to exchange data.
RS Group plc, a player in the electronics and industrial products sector, has been flagged by Bloomberg.com as a rational investment option but an ambiguous buy. Currently rated a "hold" by eight analysts, only two have labeled the London-listed stock a “buy” while one has made a "sell" recommendation.
The company's product line offers interconnect solutions for industries as well as tools and consumables, including good-quality personal protective equipment, which may appeal to 3D printing enthusiasts seeking for reliable options. However, the limited recommendations to invest in the company reflect an unclear picture of RS Group's future performance.
Due diligence by investors is recommended amidst unpredictable market conditions, but some experts suggest alternative investment options may hold greater promise for significant returns if invested in early, before the broader market catches up. While the average 12-month price target among analysts is valued at GBX 1,032.86 ($12.90), RS Group's stock opened on May 2, 2023 at GBX 928.20 ($11.60). Ultimately, investors should weigh the available options carefully.
Owens Corning's shares have been closing in on their 52-week high of $107.64, with a market cap of $9 billion. The company's stock is performing well, currently up 24.3% YTD, up 14.5% over 12 months, and up 73.6% over five years. Although this week saw the DJIA rise by 0.5% and the S&P 500 rise by 1.2%, trading volume for the former was 12.5% lower than its 20-day average. Furthermore, the company's stock price, performance so far this year beats the peer average by 2528%. However, performance over the past year beats the peer average by only -241.8%. The company's price-to-earnings ratio is lower than the average peer by -5.9%. Although OC's share price is the same as the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, it beats these indices on a 1-year and 5-year basis.
The Federal Reserve has increased short-term borrowing rates for the 10th time in a row, raising the benchmark rate from 4.75% to a target range of 5% to 5.25% in an attempt to address high inflation. However, high interest rates have accelerated a banking crisis in the US, with three of the country's largest banks collapsing in the last six months. Despite the economic weakness, the central bank remains committed to controlling prices in order to reduce inflation, which peaked in the summer and is still double the Fed's target rate of 2%. Inflation has fallen since then, with the announcement of the March rate hike stating that "some additional policy increases might be appropriate"; however, Fed Chair Jerome Powell left open the possibility of a pause at the next rate review. Rates on other borrowing, such as mortgages and home equity lines of credit, will increase, expected to make borrowing more difficult and risky for banks.
Coterra Energy has seen impressive success in surpassing EPS estimates and achieving a net margin of 44.91%, thereby remaining an attractive prospect for investors even if some have sold off their holdings. The company, despite a mixed performance and underperforming market on Wednesday May 5th, has a market capitalization value of $18.61 billion and a PE ratio of 4.98. Analysts have predicted that Coterra Energy will post 2.41 EPS over the next year. Furthermore, institutional investors such as Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc., Adirondack Trust Co., Red Tortoise LLC, Accurate Wealth Management LLC, and Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC have all invested in the company, owning 94.72% of its stock.
Coterra Energy's recent dividend payout of $0.57 per share has been accompanied by a recent price reduction from Roth Capital's "neutral" rating and Stifel Nicolaus' lowered price target from $38.00 to $35.00. Even Jeffrey’s doubts “that such a program would have benefits that outweigh the costs and risks.” However, stronger leadership values have driven Coterra Energy's sound performance and exceedance of expectations, proving that they may be worth considering as a financially responsible company with strong projections.
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. has announced several changes to its board of directors, including the appointment of two new directors, former US Secretary of the Navy Raymond Mabus, Jr., and former global investment manager Diana Strandberg. Lovell has been appointed Chair of the Board of Directors, effective April 21. He has been an important member of the company's board for many years, and his experience with the Virgin Group will continue to be an asset going forward. Mabus brings extensive public sector experience to the role, having served as U.S. Secretary of the Navy from 2009 to 2017 and as the Governor of Mississippi. Strandberg retired from a distinguished career at global investment manager Dodge & Cox, most recently holding the role of Senior Vice President and Director, International Equity, and as an Executive Board Member. Michael Colglazier, Virgin Galactic's CEO said the newly appointed team members will greatly benefit the company "as we launch and grow our global commercial spaceline."
On April 27, a block of put options worth $13,585,000 in Block Inc. (SQ) was purchased for a strike price of $110/share and an expiration date of January 19, 2024. Fintel, a provider of financial data on institutional trading activity, reported that the premium spent on this investment was 3.37 sigmas above the mean, marking it as one of the top 99.99th percentile of all recent large trades made in SQ options. This unusual trade was first noticed by Fintel’s real-time Options Flow tool, which identifies atypical option trades.
There are currently 1,608 funds or institutions reporting their positions in SQ, a 1.39% increase from last quarter. The total shares owned by these entities rose by 6.75% to 434,582K shares. The put/call ratio of 0.78 suggests a bullish sentiment by investors. The average one-year price target for Block Inc.- according to analysts is $95.20, a 57.18% increase from its current price of $60.57. From the same report, SQ’s projected annual revenue is $20,826MM, an increase of 18.79% and an expected annual non-GAAP EPS of $1.72.
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