North America:

  • Ferrari: Reported strong financial performance with a 21% increase in net profit for 2024, exceeded Q4 expectations, and anticipates further growth in 2025, including the showcase of its first electric vehicle on October 9.
  • Kkr: Increased its tender offer for Fuji Soft to 9,850 yen per share, outbidding Bain Capital, reported higher Q4 net income, and raised its dividend, signaling robust financial health and an aggressive growth strategy.
  • Paypal: Exceeded Q4 earnings estimates, forecasts a higher-than-expected profit for 2025 due to growth in branded products, improved pricing, and cost-cutting, and announced a new $15 billion share repurchase program.
  • Palantir Technologies: Exceeded Q4 earnings and revenue expectations, provided an optimistic revenue outlook for Q1 and FY2025, and cautioned against Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, leading to a surge in its stock price.
  • Pfizer: Reported a significant increase in Q4 2024 earnings per share, surpassing expectations with strong revenue driven by cost cuts and COVID-19 vaccine sales, and raised its financial guidance for 2025 while expecting a moderate impact from gross-to-net revenues.
  • Pepsico: Reported mixed Q4 results with higher core earnings and a dividend increase of 5%, but faced declining revenues and a lower annual profit forecast due to reduced demand for its snacks and sodas, particularly in the US market.
  • Merck: Affected by China's counter tariffs, decided to halt Gardasil shipments to China, impacting its 2025 revenue forecast, while reporting strong financial results for 2024 with significant increases in sales and net income, and provided a mixed 2025 outlook with some figures falling short of expectations.
  • Marathon Petroleum Corporation: [No specific news provided in the text to clean up.
  • Estee Lauder: Forecasts a significant drop in Q3 profits due to weak demand in Asia, plans to cut up to 7,000 jobs as part of an expanded restructuring plan aimed at returning to growth and improving profitability, despite beating Q2 sales expectations.

Europe:

  • Ubs Group: Reported a higher than expected fourth-quarter net profit of $770 million, announced a $3 billion share buyback program, and increased its dividend, despite shares falling due to a disappointing buyback plan and concerns over potential impacts from stricter Swiss capital rules.
  • Bnp Paribas: Demonstrated strong financial performance with better-than-expected quarterly results and a significant rise in net profit, announced plans to introduce a semi-annual interim dividend starting in 2025, maintain a 60% payout ratio until 2026, and launch a new EUR 1.08 billion share buyback program, while also revising its profitability targets and confirming its commitment to ESG goals.
  • Intesa Sanpaolo: Announced a $2.07 billion share buyback program, raised its 2025 net income outlook, and increased its dividend despite a decrease in Q4 2023 net income due to personnel exit costs, while also reporting higher net income and interest income for FY24 and setting a higher dividend payout ratio for 2025.
  • Diageo: Withdrew its medium-term guidance and reported a decline in profits and sales due to the uncertainty and potential financial impacts of US tariffs on imports, affecting its global operations and prompting the company to take mitigative actions.

Asia:

  • Infineon Technologies: Following solid Q1 results and a raised revenue forecast for FY 2025, driven by strong demand for AI chips and a robust US dollar, the company's stock surged 11%, prompting BofA to maintain a buy rating.
  • Softbank Group: The CEO declined to comment on SK Hynix's involvement in OpenAI's Stargate Project, had a productive discussion with Samsung's leader, and is launching a joint venture with OpenAI in Japan to broaden AI services.
  • Samsung Electronics: Chairman Jay Y. Lee was acquitted of fraud charges, while the company leads YouGov's brand rankings amidst disruptions in supply chains due to Vietnam's new driving regulations.
  • Rio Tinto: Evacuated ships from two Western Australian ports due to tropical cyclones, which may affect its iron ore shipments and impact production guidance and iron ore prices.
  • Tsmc: Global purchased fixed-income securities worth $166.4 million, while Yi Shin Textile acquired shares in the company, and Tah Hsin Industrial sold 390,000 shares for NT$418.9 million.