Saturday, May 3, 2025

Not All Mag 7´s Are Created Equal

NEWS
Not All Mag 7's Are Created Equal

Amazon Delivery GIF - tenor

The market climbed for the eighth straight, led by strength in tech stocks after Microsoft and Meta not only beat expectations for their earnings results, but raised their planned spending on AI development this year- it’s flush times for everything computer. After Apple and Amazon reported in the evening, the market showed it was happier with digital sales than gadget sales— both firms missed future guidance and warned imports would likely suffer this quarter.

Tomorrow’s job numbers will show any economic strength the FOMC will draw on when deciding rates next week. 

Today's issue covers double A earnings day, Tesla [allegedly] eyeing ousting Musk, and more

Here’s the S&P 500 heatmap. 7 of 11 sectors closed green, with tech (+1.47%) leading and healthcare (-3.8%) lagging.

S&P 500 Map - finviz

And here are the closing prices: 

S&P 500

5,604

+0.63%

Nasdaq

17,710

+1.52%

Russell 2000

1,976

+0.6%

Dow Jones

40,753

+0.21%

  
  

  
  

EARNINGS
Welcome To $A-Day 

Apple and Amazon reported beats to their most recent fiscal quarters, but the market seemed to have spent its positivity on Microsoft and Meta’s results, and both stocks fell after hours. 

The issue? 

Both tech giants are also import giants— Amazon is a huge imported goods seller, and three-quarters of Apple’s leading products come from China. 

Apple Breakdown:

Apple reported Q1 EPS of $1.65 on revenue of $95.36B. iPhone revenue came in at $46.8B, higher than $45.94B estimated. According to Yahoo Finance, analysts expected $5.22/share earnings on revenue of $42.36B. 

It makes three-quarters of its revenue from iPhones, Macs, and tech in China. TD Cowen thinks it will cost them 6% of earnings this year. Expected to post nearly $90B in revenue for the June Quarter.

For forward guidance, analysts were looking for $1.47/share for the quarter, revenue at $89B for the quarter, and $07.26/share, $408.3B for the full year. The firm said it expects costs upwards of $900M on imports from tariffs, even while it works to move 100% of U.S. iPhone production to India ASAP. 

Amazon Breakdown:

Amazon fell after reporting earnings and revenue beats, but forward guidance for the current quarter was low. 

Sales grew 8.4%, but the firm gave a light forecast compared to high expectations. 

Amazon reported Q1 EPS of $1.59 on revenue of $155.7B. Analysts expected earnings of  $1.37/share on revenue of $155.13B according to Yahoo Finance. For the current quarter, the firm sees operating income coming in $13-$17B, below analyst estimates. 

AWS revenue, the hosting side that has little to do with tariffs, came mostly in line with estimates. In total sales, analysts wanted to see $166B for the coming quarter, but the firm projected $164B.  

Stocktwits retail investors are decidedly ‘bullish’ on Amazon despite guidance

  
  

  
  
  
  

COMPANY NEWS
LOOK OUT MUSK 

Speaking of the Mag 7, the Wall Street Journal reported late Wednesday rumors that the Tesla Board was sniffing around for a new CEO to possibly replace Chief Elon Musk as recently as a month ago. Thursday, board members and Musk denied the Journal's reporting. 

Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm denied reports that Tesla's board was searching for a new CEO, calling the claims "absolutely false" and an "extremely bad breach of ethics." 

The report found that Tesla was looking into executive search firms over concerns that Musk’s time in government negatively impacted the brand. The idea is not new. Tesla tech bull Dan Ives wrote an analysis for WedBush last month that said if Musk does not get out of Washington, Tesla may face a permanent demand injury. He gave the stock a code red. 

Based on delivery numbers, demand for Teslas fell nearly 15% in Q1 alone, and the firm cut profits by 71%. That was before Musk said he would cut his time in Washington and return to Tesla.

Max Chafkin, Cohost of the Elon Inc. podcast, said today that at any other firm, news that an executive board was looking at other options after their stock tanked and demand suffered is not news at all— it’s par for the course. But Tesla and Musk are different. 

He reminded the audience that this same board, which he thinks likely did at least think about switching Musk out, is also the board that has fought with the courts to get Musk his insane pay package; they have had his back. He said that the board knows Musk is what investors are putting their money on.

“People are not investing in the Model Y’s performance; they are investing in Musk- the dream for Optimus robots, self-driving cars, and AI is in Musk’s head,” Chafkin said. “If you get another CEO, you’ve just got a car company.”

He said if the company eliminates that, if Musk follows his passion for AI into his other companies, like XAI, and pursues his obvious ambitions to lead the AI space in the U.S., Tesla will not look the same. The board has to keep Musk’s attention on Tesla AI, not just AI in general. 

“His new passion is XAI, not cars, and he knows he has to focus on AI entirely if he wants to lead in it,” Chafkin said. 

Stocktwits users are not turned off, but ‘extremely bullish’

  
  
  
  

STOCKS
Other Noteworthy Pops & Drops 

Microsoft ($MSFT +8%): Climbed after it reported Q3 revenue of $70.07B, beating estimates of $68.44B, with EPS at $3.46 versus $3.22 expected. Analysts raised price targets on the tech giant, citing 35% Azure growth and strong AI momentum, with Wedbush lifting its target to $515 and Barclays to $494.

Meta ($META +4%) reported Q1 revenue of $42.31B, up 16% year-over-year, beating estimates of $41.36B. EPS came in at $6.43, exceeding the forecasted $5.21. The social media giant raised its full-year capex guidance to $64B–$72B, citing increased data center investments for AI expansion.

Robinhood ($HOOD -5%): Reported Q1 revenue of $927M, up 50% year-over-year, beating estimates of $917.2M, with net income rising 114% to $336M. The brokerage firm fell in value despite extending its buyback plan by $500M to $1.5B, and even while transaction-based revenue surged 77%, driven by $252M in crypto trading.

Bitcoin ($BTC +3%): Surged past $97K, marking its highest level since February, rebounding 23% from its $78.9K low.

IDEXX ($IDXX +9%): Reported Q1 revenue of $998M, up 4% year-over-year but slightly below estimates of $999.52M. The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to $4.1B–$4.21B, citing foreign exchange benefits and improved operating margins. The veterinary stock was the highest climber on the Nasdaq 100. 

Moderna ($MRNA -6%): Reported Q1 revenue of $108M, missing estimates of $115.32M, as COVID vaccine sales declined with lower vaccination rates. The pharma company delayed FDA approval for its COVID-flu combo shot to 2026, citing the need for additional efficacy data.

Eli Lilly ($LLY -12%): Reported Q1 revenue of $12.73B, beating estimates of $12.72B, but Zepbound sales missed expectations at $2.31B versus the forecasted $2.33B. The pharma company lowered its full-year EPS guidance to $22.50–$24.00, down from $22.78–$24.00, citing higher research and development costs.

Ford ($F +2%): Reported April U.S. sales of 208,675 vehicles, up 16% year-over-year, driven by strong truck and hybrid demand. EV sales fell 39%, while Ford extended employee discounts through June 2 to counter tariff impacts.

McDonald's ($MCD -2%): Reported Q1 revenue of $5.96B, down 3% year-over-year and below estimates of $6.13B, with adjusted EPS of $2.67 meeting expectations. U.S. same-store sales fell 3.6%, marking the worst decline since COVID-19, as global comparable sales dropped 1% amid weaker consumer demand.

General Motors ($GM -0.4%): Cut its full-year guidance, citing a $4B–$5B impact from Trump administration tariffs on auto imports. The car giant now expects net income of $8.2B–$10.1B, down from $11.2B–$12.5B, but aims to offset 30% of the tariff hit through supply chain adjustments.

Yum Brands ($YUM -1.2%): Reported Q1 comparable sales growth of 3%, beating estimates of 2.76%, driven by strong performance at its brands, Taco Bell and KFC. Pizza Hut lagged with a 2% decline, but the company reiterated its long-term target of 8% annual core operating profit growth.

CVS Health ($CVS +4%): Reported Q1 revenue of $94.6B, beating estimates of $93.6B, with adjusted EPS of $2.25, surpassing the forecasted $1.69. The pharmacy company raised its full-year EPS guidance to $6.00–$6.20, up from $5.75–$6.00, citing improved Medicare Advantage star ratings and cost management strategies.

Hims & Hers ($HIMS +9%): Online prescription seller Hims flew after announcing a partnership with Novo Nordisk to offer Wegovy auto-injector pens for $599/month. Analysts see the deal as a validation of Hims' direct-to-consumer model, with Needham calling it a "groundbreaking partnership" that supports its $725M weight-loss revenue target for 2025.

Qualcomm ($QCOM -9%): Issued cautious Q3 revenue guidance of $9.9B–$10.7B, below the consensus estimate of $10.35B, citing tariff uncertainties. Despite the outlook, the network and integrated circuits firm said its retail sentiment remains bullish.

  

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WHAT’S ON DECK
Tomorrow’s Top Things 

Economic data: Nonfarm Payrolls (8:30 am), Unemployment Rate (8:30 am). 

Pre-Market Earnings: Exxon Mobil ($XOM), FuboTV ($FUBO), Chevron ($CVX), Shell ($SHEL), Butterfly Network ($BFLY), Wendy's ($WEN), Cinemark Holdings ($CNK), Cigna Group ($CI).