Hasbro Guides Higher Revenues, Operating Cash Flow

Hasbro Inc said first-quarter 2022 revenue increased 4% to $1.16 billion, net income plunged 47% to $61 million, and earnings per share fell to 44 cents from 84 cents a year ago. Revenues in the Consumer Products segment rose 3%, in the Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming segment rose 9%, and in the Entertainment segment gained 4%. The toymaker guided 2022 revenue growth in low-single digit and operating cash flow in the range of $700 million to $800 million.

Movers: J&J, Travelers, Hasbro, Lockheed Martin

Johnson & Johnson said first-quarter revenues rose 5% from a year ago, below the market expectations, but earnings declined 17% to $1.93 a share, above the market estimate. 

Travelers fell 3% after the financial services company said quarterly revenues increased 45% to $4.15 a share. 

Lockheed Martin declined 1% after the defense contractor said quarterly revenues declined 8% to $15 billion and reaffirmed 2022 cash flow outlook of $6 billion. 

Hasbro gained 4% after the toy maker said revenues rose 4% to $1.2 billion but earnings plunged 47% to $61.2 million.

Mild Bounce in U.S. Stocks at Opening, East Ukraine Faces New Russian Assault

U.S. indexes opened higher but investors remained focused on the latest earnings and war developments in Europe. Yield of 10-year U.S. Treasury bond advanced to 2.92%, a new 3-year high. Crude oil declined $4 a barrel as demand from China is expected to soften on rising Covid-19 cases. European markets fell more than 1% after Russia launched a new assault on cities in eastern Ukraine.

Blackstone to Acquire American Campus for $13 Billion

Blackstone agreed to acquire American Campus Communities for $12.8 billion. The cash offer of $65.47 a share is 14% higher than the last close price of ACC. 

The company has been looking for ways to return capital to shareholders after the activist investor controlled Land & Buildings has been urging the Board to sell its assets and buy back stock. 

M&A activities in the REIT sector have been fueled by low interest rates and cheap REIT stocks. 

In December, Blackstone also acquired Bluerock Residential Growth REIT for $3.6 billion.

JB Hunt Transport Quarterly Revenues Up 33%, Net Income Soars 67%

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc said first quarter 2022 revenues rose 33% to $3.49 billion, net income increased 67% to $243.3 million, and diluted earnings per share increased to $2.29 from $1.47 a year ago. Revenues for Intermodal division rose 36% to $16 billion, Dedicated Contract Services increased 28% to $741 million, Integrated Capacity Solutions increased 29%, Truckload division soared 77%, and Final Mile Services increased 8% to $218 million.

Investor Look Ahead to Earnings, Rising Yields and Commodities Offer Headwinds

U.S. stocks lacked direction after 10-year Treasury bond yield inched up to 2.86%, crude oil added a dollar to $107.90 a barrel, and gold inched up 0.3%. Investors focused on a busy week of earnings ahead and are looking for clues how corporations are facing rising costs. Several leading companies including American Express, Travelers, J&J and Verizon are scheduled to release earnings. American Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Air, CSX, and Union Pacific will provide deeper insights in freight and passenger travel costs.

China GDP Expands at 4.8%, Jobless Rate Rises to 5.8%

China's economy expanded at 4.8% in the first quarter from a year ago and rose 1.3% sequentially, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Fixed assets investment increased 9.3% from a year ago and Shanghai lockdown in March most likely shaved off 0.4% to 0.5% from the GDP growth data. Industrial production growth slowed to 5% from 7.5% increase in two months to February. Retail sales declined 3.5% reversing 6.7% gain in the prior two-month period. National urban unemployment rate increased to 5.8% in March from 5.5% in February.

Synchrony Lifts Dividend and Expands Share Repurchase Plan

Synchrony Financial said first quarter 2022 revenues increased 2.3% to $2.16 billion, net income 9% to $932 million, and diluted earnings per share rose 2.3% to $1.77 from a year ago. The company's Board approved a 5% increase in quarterly dividend to 23 cents a share from the third quarter and the incremental share repurchase of $2.8 billion. Average active accounts increased 6% to 70.1 million and new accounts rose 10% to 5.5 million. The credit card lender said purchase volume rose 17% to $40.5 billion and net interest margin increased 182 basis points to 15.8%.

Charles Schwab Trading Revenues Fall 21%

The Charles Schwab Corporation said first quarter 2022 revenues declined 1% to $4.67 billion, net income fell 6% to $1.4 billion, and diluted earnings per share decreased 8% to 67 cents from 73 cents a year ago. Net interest income, about 50% of total revenues, increased 14% and brokerage trading revenues, about 30% of total, fell 21%. Bank deposit account fees dropped 16%.

Bank of New York Reports Flat Revenues, Net Falls 19%

Bank of New York Mellon said quarterly revenues was flat at $3.9 billion and net income declined 19% to $699 million. Earnings per share in the quarter fell 11% to 86 cents from 97 cents a year ago. Net interest revenues increased 7% and assets under management increased 2% to $2.3 trillion. Revenues were flat in Securities Services and Market Wealth Services but declined 3% in Investment and Wealth Management.

Movers: Bank of America, Bank of New York, Didi, Progressive, Nektar Therapeutics, Twitter

Bank of America edged lower after reporting better-than-expected 80 cents a share and lower than expected loan loss provisions. 

Bank of New York Mellon said quarterly earnings declined 19% on flat revenues and reported 86 cents a share. 

Didi Global reported 13% decline in quarterly revenues and schedule a board meeting on May 23 to discuss New York delisting. 

Progressive, Wendy's, and Sirius fell on negative comments from brokers. 

Nektar plunged 25% after the cancer drug maker held all trials.

Bank of America Net Falls 12%

Bank of America said first quarter revenues increased 1.7% to 23.2 billion and net income declined 12.3% to $7.1 billion. Earnings per share fell to 80 cents a share from 86 cents. The bank also repurchased $4 billion of its shares. Earnings were ahead of expectations on rising consumer loans and market trading revenues. Consumer balances rose 14% to $1 trillion and net loan loss charge declined 52% to $392 million.

Stock Futures Point to Mixed Opening On Bond Yields Above 2.87%

U.S. stock futures point to a mixed opening after a 3-day holiday as the U.S. Treasury yields continue to climb. The 10-year bond yield is trading above 2.87%. The yield has jumped from 1.71% about 45 days ago. Investors remained worried that the rising inflation and elevated crude oil prices are exacerbating consumer price increase and overwhelming corporate earnings growth. About 300 companies are scheduled to release earnings this week.

Twitter Erects Barriers to Musk's Takeover Storm

Twitter board took defensive steps after Musk's $43 billion bid is likely to attract competing offers from private-equity firms.

The board approved a shareholder rights plan for a year that will allow the company to sell shares to other shareholders at a discount, if anyone acquires more than 15% stake.

However, Musk can make a direct tender offer to shareholders, an expensive and a drawn out process.

PNC Lifts Dividend 20% on Stable Net Interest Margin of 2.28%

The PNC Financial Services Group said first quarter revenues increased 11% to $4.7 billion from a year ago reflecting the acquisition of BBVA USA. Revenues declined 8% from the previous quarter. Net interest margin in the first quarter was 2.28% compared to 2.27% a year ago. Net income declined 22% to $1.43 billion on lower capital markets activities. Earnings per share fell to $3.29 from $4.10 a year ago and provision for loan losses fell to 1.76% from 2.2%.