Before the call, check out the companies making headlines: US Steel – US Steel shares fell nearly 8% after President Joe Biden blocked Japan’s Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion takeover of US Steel, saying: “U.S. Steel will remain a proud American company.” Biden said the domestic steel industry is a national security priority. Block – Shares of the fintech company rose nearly 3% after Raymond James upgraded the stock to outperform, saying Block is trading at an attractive valuation even after recent launch. The company believes Block merchant gross payment volumes will be a catalyst for accelerated stock growth in 2025. Carvana – Shares of the online used retailer. cars fell more than 2% after short-selling firm Hindenburg Research said Thursday that Carvana’s recent turnaround was a “mirage” fueled by shaky credit and accounting manipulations at Chewy, an e-commerce-focused stock. pets, rose more than 2% after Wolfe Research’s upgrade outperformed its peers. Wolfe also named Chewy a top pick among Internet stocks. The company cited expectations of earnings growth, improved macroeconomic conditions and food catalysts as reasons for optimism. Las Vegas Sands – Shares rose more than 3% after receiving a buy from hold rating from Jefferies. The company said “improving macroeconomic conditions” in Macau will strengthen this consumer base, leading to gradual growth in the near future. Constellation Energy shares rose nearly 2%, extending gains from Thursday, when Constellation announced contracts to supply the U.S. government with nuclear power worth more than $1 billion over the next decade. — CNBC’s Alex Harring and Sean Conlon contributed reporting.
