Acuity (NYSE:AYI) 주식

ACUITY BRANDS INC

Acuity Brands

Acuity is a leading industrial technology company that offers lighting, lighting controls, and intelligent building solutions. Acuity Brands designs, manufactures, and brings to market products and services relating to these and other offerings. Acuity Brands has two reportable segments: Acuity Brands Lighting and the Intelligent Spaces Group. ABL sells commercial, architectural, and specialty lighting, including components and control systems. ISG offers building management and audio/visual solutions to help make buildings intelligent.

Market,Sentiment,,Fear,And,Greed,Index,,Emotional,On,Stock,Market

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Pre-Market Outlook

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Trading Ideas

CNN 머니 공포·탐욕 지수(Fear and Greed Index)는 전체 시장 심리가 하락했으며, 수요일(8일)에는 &#34;공포&#34; 영역에 머물러 있음을 보여 주었다. 수요일에 미국 주식은 대부분 상승세로 마감되었으며, 다우존스 지수는 세션 중에 100포인트 이상 상승했다.

연준 FOMC 회의록 공개 이후 다우 100p 급등: 투자 심리는 하락, 탐욕 지수는 &#39;공포&#39; 영역에

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CNN 머니 공포·탐욕 지수는 화요일(7일)에 여전히 &#39;공포&#39; 영역에 머물렀지만 전반적인 공포 수준이 상승한 것으로 나타났다.화요일 미국 증시는 주요 기술주 하락으로 S&amp;P 500 지수가 장중 1% 이상 하락하는 등 하락세로 마감했다.

S&amp;P 500 1.1%↓, 엔비디아 및 테슬라 하락: 탐욕 지수는 &#39;공포&#39; 영역에

Munich,,Bavaria,,Germany,-,March,31,2023:,Unifirst,Offers,Top-quality

CALM

수요일(8일) 아침 미국 주식 선물이 상승하는 가운데 오늘 투자자들의 주목을 받을 수 있는 주식들은 다음과 같다. 유니퍼스트, 칼 메인 푸즈, 애큐티, AAR 및 프라이스스마트

수요일 주목해야 할 주식: 유니퍼스트, 칼 메인 푸즈, 애큐티 브랜즈, AAR 및 프라이스스마트

Acuity Inc

Wells Fargo analyst Joseph O'Dea maintains Acuity (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $336 to $290.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on Acuity, Lowers Price Target to $290

In the last three months, 4 analysts have published ratings on Acuity (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>), offering a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
Summarizing their recent assessments, the table below illustrates the evolving sentiments in the past 30 days and compares them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts have recently evaluated Acuity and provided 12-month price targets. The average target is $336.5, accompanied by a high estimate of $380.00 and a low estimate of $310.00. This current average represents a 1.03% decrease from the previous average price target of $340.00. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743084020_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Breaking Down Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Examination</h2>
An in-depth analysis of recent analyst actions unveils how financial experts perceive Acuity. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Timothy Wojs</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Christopher Glynn</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$380.00</td>
<td>$370.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joseph O'Dea</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$336.00</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joseph O'Dea</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$330.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts respond to changes in market conditions and company performance, frequently updating their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Acuity. This information offers a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Delving into assessments, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings communicate expectations for the relative performance of Acuity compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts set price targets as an estimate of a stock's future value. Comparing the current and prior price targets provides insight into how analysts' expectations have changed over time. This information can be valuable for investors seeking to understand consensus views on the stock's potential future performance.</li>
</ul>
Assessing these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators can provide a comprehensive overview of Acuity's market position. Stay informed and make well-judged decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AYI/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on Acuity analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Get to Know Acuity Better</h2>
Acuity is a leading industrial technology company that offers lighting, lighting controls, and intelligent building solutions. Acuity Brands designs, manufactures, and brings to market products and services relating to these and other offerings. Acuity Brands has two reportable segments: Acuity Brands Lighting and the Intelligent Spaces Group. ABL sells commercial, architectural, and specialty lighting, including components and control systems. ISG offers building management and audio/visual solutions to help make buildings intelligent.
<h3>Financial Milestones: Acuity's Journey</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization is below the industry average, suggesting that it is relatively smaller compared to peers. This could be due to various factors, including perceived growth potential or operational scale.
Revenue Growth: Acuity's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 30 November, 2024, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 1.81%. This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Industrials sector.
Net Margin: The company's net margin is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive net margin of 11.21%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): Acuity's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROE, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROE of 4.41%, the company showcases efficient use of equity capital and strong financial health.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 2.78%, the company showcases effective utilization of assets.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, Acuity adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Analysts are specialists within banking and financial systems that typically report for specific stocks or within defined sectors. These people research company financial statements, sit in conference calls and meetings, and speak with relevant insiders to determine what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts will rate each stock once a quarter. 
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Acuity Stock: A Deep Dive Into Analyst Perspectives (4 Ratings)

Baird analyst Timothy Wojs maintains Acuity (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $340 to $310.

Baird Maintains Neutral on Acuity, Lowers Price Target to $310

Acuity Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 3.91% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 12.07%. Currently, Acuity Brands has a market capitalization of $8.27 billion. 
Buying $100 In AYI: If an investor had bought $100 of AYI stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $965.27 today based on a price of $267.25 for AYI at the time of writing.
<h3>Acuity Brands's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742565613_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Acuity Brands Stock In The Last 20 Years

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Shares of companies within the broader industrial sector are trading lower amid economic worries driven by tariffs and trade policies. Investors may be expecting a decline in investment, which may also be weighing on the industry.

Acuity Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 3.94% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 12.06%. Currently, Acuity Brands has a market capitalization of $8.68 billion. 
Buying $100 In AYI: If an investor had bought $100 of AYI stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $970.78 today based on a price of $280.36 for AYI at the time of writing.
<h3>Acuity Brands's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741304711_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$100 Invested In Acuity Brands 20 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

Acuity Brands's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) short percent of float has fallen 11.68% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 755 thousand shares sold short, which is 3.1% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.13 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Acuity Brands Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741007723_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Acuity Brands has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Acuity Brands's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Acuity Brands's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 10.69%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Is the Market Bullish or Bearish on Acuity Brands?

Acuity Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 10.7% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 24.72%. Currently, Acuity Brands has a market capitalization of $9.66 billion. 
Buying $1000 In AYI: If an investor had bought $1000 of AYI stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $3,009.82 today based on a price of $312.00 for AYI at the time of writing.
<h3>Acuity Brands's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1740496515_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much $1000 Invested In Acuity Brands 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

Acuity Brands's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) short percent of float has risen 16.13% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 790 thousand shares sold short, which is 3.24% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.63 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Acuity Brands Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738269919_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Acuity Brands has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Acuity Brands's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Acuity Brands's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 10.66%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Peering Into Acuity Brands's Recent Short Interest

Dividends

Acuity Brands Increases Its Quarterly Dividend From $0.15 To $0.17 Per Share

Acuity Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 4.9% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 13.35%. Currently, Acuity Brands has a market capitalization of $10.10 billion. 
Buying $100 In AYI: If an investor had bought $100 of AYI stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $1,226.28 today based on a price of $326.19 for AYI at the time of writing.
<h3>Acuity Brands's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737036909_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

U.S. stock futures declined on Friday ahead of the crucial U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42905396/us-may-add-fewer-jobs-in-december-with-an-unchanged-unemployment-rate-predict-economists">jobs data</a> report after a mixed close in the previous session. Futures of all four major indices fell in premarket trade.
Traders were cautious on Friday morning as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42905396/us-may-add-fewer-jobs-in-december-with-an-unchanged-unemployment-rate-predict-economists">economists</a> expect December's non-farm payrolls to soften as compared to November in Friday's official monthly jobs report. The unemployment rate is projected to hold steady at 4.2%.
The stock markets ended mixed on Wednesday followed by a break on Thursday in the remembrance of former President Jimmy Carter.
The 10-year and two-year Treasury notes yielded 4.70% and 4.29%, respectively. The probability of having no change in the interest rates for the upcoming Jan. 31, 2025, FOMC meeting was at 95.2%, <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">according to</a> CME Group&#8217;s FedWatch tool.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>-0.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.08%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-0.01%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-0.17%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
In premarket trading on Friday, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) was down 0.03% to $589.31, and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) was down 0.058% to $514.97, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Cues From The Last Session
U.S. stock markets closed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/42906229/dow-surges-over-100-points-following-fed-minutes-investor-sentiment-declines-greed-index-remains-in-fear-zone">mixed</a> on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining over 100 points. The Federal Reserve&#8217;s latest meeting minutes revealed uncertainty among policymakers regarding future interest rate cuts. The incoming administration&#8217;s policies and their potential impact on inflation remain unclear. 
Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>), a leading lighting solutions provider, reported weaker-than-expected revenue for the first quarter of its fiscal year.
On the economic data front, U.S. private companies added 122,000 jobs in December, lower than November&#8217;s figure and below market expectations. Initial jobless claims decreased to an 11-month low, suggesting a tightening labor market.
Most sectors in the S&amp;P 500 Index closed higher, with consumer staples, healthcare, and materials sectors leading the gains. However, the energy and communication services sectors experienced declines.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.25% higher at 42,635.20, up approximately 107 points. The S&amp;P 500 Index rose 0.16% to 5,918.25, while the Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.055% to 19,478.88. Russell 200, on the other hand, fell 0.48% to 2,238.96.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>-0.055%</td>
<td>19,478.88</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>0.16%</td>
<td>5,918.25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>0.25%</td>
<td>42,635.20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-0.48%</td>
<td>2,238.96</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts
TradingEconomics <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42905396/us-may-add-fewer-jobs-in-december-with-an-unchanged-unemployment-rate-predict-economists">compiled</a> economist consensus expects nonfarm payrolls to show a net gain of 154,000 jobs in December, down sharply from the 227,000 added in November. On the other hand, Bloomberg's consensus estimate stands at 165,000 jobs.
However, December's job report will be "the first clean monthly employment report after October," said&nbsp;Ed Yardeni&nbsp;and&nbsp;Eric Wallerstein&nbsp;in their weekly economic report, adding that October witnessed hurricanes and strikes, and November's jobs were boosted because of the returning workers.
Yardeni Research also anticipates further hiring under the Trump administration due to potential policy changes and increased economic certainty.
A <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42881085/is-labor-market-cooling-or-raising-fed-concerns-what-to-watch-in-fridays-jobs-report">weaker-than-expected jobs report</a> on Friday could boost U.S. stocks, weaken the dollar, and lower government bond yields, as investors might see it as an indication that the Fed has room to ease monetary policy. &#8211;
Conversely, stronger-than-expected job growth or a lower unemployment rate could raise concerns about a robust labor market, potentially delaying the Fed&#8217;s timeline for easing.
&#8220;The recent string of strong economic data can keep pushing back the timing of the next Fed rate cut,&#8221; said Collin Martin, director, of fixed income strategy at the Schwab Center for Financial Research. &#8220;The Fed funds futures market is not pricing in the next cut until July, and if inflation remains as sticky as it has lately, it seems likely that the Fed could skip cutting rates at a number of meetings.&#8221;
Drawing a parallel between a strong U.S. dollar and equity performance, Louis Navellier of Navellier &amp; Associates said that a stronger greenback &#8220;impedes the sales in the multi-international stocks&#8221; in the S&amp;P 500 and most such stocks have at least half of their revenue coming from outside U.S.
&#8220;As a result, domestic stocks tend to prosper during a strong U.S. dollar environment, especially small-to-mid capitalization companies,&#8221; he added.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures</a> 
Upcoming Economic Data
<ul>
<li>On Friday, the U.S. employment report, unemployment rate, and hourly wages data for December along with hourly wages year over year will be released at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The preliminary consumer sentiment data for January will be announced at 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) was up 3.37% in the premarket on Friday. Wall Street is expecting it to report quarterly earnings of $1.76 per share on revenue of $14.21 billion before the opening bell, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>TD Synnex Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNX#NYSE">SNX</a>) was marginally up by 0.07% as analysts expect it to post quarterly earnings at $3.05 per share on revenue of $15.22 billion. The company will release earnings before the markets open.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STZ#NYSE">STZ</a>) was marginally down by 0.50% as it will be reporting its earnings before the opening bell. Analysts project quarterly earnings of $3.31 per share on revenue of $2.53 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>) was also up 0.33% ahead of its earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect quarterly earnings of 37 cents per share on revenue of $37.28 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>) was up 2.44% after it posed a 9.9% jump in its core comparable sales excluding forex and gas price changes for the five weeks ended Jan. 5, 2025.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Vision Marine Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VMAR#NASDAQ">VMAR</a>) was up 114.47% as it regained compliance with Nasdaq&#8217;s minimum stockholders&#8217; equity requirement, which it previously failed to meet.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>IGM Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGMS#NASDAQ">IGMS</a>) was down 68.55% as it announced in a regulatory filing that it is reducing its workforce by 73% to preserve cash.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures were higher in the early New York session by 2.52% to hover around $75.78 per barrel.
The gold spot index was up by 0.68% to $2,709.19 per ounce. The Dollar Index was at 109.184 level.
Asian markets closed lower on Friday as Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225, India&#8217;s S&amp;P BSE Sensex, China&#8217;s CSI 300, Australia&#8217;s ASX 200, and South Korea&#8217;s Kospi index declined. European markets were mixed.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42906089/california-wildfires-ignite-concerns-for-insurance-stocks-here-are-some-insurance-etfs-which-could-be-impacted">California Wildfires Ignite Concerns For Insurance Stocks: Here Are Some Insurance ETFs Which Could Be Impacted</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia

Analyst Color

Equities

Macro Economic Events

Macro Notification

Market Summary

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Futures

Economics

ETFs

General

COST

IGMS

VMAR

US Stocks To Open On A Tentative Note As Traders Remain Cautious Ahead Of Friday's Crucial Jobs Data

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a decline in overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Wednesday.
U.S. stocks settled mostly higher on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones index gaining more than 100 points during the session.
Minutes from the Federal Reserve&#8217;s December meeting released on Wednesday show officials are uncertain about the path of future rate cuts, as President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s policies and how they could affect inflation remain unknown.
Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) reported weaker-than-expected revenue for its fiscal first quarter.
On the economic data front, U.S. private businesses added 122,000 workers to their payrolls in December down from 146,000 in November and versus expectations of 140,000. U.S. initial jobless claims fell by 10,000 to 201,000 in the week ending Jan. 4, recording the lowest level in eleven months and versus market estimates of 218,000.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with consumer staples, health care, and materials stocks recording the biggest gains on Wednesday. However, energy and communication services stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.
The Dow Jones closed higher by around 107 points to 42,635.20 on Wednesday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.16% to 5,918.25, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.06% at 19,478.88 during Wednesday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>), Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STZ#NYSE">STZ</a>), and Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 32.4, the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Wednesday, versus a prior reading of 35.8.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42900074/how-to-earn-500-a-month-from-synovus-financial-stock-ahead-of-q4-earnings">How To Earn $500 A Month From Synovus Financial Stock Ahead Of Q4 Earnings</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Dow Surges Over 100 Points Following Fed Minutes: Investor Sentiment Declines, Greed Index Remains In 'Fear' Zone

Oppenheimer analyst Christopher Glynn maintains Acuity Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $370 to $380.

Oppenheimer Maintains Outperform on Acuity Brands, Raises Price Target to $380

Wells Fargo analyst Joseph O'Dea maintains Acuity Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $320 to $336.

Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on Acuity Brands, Raises Price Target to $336

Acuity Brands's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) short percent of float has risen 35.82% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 894 thousand shares sold short, which is 3.83% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.29 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Acuity Brands Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736428517_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Acuity Brands has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Acuity Brands's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Acuity Brands's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 10.94%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Looking Into Acuity Brands's Recent Short Interest

U.S. stocks traded lower this morning, with the Dow Jones index falling around 0.2%% on Wednesday.
Following the market opening Wednesday, the Dow traded down 0.19% to 42,449.51 while the NASDAQ dipped 0.26% to 19,439.95. The S&amp;P 500 also fell, dropping, 0.17% to 5,898.88.
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42839544/wells-fargo-gears-up-for-q4-print-here-are-the-recent-forecast-changes-from-wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts">Wells Fargo Gears Up For Q4 Print; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts</a>
Leading and Lagging Sectors Financial shares jumped by 0.1% on Wednesday.
In trading on Wednesday, health care shares fell by 0.7%.
Top Headline
Acuity Brands, Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) reported weaker-than-expected revenue for its fiscal first quarter.
The company posted net sales growth of 1.8% year over year to $951.6 million, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $956.2 million. It clocked an adjusted EPS of $3.97, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $3.89.
Equities Trading UP &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Sana Biotechnology, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SANA#NASDAQ">SANA</a>) shares shot up 282% to $6.30 after the company on Tuesday announced clinical trial results from its type 1 diabetes study of islet cell transplantation without immunosuppression.</li>
<li>Shares of Silo Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SILO#NASDAQ">SILO</a>)got a boost, surging 170% to $2.9500 after the company announced it was awarded a US patent for its PTSD treatment titled &#8216;Pharmacological Prophylactics Against Stress-Induced Affective Disorders in Females.&#8217;</li>
<li>CURRENC Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CURR#NASDAQ">CURR</a>) shares were also up, gaining 146% to $3.42 after the company announced the launch of its AI call center.</li>
</ul>
Equities Trading DOWN
<ul>
<li>DatChat, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DATS#NASDAQ">DATS</a>) shares dropped 64% to $3.2583 after the company announced the pricing of a $5.1 million registered direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules.</li>
<li>Shares of Jasper Therapeutics, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JSPR#NASDAQ">JSPR</a>) were down 54% to $8.22. The company reported preliminary data from its BEACON Phase 1b/2a study.</li>
<li>XTI Aerospace, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XTIA#NASDAQ">XTIA</a>) was down, falling 51% to $0.0555. XTI Aerospace priced $20 million offering of 363,636,364 shares of common stock at a price of $0.055 per share.</li>
</ul>
Commodities In commodity news, oil traded up 0.3% to $74.45 while gold traded up 0.7% at $2,683.30.
Silver traded up 1.1% to $31.02 on Wednesday, while copper rose 1% to $4.2360.
Euro zone
European shares were lower today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 declined 0.6%, Germany's DAX 40 fell 0.3% and France's CAC 40 dipped 1%. Spain's IBEX 35 Index fell 0.6%, while London's FTSE 100 slipped 0.4%.
Asia Pacific Markets
Asian markets closed mostly lower on Wednesday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 falling 0.26%, China's Shanghai Composite Index gaining 0.02%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declining 0.86% and India's BSE Sensex falling 0.07%.
Economics
<ul>
<li>U.S. private businesses added 122,000 workers to their payrolls in December down from 146,000 in November and versus expectations of 140,000.</li>
<li>U.S. initial jobless claims fell by 10,000 to 201,000 in the week ending Jan. 4, recording the lowest level in eleven months and versus market estimates of 218,000.</li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/01/42873668/jim-cramer-lemonade-is-up-too-much-this-health-care-stock-can-go-lower">Jim Cramer: Lemonade Is &#8216;Up Too Much,&#8217; This Health Care Stock Can Go Lower</a></li>
</ul>

Eurozone

Commodities

Intraday Update

CURE PHARMA HLDG CORP by CURE Pharmaceutical Holding Corp.

CURR

DATS

Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

JSPR

SANA

SILO

XTIA

US Stocks Down; Acuity Brands Posts Weak Revenue

Acuity Brands, Inc (NYSE:&nbsp;AYI)&nbsp;reported fiscal first-quarter 2025 net sales growth of 1.8% year over year to $951.6 million, missing the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/g42868674/acuity-brands-reports-fiscal-2025-first-quarter-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus estimate of $956.2 million</a>.&nbsp;
It clocked an adjusted EPS of $3.97, beating the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus estimate of $3.89</a>.
Sales by segments: Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) and Lighting Controls revenue hit $886.0 million (+1.1% Y/Y), and Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG) clocked $73.5 million (+14.5% Y/Y).
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42710321/gaming-at-a-crossroads-balancing-graphics-budgets-and-player-demand" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gaming Conundrum &#8211; Balancing Graphics, Budgets, and Player Demand</a>
The consolidated adjusted operating margin grew by 20 bps to 16.7%. ABL&#8217;s adjusted operating margin declined by 20 bps to 17.3%. ISG&#8217;s margin increased by 500 bps to 21.0%.
The company generated $132.2 million in operating cash flow for the quarter, compared to $190.0 million a year ago. Free cash flow was $113.3 million.
Acuity held cash and equivalents of $935.6 million, compared to $845.8 million last year.
Adjusted EBITDA was $171.6 million, up from $166.7 million a year ago.&nbsp;The margin expanded by 20 bps to 18.0%.
Effective January 1, 2025, the company completed the acquisition of QSC, LLC for $1.215 billion, expanding Acuity&#8217;s Intelligent Spaces into cloud-manageable audio, video, and control.
Acuity Brands stock surged 49% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCLN#NASDAQ">QCLN</a>) and Invesco S&amp;P MidCap Quality ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XMHQ#NYSE">XMHQ</a>).
Price Action: AYI stock is down 0.82% at $301.38 premarket at the last check on Wednesday.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42701434/netflixs-nfl-debut-brings-record-streams-but-lags-traditional-tv-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Netflix&#8217;s NFL Debut Brings Record Streams But Lags Traditional TV: Report</a></li>
</ul>

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund

QCLN

XMHQ

Acuity Brands Q1 Earnings: Revenue Miss, Smart Spaces Revenue Soars 14.5%, Expands Into Cloud Tech With $1.2 Billion Deal

Earnings Beats

Earnings Misses

Acuity Brands Q1 2025 Adj. EPS $3.97 Beats $3.89 Estimate, Sales $951.600M Miss $956.175M Estimate

U.S. stock futures advanced on Wednesday after closing lower on Tuesday. Futures of all four major indices rose in premarket trade.
After a mixed close on Monday and a fall on Tuesday, the U.S. market has remained sluggish in yet another truncated week as it will remain closed for former President Jimmy Carter&#8217;s &#8216;National Day of Mourning&#8217; on Thursday, Jan. 9.
The 10-year and two-year Treasury notes yielded 4.67% and 4.28%, respectively. The probability of having no change in the interest rates for the upcoming Jan. 31, 2025, FOMC meeting was at 95.2%, <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">according to</a> CME Group&#8217;s FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>0.38%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>0.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>0.24%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>0.11%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
In premarket trading on Wednesday, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) was up 0.33% to $590.60&nbsp;and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose 0.36% to $517.02, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Cues From The Last Session
U.S. stocks experienced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42867409/sp-500-down-over-1-amid-decline-in-nvidia-fear-greed-index-remains-in-fear-zone">downturn </a>on Tuesday, with the S&amp;P 500 closing more than 1% lower. This decline was primarily driven by a decline in major technology companies.
Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) shares retreated significantly after reaching a new peak. Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) stock faced a setback following a downgrade by BofA Securities. Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) also saw a decline in its share price.
Economic data released on Tuesday showed a widening of the U.S. trade deficit. Imports increased at a faster pace than exports, contributing to the deficit.
Most sectors within the S&amp;P 500 ended the day in negative territory. Consumer discretionary, communication services and information technology were among the hardest hit. However, energy and healthcare sectors bucked the trend and closed higher.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>-1.89%</td>
<td>19,489.68</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-1.11%</td>
<td>5,909.03</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-0.42%</td>
<td>42,528.36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-0.74%</td>
<td>2,249.80</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts
Talking about Donald Trump&#8216;s policy agenda, Christopher Wood from Jefferies wrote in his GREED &amp; Fear note dated Jan. 2 that it&#8217;s clear that certain aspects of Trump&#8217;s policy, such as the proposed tariffs and the crackdown on immigration could be inherently inflationary, something the Federal Reserve is likely aware of.
According to the note, there is a fundamental contradiction between the expectations of a disinflationary, productivity-driven boom fueled by AI and deregulation, which the U.S. stock market has been celebrating since the presidential election, and the potential economic impact of tariffs and immigration restrictions.
Regarding the latter, even if mass deportations do not occur, as is GREED &amp; Fear's base case, a substantial reduction in new arrivals could still lead to stagflationary effects.
According to the chief market strategist at Carson Research, Ryan Detrick an average year sees gains of 9.5%. This jumps to 10.6% after a 20% gain, &#8220;Suggesting better than average returns,&#8221; he said in a <a href="https://www.carsongroup.com/insights/blog/what-happens-after-stocks-gain-20/">note </a>dated Jan. 7. 
&#8220;The bull very well might have a little more up his sleeves this year. But taking this one step further shows that after back-to-back 20% gains, the next year is up 20% on average and never lower,&#8221; he added.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="961" height="463" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/08050221/RYAN-DETRICK-IMAGE.png" alt="" class="wp-image-723523" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/08050221/RYAN-DETRICK-IMAGE.png 961w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/08050221/RYAN-DETRICK-IMAGE-300x145.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/08050221/RYAN-DETRICK-IMAGE-768x370.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 961px) 100vw, 961px" /></figure>
According to Charles Schwab <a href="https://international.schwab.com/story/stock-market-update-open">commentary</a>, &#8220;The month lacked a significant &#8216;Santa Claus Rally,&#8217; but investor sentiment appeared bullish, particularly at the start and end of December. Many clients appeared to close out the year by rebalancing their portfolios, adding exposure to underperforming sectors such as health care and energy and trimming positions in outperformers like information technology and communication services.&#8221; &#8211;
Louis Navellier of Navellier &amp; Associates said that there&#8217;s no reason to be overly concerned by the recent volatility; the trend remains positive.
&#8220;If interest rates are up because the economy is strong, that will be good for earnings growth, which will outshine any small increments in financing costs. And global market yields will likely tie the Fed's hands from being too restrictive anyway,&#8221; he added.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures</a>
Upcoming Economic Data
Several important data points will be released in this truncated week that will help investors determine the future course of action.
<ul>
<li>On Wednesday, December&#8217;s ADP employment data will be released at 8:15 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The minutes of the Fed&#8217;s December FOMC meeting will be released at 2:00 p.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Consumer credit data for December will be announced at 3:00 p.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>On Thursday, initial jobless claims till Jan. 4 will be announced at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Wholesale inventories data for November will be released at 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>On Friday, the U.S. employment report, unemployment rate, and hourly wages data for December along with hourly wages year over year will be released at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The preliminary consumer sentiment data for January will be announced at 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CALM#NASDAQ">CALM</a>) was up 3.78% in premarket on Wednesday after it posted better-than-expected results for its second quarter. The company said it set a quarterly record for total dozens sold and specialty dozens sold. It also announced a cash dividend of approximately $1.49 per share.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AYI#NYSE">AYI</a>) was up 2.35% in premarket as analysts expect it to post quarterly earnings at $3.89 per share on revenue of $956.18 million. The company will release earnings before the markets open.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>AAR Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIR#NYSE">AIR</a>) was up 2.36% in premarket after it posted stronger-than-expected second-quarter results. The company reported quarterly earnings of 90 cents per share, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of 84 cents.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Fubotv Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUBO#NYSE">FUBO</a>) was down 19.05% as Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, initiated an investigation on whether its merger with the Walt Disney Company's Hulu + Live TV business is fair to FuboTV shareholders.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Blue Hat Interactive Entertainment Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BHAT#NASDAQ">BHAT</a>) was up 70.70% after it announced a $4.4 million registered direct offering of 55,200,000 Ordinary Shares.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>XTI Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XTIA#NASDAQ">XTIA</a>) was down 49.08% in premarket after it announced a public offering of over 363 million shares at $0.055 per share and a 1-for-250 share consolidation as part of its 2025 strategic initiatives.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures were higher in the early New York session by 1.19% to hover around $75.13 per barrel.
The gold spot index was up by 0.07% to $2,667.29 per ounce. The Dollar Index was up 0.29% to 108.858 level.
Asian markets were mostly lower on Wednesday as Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225, and China&#8217;s CSI 300 index declined. Whereas, Australia&#8217;s ASX 200, South Korea&#8217;s Kospi index ended higher. European markets were mostly higher in trade.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/42867184/yield-curve-normalization-cheap-valuation-eps-growth-to-boost-banks-in-2025-truist-initiates-coverage-on-these-14-regional-names">Yield Curve Normalization, Cheap Valuation, EPS Growth To Boost Banks In 2025: Truist Initiates Coverage On These 14 Regional Names</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia

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