Pliant Therapeutics Azioni (NASDAQ: PLRX)

Ultime notizie per Pliant Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PLRX) Azioni

PLIANT THERAPEUTICS INC

Pliant Therapeutics

Pliant Therapeutics Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapies for the treatment of fibrosis and related diseases. Its primary product candidate is bexotegrast (PLN-74809), an oral, small molecule, that the company is developing for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF, and primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich is slamming the Trump administration over its plan to destroy 500 metric tons of U.S.-purchased emergency food. The high-energy biscuits, originally meant for children in crisis zones, are set to be incinerated after delays left them sitting in a Dubai warehouse until their expiration.
&#8220;1.5 million children could have eaten for a week,&#8221; Reich <a href="https://x.com/RBReich/status/1945230680113258519">said on X</a> recently. &#8220;Now, taxpayers will spend $130K for it to be destroyed. This isn't just inefficient – it's cruel.&#8221;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Delays, Silence And Missed Warnings</h2>
According to a recent report by <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2025/07/usaid-emergency-food-incinerate-trump/683532/">The Atlantic</a>, the biscuits were purchased near the end of the Biden administration for about $800,000 and were intended for children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The biscuits are nutritionally dense and are often used in disaster and conflict zones. But since January, after President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting nearly all foreign aid, career U.S. Agency for International Development staff reportedly said they were blocked from shipping the food.
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Federal workers warned for months that the food would go to waste, but, according to The Atlantic, they received no response from Trump-appointed leaders now in charge of American foreign aid.&nbsp;
Despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio telling Congress in May that food aid would reach recipients before expiring, The Atlantic reported that the destruction order had already been issued weeks earlier.
The United Arab Emirates, where the biscuits were stored, has strict rules that prevent expired food from being repurposed even for animals. Once the biscuits expire, their nutritional value deteriorates quickly, making them useless.
Taxpayers will now not only absorb the $800,000 cost of the purchase, but also the $130,000 required to incinerate the food.
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The issue extends beyond just the biscuits. According to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us-aid-cuts-leave-food-millions-mouldering-storage-2025-05-16/">Reuters</a>, USAID warehouses still hold more than 60,000 metric tons of emergency food, including cereal, oil, and high-nutrition pastes for malnourished children. Many of these supplies were meant for regions like Sudan and the Horn of Africa but remain stuck due to bureaucratic gridlock and a lack of experienced logistics staff after layoffs.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Government Breakdown</h2>
Reich recently warned of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/07/46389339/robert-reich-says-the-u-s-government-is-no-longer-able-to-protect-us-from-real-hazards-because-its-shifting-funds-to-fake-hazards">broader breakdown in government</a> function and priorities. &#8220;The U.S. government is no longer able to protect us from real hazards, such as flash floods, because it&#8217;s shifting funds to fake hazards, such as a non-existent immigrant crime wave,&#8221; he wrote for <a href="https://www.alternet.org/america-reckoning/">AlterNet</a>.
See Also: This AI-Powered Trading Platform Has 5,000+ Users, 27 Pending Patents, and a $43.97M Valuation — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/finally-a-fully-automated-trading-platform-for-individual-investors?">You Can Become an Investor for Just $500.25</a>
He pointed to recent staffing shortages at National Weather Service offices in Texas, which he claims were caused by the Trump administration and have left communities vulnerable during <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/07/46265894/unprecedented-texas-flash-floods-result-in-over-50-fatalities-27-girls-still-missing">severe flooding</a>.
He also criticized the Trump-backed spending package, which he calls the &#8220;Big Ugly Bill.&#8221; Reich claims it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/financing/25/07/46215083/how-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-impacts-snap-medicaid-taxes-and-student-loans">slashes Medicaid and food stamps</a> while funding &#8220;another giant tax cut for the rich, along with 10,000 more [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] agents and a gulag of detention camps.&#8221;
According to Reich, we're being forced to choose between &#8220;a government that protects us from real dangers or a police state.&#8221;&nbsp;
Read Next: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die."<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/warren-buffet-make-money-when-you-sleep"> Here&#8217;s how you can earn passive income with just $10.</a>
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News

'This Isn't Just Inefficient – It's Cruel,' Says Ex-Labor Secretary As Trump Admin Prepares To Burn 500 Tons Of USAID Emergency Food

WIIM

KKR shares are trading higher following the announcement of a healthcare technology company acquisition.

JP Morgan analyst Kenneth Worthington maintains T. Rowe Price Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TROW#NASDAQ">TROW</a>) with a Underweight and raises the price target from $90 to $98.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

TROW

JP Morgan Maintains Underweight on T. Rowe Price Group, Raises Price Target to $98

JP Morgan analyst Yuri Fernandes maintains StoneCo (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STNE#NASDAQ">STNE</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $15.5 to $18.5.

STNE

JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on StoneCo, Raises Price Target to $18.5

BlackRock, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLK#NYSE">BLK</a>) on Tuesday reported&nbsp;that second-quarter 2025 revenue grew&nbsp;13%&nbsp;year-over-year to&nbsp;$5.42 billion, beating the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46412039/blackrocks-aum-jumps-to-12-53-trillion-revenue-up-13" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of&nbsp;$5.34 billion</a>.&nbsp;
Adjusted operating income rose&nbsp;12% to&nbsp;$2.09 billion. Adjusted EPS increased&nbsp;16% to&nbsp;$12.05,&nbsp;beating the consensus of&nbsp;$10.80.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46420414/bank-earnings-performance-q2-citigroup-jpmorgan-blackrock-wells-fargo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Banks Smash Earnings Expectations But Rally Fails To Produce New Fuel</a>
Goldman Sachs maintains the Buy rating on BlackRock, revising the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BLK/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">price forecast $1,163 from $1,115</a>.
Analyst Alexander Blostein on Wednesday wrote the investors grappled with margin commentary that pointed to ~44.5% margin in the second half of 2025, weaker than buyside expectations following the integration of HPS
&#8220;We remain constructive on BLK&#8217;s ability to generate 6%-7% organic base fee growth, as the revenue base continues to mix towards private markets and see a meaningful ramp in performance fees over the coming quarters. As the business scales, we think BLK is on track to achieve high-40%&#8217;s operating income margins, which coupled with reasonable capital returns supports a mid-teen EPS growth algo for the stock,&#8221; Goldman Sachs said in an investor note.
Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods wrote, &#8220;&#8230;the beat was lower quality as it was primarily driven by higher non-operating income.&#8221;
&#8220;BLK remains in the early stages of its transformation story, and despite the 2Q results, we remain constructive on the firm&#8217;s various growth initiatives,&#8221; said Kyle Voigt in an investor note on Tuesday.
Keefe analyst lowered forward estimates mainly on lower investment advisory base fees and higher compensation expense, offset slightly by higher performance fees. The analyst reiterates the Outperform rating, while lowering the price target from $1,260 to $1,215.
JPMorgan also lowered the price forecast for BlackRock from $1,018 to $1,093.
Analyst Kenneth Worthington wrote on Tuesday, &#8220;With the closing of the HPS acquisition, BlackRock looks to execute against its private market ambitions over the medium term, with alts being a key growth driver for the organization.&#8221;
&#8220;We see alternatives helping to mitigate what we see as a maturing equity ETF business,&#8221; the JP Morgan analyst added.
BLK Price Action: BlackRock stock is up 2.95% at $1,078.40 at publication on Wednesday.
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Photo courtesy: Tada Images via Shutterstock

Earnings

Large Cap

Movers

Trading Ideas

General

Analysts React To BlackRock's Q2 Earnings Beat Amid Margin Pressures

<a href="https://x.com/hawleymo/status/1945543715608551819?s=46&amp;t=dtUiyC3dUs5yGRgT9qYHWg">https://x.com/hawleymo/status/1945543715608551819?s=46&amp;t=dtUiyC3dUs5yGRgT9qYHWg</a>

U.S Senator Hawley Posts On X "Here's what Zuckerberg doesn't want you to know: Meta is willfully pirating droves of copyrighted content to train its AI models, And then the company turns to its lawyers & lobbyists to get off scot-free. Meta doesn't care about the law - it cares about profit"

<a href="https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-announces-pilot-program-build-advanced-us-nuclear-fuel-lines-and-end" title="https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-announces-pilot-program-build-advanced-us-nuclear-fuel-lines-and-end">https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-announces-pilot-program-build-advanced-us-nuclear-fuel-lines-and-end</a>

NUKZ

OKLO

Themes ETF Trust Themes Uranium & Nuclear ETF

URAN

'Energy Department Announces Pilot Program to Build Advanced U.S. Nuclear Fuel Lines and End Foreign Dependence' - DoE

Unity Software shares are trading higher after Jefferies maintained a Buy rating and raised its price target from $29 to $35.

JP Morgan analyst Domingos Falavina maintains PagSeguro Digital (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAGS#NYSE">PAGS</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $12 to $13.

PAGS

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on PagSeguro Digital, Raises Price Target to $13

Universal Health Services shares are trading lower after BofA Securities downgraded the stock from Neutral to Underperform and lowered its price target from $215 to $185.

Asana (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASAN#NYSE">ASAN</a>) (LTSE: ASAN), a leading work management platform for human + AI coordination, today announced its availability in the new AI Agents and Tools storefront in AWS Marketplace. This enables AWS customers to easily discover, buy, and deploy Asana using their AWS accounts, accelerating AI agent and agentic workflow development.
The AI Agents and Tools storefront in AWS Marketplace serves as a centralized catalog for hundreds of AI solutions from trusted AWS Partners. Asana helps companies align teams and manage strategic initiatives, programs and company goals to accelerate organizational impact.

ASAN

Asana Is Now Available In New AI Agents And Tools Storefront In AWS Marketplace, Accelerating AI Agent And Agentic Workflow Development.

HCA Healthcare shares are trading lower after BofA Securities downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral, despite raising its price target from $394 to $410

JP Morgan analyst Kenneth Worthington maintains Janus Henderson Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JHG#NYSE">JHG</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $44 to $47.

Janus Henderson Group plc Ordinary Shares

JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on Janus Henderson Group, Raises Price Target to $47

A new EV destination in Laval, designed and built by MONTONI
LAVAL, QC, July 16, 2025 /CNW/ - Electric-vehicle manufacturer Rivian, in partnership with Montoni Group, held a groundbreaking ceremony today marking the official start of construction on its new service centre in Québec. The event, held in Laval, was attended by the city's mayor, Stéphane Boyer. The planned facility is a key step in the expansion of Rivian's Canadian operations and speaks to the company's commitment to better serving its Québec customers.
Rivian's project in Laval addresses a concrete need for a permanent service point that is accessible and conveniently located for Québec drivers, with construction entrusted to local partners and talent.

Global

RIVN

Rivian In Partnership With Montoni, Breaks Ground On New EV Service Center In Laval, Québec

GMAB

Genmab shares are trading higher after the company reported Q2 net sales of DARZALEX totaling $3.539B.

JP Morgan analyst Jessica Fye maintains Halozyme Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HALO#NASDAQ">HALO</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $58 to $60.

HALO

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on Halozyme Therapeutics, Raises Price Target to $60

<a href="https://news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/news/us/en/2025/jul/0716-GM-Redwood-Materials-pursue-use-US-built-batteries-energy-storage.html">https://news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/news/us/en/2025/jul/0716-GM-Redwood-Materials-pursue-use-US-built-batteries-energy-storage.html</a>

'GM and Redwood Materials to pursue use of U.S.-built batteries for energy storage'

Citigroup (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>) has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/banks" rel="noreferrer noopener">kicked off</a> earnings season with strong second-quarter 2025 results, prompting several Wall Street analysts to reiterate positive ratings and raise price forecasts for the banking giant.
The company&#8217;s performance was highlighted by an impressive beat on earnings per share and net interest income, driven by robust activity in its Markets and Services segments, along with disciplined expense management.
Analysts from Piper Sandler, UBS, and Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods lauded Citi&#8217;s improved outlook, significant capital returns, and a clearer path towards achieving its return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) targets, despite the stock trading slightly lower on Wednesday following the initial report.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46417779/citigroup-q2-revenue-and-profit-jumps-cfo-says-recession-risk-has-fallen" rel="noreferrer noopener">Citigroup Q2 Revenue And Profit Jumps, CFO Says Recession Risk Has Fallen</a>
Piper Sandler&#8217;s Scott Siefers maintained an Overweight rating, increasing his price forecast from $84 to $104. UBS analyst Erika Najarian <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/C/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reiterated</a> a Neutral rating with a price forecast of $89. Meanwhile, Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Christopher McGratty reiterated a Buy rating, setting a price forecast of $105. These analysts highlighted various factors contributing to their optimism.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Piper Sandler</h2>
Following Citigroup&#8217;s strong second-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings and updated guidance, Siefers raised his EPS estimates. The analyst increased his 2025 EPS forecast from $7.26 to $7.30 and 2026 EPS from $9.27 to $9.46.
He noted that Citigroup looks poised to emerge as one of this quarter&#8217;s standout performers. Core results came in above expectations, especially on NII, which rose 8.3% quarter-over-quarter, and expenses, which grew just 1.3% quarter-over-quarter, Siefers noted. 
While credit costs of $2.8 billion were $90 million above the analyst&#8217;s forecast, and noninterest revenue missed by $136 million (mainly due to overestimating Markets), investment banking beat expectations, offsetting the shortfall.
Even after a strong year-to-date rally across universal banks, Citigroup remains the best value, trading at 96% of tangible book value (P/TBV), the only major bank still below TBV, Siefers noted. The analyst continues to see meaningful upside, supported by positive operating leverage, more substantial capital returns, and a more straightforward path to achieving 10%-11% ROTCE by 2026.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">UBS</h2>
Citigroup delivered second-quarter fiscal 2025 EPS of $1.96, well above Najarian&#8217;s estimate of $1.64 and the consensus estimate of $1.63. She noted that the bank reported net interest income (NII) of $15.2 billion, beating expectations by about $1.2 billion, or roughly 50 cents per share. According to the analyst, the bulk of the NII upside came from Markets (about $900 million) and Services (around $200 million).
Although fee income came in lower than expected, the shortfall appears tied to FICC trading geography, where NII offset weaker fee performance, Najarian noted. Total Markets outperformed by 17 cents, led by FICC strength (+14 cents). In comparison, investment banking added 2 cents above expectations, driven by solid advisory and ECM performance, areas where Citi has not historically led compared to its DCM dominance, as per the analyst.
She noted that operating expenses came in 2 cents below forecast, and provisions were 3 cents lighter than expected. Citigroup now guides to the higher end of its previous revenue range at ~$84 billion, with full-year expenses projected at $53.4 billion, Najarian said. While consensus already reflects those figures, the analyst noted that strong PPNR (pre-provision net revenue) adds to the stock&#8217;s appeal, even amid crowded long positioning.
Citigroup returned about $2 billion in buybacks during the quarter and is expected to face significant attention around potential buyback levels of $3-4 billion per quarter in the second half of 2025, Najarian said. Regardless of how much guidance management offers on capital return, the analyst expects the stock to react favorably to the solid PPNR beat.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</h2>
McGratty raised its 2025 and 2026 EPS estimates for Citigroup by 5% and 3%, respectively, following a stronger-than-expected second-quarter fiscal 2025 performance and improved guidance. The analyst lifted 2025 EPS to $7.55 from $7.20 and 2026 EPS to $9.75 from $9.50, citing higher revenues and solid execution across key areas.
McGratty noted that Citigroup outperformed the broader bank index by 610 basis points on the day (+3.7% vs. BKX -2.4%), driven by its guidance for at least $4 billion in third-quarter fiscal 2025 buybacks, strong markets and investment banking results, lower net charge-offs (NCOs) in the card business, and continued positive operating leverage.
The analyst noted these developments increase its confidence in Citi reaching its 2026 ROTCE target of 10-11% (KBW estimate: 9.8%), supporting its long-term bullish thesis.
He noted that in the second quarter, NII beat expectations, supported by 3% average loan growth and favorable TTS deposit spreads.
Markets revenue posted the second-best quarter since 2020, rising 16% year-over-year and exceeding mid-quarter guidance, McGratty said. Investment banking also outperformed, growing 13% year-over-year, led by Advisory and ECM strength, the analyst pointed out.
Citi returned $2.0 billion in share buybacks, slightly ahead of KBW&#8217;s $1.8 billion forecast. Meanwhile, he added that branded card NCLs held steady at 3.5-4.0%, and retail services NCLs remained at 5.75–6.25%.
McGratty noted Citi raised its 2025 revenue guidance to ~$84.0 billion (previous: $83.1-$84.1 billion) and now expects NII ex-Markets to grow ~4% Y/Y (prior: 2–3%). The analyst added that Citi maintained expense guidance at ~$53.4 billion, subject to volume and revenue-related shifts.
McGratty emphasized that Citigroup remains the most compelling value play among large-cap banks, trading below tangible book value and best positioned to benefit from potential deregulation. He added that achieving its ROTCE goal by 2026 could be a key rerating catalyst, especially amid continued macro and geopolitical uncertainty.
McGratty noted that despite Citigroup&#8217;s stock being historically inexpensive, he believes near-term catalysts enhance its attractiveness. 
He highlighted two primary reasons: First, Citi&#8217;s strong franchise and recent management adjustments position the firm to capitalize on revenue opportunities in investment banking and trading, particularly given expectations for improved market conditions post-election in areas like M&amp;A, ECM, and FICC trading. Second, a potential reduction in regulations could not only alleviate some control and procedure risks for Citi but also offer substantial capital relief, with Citi being the primary beneficiary should the Basel III endgame be relaxed.
Price Action: Despite the broadly positive analyst sentiment, Citigroup&#8217;s stock was trading lower by 1.71% to $88.48 at last check Wednesday.
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Photo by Konektus via Shutterstock

Reiteration

Why Citigroup Is Still The Best Value Bet In Large-Cap Banking

Macro Economic Events

Economics

Federal Reserve

Fed Beige Book: This Report Was Prepared At The Federal Reserve Bank Of Boston Based On Information Collected On Or Before July 7; Economic Activity Increased Slightly From Late May - Early July; The Outlook Was Neutral To Slightly Pessimistic, As Only Two Districts Expected Activity To Increase, And Others Foresaw Flat Or Slightly Weaker Activity; Prices Increased Across Districts, With Seven Characterizing Price Growth As Moderate And Five Characterizing It As Modest, Mostly Similar To Previous Report

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Pliant Therapeutics

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Ultime notizie per Pliant Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PLRX) Azioni

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