Jabil Raises FY22 Earnings Guidance; Q1 Profit Tops Estimates

While reporting first-quarter results on Thursday, Jabil Inc. (JBL) has updated its outlook for the fiscal year. Given strong start to the year, combined with improved forecast, the company now expects fiscal 2022 revenue will be $31.8 billion, while core EPS will increase to $6.55, up 20 cents from the company’s outlook in September.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report profit per share of $6.36 on revenue of $31.53 billion. Analysts’ estimates typically exclude special items.

For the second quarter, the company estimates core earnings per share in a range of $1.35 to $1.55; and net revenue of $7.1 billion to $7.7 billion. Analysts expect the company to report profit per share of $1.43 on revenue of $7.37 billion.

First quarter core earnings per share increased to $1.92 from $1.60, last year. On average, eight analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report profit per share of $1.80, for the quarter. Net income attributable to Jabil increased to $241 million from $200 million, a year ago. Earnings per share was $1.63 compared to $1.31.

First quarter net revenue increased to $8.57 billion from $7.83 billion, previous year. Analysts on average had estimated $8.29 billion in revenue.

Shares of Jabil were up 3% in pre-market trade on Thursday.

Krispy Kreme Is Offering Dozen Doughnuts For Just $1

Doughnut and coffeehouse chain Krispy Kreme, Inc. (DNUT) is bringing back its popular “Day of the Dozens” promotion. On Sunday, December 12, Krispy Kreme is offering guests one dozen doughnuts for just $1 with the purchase of any dozen at regular price.

Krispy Kreme’s “Day of the Dozens” offer is limited to two per customer at participating shops across the U.S.

“Day of the Dozens has become a favorite holiday treat for Krispy Kreme fans because getting a second dozen for $1 means there is plenty to share with family and friends,” said Dave Skena, Chief Marketing Officer of Krispy Kreme.

The Day of the Dozens promotion will be available on all takeout, drive-thru, or in-person orders at participating locations. Also available at the time will be Krispy Kreme’s holiday-themed Let It Snow holiday collection.

Launched in late November, the Let It Snow collection allows fans to “experience the joy of the season with an assist from Santa and some snowy friends” via five new doughnuts – Poppy Penguin Doughnut, Snowman Smile Doughnut, Snowy Sprinkle Doughnut, Santa Belly Doughnut, and Chocolate Iced with Holiday Sprinkles Doughnut.

“There’s nothing like the season’s first snow to say the holiday season is here! This year, we’re tapping into the anticipation of wintry, holiday fun with our snowy holiday collection,” Skena said about the Let It Snow lineup.

Krispy Kreme’s Let It Snow collection is available for a limited time during the holiday season at participating shops across the U.S.

Watch Christine Lagarde speaking after the ECB's latest rate decision

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European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is giving a press conference after the bank's latest monetary policy decision.

The ECB further cut its bond purchases on Thursday but vowed to continue its unprecedented monetary policy support for the euro zone economy into 2022.

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What Is Hurting UniQure Stock?

Shares of uniQure N.V. (QURE) are slipping over 23% on Thursday morning after the gene therapy company provided clinical update on first patients in phase I/II clinical trial of AMT-130 gene therapy for the treatment of Huntington’s Disease.

QURE is currently trading at $21.94, down $6.81 or 23.67%, on the Nasdaq.

Two of the four enrolled patients received AMT-130, and two patients experienced an imitation (sham) surgery in this randomized, blinded clinical trial being conducted in the United States.

“We are pleased with these data that support the tolerability of AMT-130, a potential one-time gene-therapy approach for Huntington’s disease,” stated Ricardo Dolmetsch, president of research and development at uniQure.

The company said Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) rose as expected immediately following surgery and returned to baseline in treated patients.

The company will reveal efficacy data including volumetric MRI changes after patients in the first two cohorts are unblinded.

Accenture Shares Rise 8% On Raised FY22 Outlook

Shares of IT company Accenture Plc (ACN) are up 8 percent on Thursday’s trading after the company lifted its earnings and revenue outlook for fiscal 2022.

For full year 2022, Accenture raised revenue outlook and now expects revenue growth to be in the range of 19% to 22%, compared with 12% to 15% previously. Analysts see revenue growth of 13.7% for the year.

The company also raised its EPS outlook for the full-year to the range of $10.32 to $10.60, from $9.90 to $10.18 previously. The consensus estimate stands at $9.01.

Currently at $406.24, the stock has traded between $241.73 and $414.74 during the past 52 weeks.

Treasury Reveals Details Of This Month’s Twenty-Year Bond Auction

The Treasury Department on Thursday announced the details of this month’s auction of twenty-year bonds.

The Treasury revealed it plans to sell $20 billion worth of twenty-year bonds, with the results of the auction due to be announced next Tuesday.

Last month, the Treasury sold $23 billion worth of twenty-year bonds, attracting average demand.

The twenty-year bond auction drew a high yield of 2.065 percent and a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.34, which matched the average of the ten previous auctions.

The bid-to-cover ratio is a measure of demand that indicates the amount of bids for each dollar worth of securities being sold.