5 big analyst AI moves: Nvidia guidance warning; Snowflake, Palo Alto upgraded

Investing.com -- Japanese automakers are better placed to weather U.S. tariff headwinds than previously expected, according to Bernstein, which said improved clarity has eased uncertainty across the sector. 

“Following Q1 earnings, the impact of U.S. tariffs on most companies has become clearer, easing much of the related uncertainty,” analysts wrote. 

Suzuki, Subaru (OTC:FUJHY) and Aisin all reported strong results, while Toyota (NYSE:TM) has emerged as a top pick alongside Suzuki.

Bernstein said all companies under its coverage have now disclosed tariff impact scenarios. 

The firm assumes “an average 3.2% price increase with a 2.8% demand decline,” estimating the total annual net tariff effect at negative JPY 1.37 trillion, or a 22% drag on operating profit. 

However, it expects automakers to pass through more costs as 2026 models are launched.

Suzuki retained its earnings forecast for FY3/26, but Bernstein sees “significant profit upside potential” due to lower-than-expected risks, cost efficiencies, and a recovery in India supported by government measures. 

The stock trades at a forward PER of 8.7x for FY3/27, which the firm views as undervalued. 

Toyota, meanwhile, recently cut its FY3/26 profit forecast, but Bernstein said the revision “appears to have overlooked mitigation efforts to offset tariff impacts, such as price increases.” 

It believes negative factors are already priced in, with medium-term growth themes, such as hybrid expansion, value chain earnings, restructuring, and share buybacks, coming into focus.

On Nissan (OTC:NSANY), Bernstein noted rising investor attention, though uncertainty remains around its FY3/26 outlook and potential merger talks with Honda (NYSE:HMC). Subaru’s Q1 was “overly strong,” with weaker profits expected ahead, while Mazda faces greater downside risk.

Investing.com -- Swiss companies identify quality as the strongest driver of success. In a UBS survey conducted in April 2025, firms gave quality and reliability of products and services an average of 30.7 points out of 100, far ahead of brand awareness and reputation (14.7 points) and flexibility and adaptability (14.6 points). 

Competitive pricing ranked fourth with 14.3 points, viewed more as a basic necessity than a differentiating factor. 

The findings reflect that many Swiss companies operate in niche markets, allowing them to avoid head-to-head price competition with low-cost providers.

To stay competitive, businesses have concentrated on brand building, market expansion, and efficiency improvements. 

About half of the surveyed companies cited efforts to increase brand awareness and enter new markets or launch new products. 

Efficiency gains through digitalization and automation were reported by 43%, while 31% had introduced artificial intelligence, the brokerage said. 

Price cuts, mergers and acquisitions, and relocation abroad were far less common, at 23%, 9%, and 4% respectively. 

Over the next three years, companies plan to accelerate investments in artificial intelligence, while shutting down units and slashing core product prices remain last-resort measures.

“Swiss companies benefit from “Swissness,” as the Swiss brand is strongly associated with high quality, reliability, and precision,” UBS added. 

However, the UBS study shows that this national image is secondary to the actual delivery of reliable products, scoring just 9 points as a success factor. 

Meanwhile, government support such as subsidies and tax breaks was rated even lower at 6 points, underlining that companies rely primarily on their own initiatives. Only less competitive firms placed higher importance on government aid, while stronger companies emphasized self-reliance and proactive strategies.

Financing capacity is another crucial factor. Larger firms and highly export-oriented companies tend to have more resources to pursue innovation, sustainability, and digitalization initiatives. 

By contrast, smaller or less competitive businesses face financial constraints that often push them toward short-term measures such as cost-cutting, exiting business areas, or forming partnerships to offset disadvantages, the brokerage said.

Investing.com -- As internet distribution reaches everyone, the fight for attention shifts from platforms to the stories, characters, and franchises that keep people coming back.

Global digital media usage is barely growing, meaning platforms can’t rely on expanding user bases. The scarce commodity now is differentiated content.

Once an intellectual property (IP) like a game, show, or character breaks through, it tends to stick.

The average top 20 global IP today was created 45 years ago, showing how durable hits can be.

Sony (NYSE:SONY), Nintendo, and Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) has shown how successful IP can be stretched across formats and decades, compounding in value.

With many material wants met, fewer kids born, and traditional leisure habits in decline, consumers are turning to content for emotional fulfillment.

AI could flood the market with cheap, customized shows or games, but the most iconic franchises will still command premium attention.

Korean dramas and music, Japanese video games, and other Asian exports are taking bigger roles as global hits, with cost advantages over Western peers.

There could be a bidding war for evergreen IP as big platforms, sovereign wealth funds, and media giants compete for scarce franchises. Consolidation is already underway like Disney (NYSE:DIS) buying Fox, Warner with Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD), Paramount with Skydance and video gaming has seen a wave of mega-deals.

The ceiling for transmedia franchises is rising, with K-pop, anime, and games expanding into global entertainment ecosystems.

With distribution is now free and infinite, scarce, memorable content, whether Mario, Marvel, or BTS, is what drives engagement, money, and cultural power.

That makes first-party IP one of the most valuable assets in today’s media economy.

Investing.com – Russia stocks were lower after the close on Saturday, as in the sectors led shares .

At the close in Moscow, the MOEX Russia Index unchanged 0.00%.

The best performers of the session on the MOEX Russia Index were ROSSETI PJSC (MCX:FEES), which unchanged 1.26% or 0.00 points to trade at 0.07 at the close. Meanwhile, Polyus PJSC (MCX:PLZL) added 0.77% or 17.00 points to end at 2,211.00 and TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin Pref (MCX:TATN_p) was up 0.52% or 3.30 points to 639.80 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Rostelekom PJSC (MCX:RTKM), which fell 0.26% or 0.18 points to trade at 69.78 at the close. AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX:AFKS) declined 0.15% or 0.03 points to end at 16.68 and Moskovskaya Birzha PJSC (MCX:MOEX) was down 0.15% or 0.28 points to 183.90.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Moscow Stock Exchange by 98 to 38 and 13 ended unchanged.

The Russian Volatility Index – RVI, which measures the implied volatility of MOEX Russia Index options, was unchanged 0.00% to 33.16.

Gold Futures for December delivery was up 1.09% or 36.90 to $3,418.50 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in October rose 0.22% or 0.14 to hit $63.66 a barrel, while the October Brent oil contract rose 0.09% or 0.06 to trade at $67.73 a barrel.

USD/RUB was down 0.03% to 80.55, while EUR/RUB rose 0.93% to 94.38.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.92% at 97.60.

Investing.com -- Barclays has laid out three possible outcomes for Swiss watch exports to the U.S. following the imposition of 39% tariffs, a sharp increase from the previous 10% rate.

The bank notes that major Swiss brands have not yet changed their U.S. pricing, but inventories built up before the tariff deadline mean a decision is imminent.

How brands respond will be critical to Watches Of Switzerland Group PLC (LON:WOSG), Barclays analysts said.

1) Scenario 1 – U.S. price increases only: Barclays assumes a 13% price hike in the U.S., which would leave Rolex and other supply-constrained models unaffected but cut volumes for non-supply-constrained brands by 5–25%.

Gross profit per watch would remain unchanged, though margins would fall.

Analyst Richard Taylor sees “2-11% EPS downside risk in this scenario” for WOSG, with U.S. EBIT falling 3–17%. He added that if such a scenario became permanent, weaker returns on new projects could lead the group to scale back investment, dampening longer-term growth prospects.

Fair values under this case range from 229–417p, or a -30% downside to 27% upside potential depending on the valuation multiple.

2) Scenario 2 – Global price increases: Here, brands spread the tariff burden worldwide with a roughly 2% increase across all markets. Taylor estimates this would prevent arbitrage opportunities and keep U.S. demand steadier.

He noted that price adjustments after Brexit served a similar purpose, as U.K. dealers had seen a spike in demand before brands moved to close the gap.

“We calculate EPS downside risk as flat to -4%, but believe the shares could re-rate as investors react to the more muted EPS risk,” Taylor wrote.

Under this scenario, the analyst sees fair value outcomes for WOSG shares spanning 426–596p, implying as much as 82% upside potential if a re-rating occurs.

3) Scenario 3 – Dark skies scenario: Lastly, this case assumes U.S. prices rise by 13% but both supply-constrained and non-supply-constrained brands see volume declines, by as much as 15% and 30% respectively.

Taylor warns of “significant EPS risk of between -6% to -19%,” for the group, alongside the possibility of reduced investment and de-rating. He added that while some high-demand product allocations might shift to other markets like the U.K., this would still create “significant headwinds to the group’s U.S. expansion.”

Fair values would fall between 166–287p, translating into 13–50% downside risk for WOSG.

Barclays cut its WOSG price target to 425p from 555p, applying a lower full-year 2026 (FY26) price-to-earnings (PE) of 10x (previously 13x) to reflect heightened tariff risk.

“We lower our Price Target as we acknowledge the increased risk to our investment case should 39% tariffs persist, along with potential earnings risk depending on the response of the major watch brands,” Taylor said.

At the current level, shares trade on an FY26 PE of 8.2x, broadly unchanged from pre-announcement levels but still well below long-term averages. Taylor said the current multiple is already partly depressed due to concerns over tariff headwinds.