Colombia stocks lower at close of trade; COLCAP down 0.15%

Investing.com-- The S&P 500 closed higher Friday after a relatively benign inflation report kept open the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week.

At 4:00 p.m. ET (21:00 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 104 points, or 0.2%, the S&P 500 index gained 0.2%, and the NASDAQ Composite rose 0.3%.

PCE inflation gauge in spotlight

The Fed’s preferred inflation measure, the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (PCE), indicated that inflation remained under control, suggesting that the U.S. central bank can cut interest rates next week to support the slowing economy.

Excluding food and energy, the underlying, or "core," PCE price index fell to 2.8% in the 12 months to September, below the expected 2.9%, and 0.2% month-on-month.

The importance of price stability, the second element of the Fed’s dual mandate, has faded a little of late, but the Fed policymakers will be pleased to see the index falling, further emboldening rate-cut expectations.

Expectations of a 25-basis point reduction at the Federal Reserve’s December 9–10 meeting have been running hot on the back of recent weak labor data and broader signs of economic cooling.

Thursday’s weekly jobless claims plunged by 27,000 to a seasonally adjusted 191,000, the lowest level since September 2022, but economists cautioned that distortions tied to the Thanksgiving holiday may have exaggerated the decline.

Elsewhere, a private-sector payroll report from ADP on Wednesday showed a decline of 32,000 jobs -- the largest drop in over two and a half years, and a report by Challenger, Gray & Christmas stated that announced job cuts dropped sharply in November but hiring intentions remained weak.

Netflix agrees to buy Warner Bros Discovery

In the corporate sector, Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) has agreed to acquire Warner Bros Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) in a cash and stock transaction valued at $27.75 per share, with a total enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion.

The deal, announced on Friday, follows a weeks-long bidding war where Netflix outbid Paramount Skydance’s (NASDAQ:{{8171’s|PSKY}}) nearly $24-a-share offer with its nearly $28-a-share proposal.

Should the transaction be finalized, it would transform Netflix into a media powerhouse with control over one of the most valuable content libraries in the entertainment industry.

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Elsewhere, Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ:ULTA) shares soared after the cosmetics retailer topped Wall Street estimates for its fiscal third quarter and raised its full-year outlook.

Victoria’s Secret (NYSE:VSCO) stock rose strongly after the lingerie retailer reported better-than-expected third quarter results, raising its full-year outlook as its turnaround strategy shows signs of success.

On the flip side, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE) stock slumped after the cloud services and hardware company missed analysts’ revenue expectations for the fourth quarter, posting $9.68 billion versus a consensus estimate of $9.94 billion.

On the geopolitical front, Treasury Secretary Bessent provided a positive update on U.S.-China trade relations, saying that implementation of the agreement between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. Donald Trump is "going well".

Peter Nurse, Ayushman Ojha contributed to this article

Investing.com -- The rideshare sector continues to evolve in 2025, with companies expanding beyond basic transportation into new territories. According to recent rankings from WarrenAI, which incorporates Investing Pro’s Fair Value, Pro scores, technicals, analyst targets, and other metrics, several key players stand out in this competitive landscape.

The rideshare industry has matured significantly, with leading companies now focusing on profitability and diversification rather than just market share. WarrenAI’s comprehensive analysis reveals which companies are best positioned for growth in the current market environment.

Here are the top five rideshare stocks according to WarrenAI’s analysis:

1. Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:UBER)

Uber claims the top position with impressive metrics across the board. Trading at $91.60, analysts see significant upside potential of 49.2%, with a mean price target of $111.86. The company boasts a solid Pro Score of 3.43 and a Fair Value assessment of $94.28. Technical indicators show "Strong Buy" signals on both hourly and daily timeframes. Uber’s remarkable 60.1% return on equity and recent positive outlook from S&P further strengthen its position. The company’s ongoing investments in robotaxis and autonomous vehicle partnerships demonstrate its commitment to innovation.

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2. Lyft Inc. (NASDAQ:LYFT)

Lyft secures the second spot, showing strong momentum with a 12.2% monthly return and 45.3% one-year rally. Currently priced at $23.02, analysts project a 47.3% upside with a mean target of $24.33. Lyft’s Pro Score of 2.88 and Fair Value of $27.21 indicate room for growth. Like Uber, Lyft enjoys "Strong Buy" technical ratings across timeframes. While smaller than Uber, Lyft’s strategic autonomous vehicle partnerships and European expansion plans support its growth trajectory.

3. Grab Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:GRAB)

Southeast Asia’s super-app Grab holds third place despite mixed signals. Trading at $5.21, analysts see a 15.4% upside potential with a target of $6.83. Grab’s Pro Score stands at 2.47, with a Fair Value assessment of $4.47. Unlike the leaders, Grab’s technicals show "Strong Sell" signals on both hourly and daily charts. However, its 20.1% projected revenue growth and nine consecutive quarters of positive EBITDA demonstrate operational strength. The company’s super-app ecosystem and potential merger discussions with Gojek offer long-term value.

4. Didi Global Inc. (OTC:DIDI.Y)

Didi ranks fourth, presenting a mixed investment case. Priced at $5.29, analysts project a substantial 40.5% upside with a target of $55.44. The company has a Pro Score of 2.78 and a Fair Value of $6.21, suggesting 17.4% upside potential. Technical indicators show "Strong Sell" signals, and its one-year return of 9.6% lags sector leaders. Despite these concerns, Didi’s projected 126.2% EPS growth offers speculative appeal for risk-tolerant investors.

5. Via Transportation

Via rounds out the top five with significant challenges. The stock recently hit an all-time low of $31.27, with bearish technical indicators across most timeframes. Via’s financial health score of 1.57 is weak, with negative metrics including a -22.1% EBITDA margin and -70.5x forward P/E ratio. The stock has declined 33.1% over the past year. Despite analyst optimism with a "Strong Buy" consensus and $56.40 mean target, fundamental data suggests caution is warranted.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Investing.com -- SL Green Realty Corp (NYSE:SLG) stock dropped 2.3% Friday after the New York-focused real estate investment trust provided 2026 earnings guidance that fell short of analyst expectations.

During its annual investor conference, SL Green projected funds from operations (FFO) per share of $4.40 to $4.70 for 2026, significantly below the analyst consensus estimate of $5.13. The company also forecast net income per share ranging from a loss of $0.27 to a gain of $0.03 for the year ending December 31, 2026.

The FFO guidance includes several adjustments to net income, including $2.58 per share in depreciation and amortization, $3.29 per share in joint ventures depreciation and noncontrolling interests adjustments, and a $0.12 per share net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests.

SL Green’s forecast also incorporates a $0.80 per share loss on sale of real estate and $1.82 per share in equity gains on sale of interest in unconsolidated joint ventures or real estate.

Additionally, the REIT announced a change to its dividend policy starting in fiscal year 2026. The company will shift from monthly to quarterly dividend payments while maintaining its cash payment structure.

The investor conference presentation was made available through webcast on the company’s website, with an audio replay and presentation materials accessible following the event.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.