Stockwinners Market Radar for February 04, 2024 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

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AAPL...		Hot Stocks 20:04 EST Fly Intel: Top five weekend stock stories - Catch up on the weekend's top five stories with this list compiled by The Fly: 1. Boeing (BA) said on Sunday it will have to do more work on about 50 undelivered 737 MAX airplanes, potentially delaying near-term deliveries, after its supplier Spirit AeroSystems (SPR) discovered two mis-drilled holes on some fuselages, Reuters' Tim Hepher and Valerie Insinna report. Boeing confirmed the findings in response to a Reuters query after industry sources said a spacing problem had been discovered in holes drilled on a window frame, but the jetmaker said safety was unaffected and existing 737s could keep flying. 2. Foxconn (HNHPF), Apple's (AAPL) biggest iPhone assembler and the world's largest contract electronics maker, expects its business this year to be "slightly better" than last year but is facing a shortage of chips for AI servers, according to Reuters. "We did pretty well last year, although we had a rather large write off in the first quarter," Foxconn Chairman Liu Young-way said on Sunday, referring to a writedown related to its 34% stake in Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. "As for this year's outlook, I think it might be slightly better than last year," Liu told reporters on the sidelines of the company's annual employee party in Taipei. Liu said production capacity for chips for servers is limited, even with strong demand. "When it comes up to keeping up with demand, perhaps there need to be new factories," he added. 3. Apple (AAPL), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Amazon.com (AMZN) are rapidly encroaching on financial firms' territory with digital wallets, payment apps, and even savings accounts, Joe Light writes in this week's edition of Barron's. Tech giants aren't pushing into payments and banking for the money per se. The bigger prize is monetizing consumer data and building "network effects"-keeping more customers in their ecosystems and selling more hardware or software, the author says. Also vulnerable to being marginalized are payments companies PayPal (PYPL) and Block (SQ). 4. Matthew Vaughn's spy comedy "Argylle" won the North American box office this weekend with a disappointing $18M debut, the biggest miss to date for Apple. The film, which has a price target of $200M-$250M, didn't do much better overseas, where it earned an estimated $17.3M for a global cume of $35.3M. Comcast's (CMCSA) subsidiary Universal is distributing and helping to market "Argylle" for Apple Original Films. 5. Chefs' Warehouse (CHEF) and Philip Morris (PM) saw positive mentions in this week's edition of Barron's.
NSTG		Hot Stocks 19:53 EST NanoString initiates chapter 11 restructuring, exploring potential sale - NanoString Technologies announced that steps are being taken "to protect its business, customers, employees and its mission to 'Map the Universe of Biology.'" With support from key creditors, NanoString and certain of its subsidiaries have voluntarily initiated a chapter 11 restructuring proceeding in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Coincident with this proceeding, NanoString is exploring strategic alternatives in support of the company's mission and for the benefit of its stakeholders, including the potential sale of the company or product lines. "The unexpected outcome of the November GeoMx patent litigation trial in Delaware and the unusually large magnitude of the damages awarded by the jury have forced us to take proactive steps to protect our stakeholders, customers and employees," said Brad Gray, President and CEO of NanoString. "NanoString has powerful product platforms, strong relationships with our customers throughout the scientific community, an enviable workforce, and conviction in the integrity of our innovation process. We believe chapter 11 protection will provide us with the necessary breathing room to continue to serve our customers while we address our litigation and the related financial challenges."
NVX		Hot Stocks 18:10 EST Novonix appoints Sharan Burrow AC to Board of Directors - Novonix Limited announced the appointment of Sharan Burrow AC to its Board of Directors, effective 28 February, 2024. Chairman Robert J. Natter said, "Ms. Burrow is a global leader in creating thriving and diverse workplaces with responsible governance. She is also a sought-after leader in climate action and human rights and will prove invaluable to NOVONIX in our mission to advance clean energy. Ms. Burrow's involvement in global policy dialogues with United Nations bodies, G7, G20, World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund brings unique expertise to the Board. I am delighted to welcome Ms. Burrow to the NOVONIX Board of Directors, recognizing her extensive experience and outstanding qualifications."
PLRX		Hot Stocks 16:42 EST Pliant Therapeutics announces data from INTEGRIS-PSC Phase 2a trial - Pliant Therapeutics announced 12-week interim data from the 320 mg dose group of INTEGRIS-PSC, a multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2a clinical trial of bexotegrast in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and suspected moderate to severe liver fibrosis. The 320 mg group met its primary and secondary endpoints demonstrating that bexotegrast was well tolerated over a 12-week treatment period and its plasma concentrations increased with dose. There was no dose relationship for adverse events. Pruritus and cholangitis occurred less frequently on bexotegrast than on placebo. The trial's exploratory efficacy endpoints assessed changes in the liver fibrosis markers, Enhanced Liver Fibrosis score and PRO-C3 levels, as well as liver biochemistry and magnetic resonance imaging of the liver. Consistent with the results from the lower doses tested, bexotegrast-treated patients at the 320 mg dose showed a reduction in both ELF score and PRO-C3 levels relative to placebo at Week 12. Bexotegrast-treated patients also showed stabilization of alkaline phosphatase levels, relative to an increase on placebo at Week 12. In addition, MRI imaging continued to show evidence of improved hepatocyte function and bile flow with bexotegrast at the 320 mg dose relative to placebo. Bexotegrast at the 320 mg dose was well tolerated with no dose relationship observed for adverse events. Of the 27 patients treated with bexotegrast at the 320 mg dose, 26 completed 12 weeks of treatment with no drug-related severe or serious adverse events. Most treatment-emergent adverse events were mild or moderate in severity and consistent with PSC disease symptoms. In addition, adverse events of pruritus and cholangitis occurred less frequently on all doses of bexotegrast relative to placebo. Patients in the trial who had concomitant inflammatory bowel disease saw no change in their IBD symptoms as measured by partial Mayo Score while on treatment. Consistent with the lower doses tested, bexotegrast at 320 mg reduced ELF score relative to placebo at Week 12. The ELF score is a well-established prognostic marker of liver disease severity and liver-related events in patients with advanced fibrosis. ELF is strongly associated with transplant-free survival in PSC and may be useful as a surrogate marker in clinical trials. Consistent with the lower doses tested, bexotegrast at 320 mg reduced PRO-C3 levels relative to placebo. PRO-C3 is a biomarker of active fibrogenesis with higher levels associated with greater disease activity. The Company is planning to share these data from the INTEGRIS-PSC trial with regulatory authorities to discuss the potential path to registration.
FDMT		Hot Stocks 07:37 EST 4D Molecular presents interim data from Randomized Phase 2 PRISM trial - 4D Molecular Therapeutics announced interim data from the Phase 2 PRISM clinical trial evaluating intravitreal 4D-150 in wet age-related macular degeneration patients with severe disease activity and a high treatment burden. Data presented at the Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration 2024 Conference by Arshad M. Khanani, M.D., M.A., FASRS, consisted of 24-week landmark results from the randomized Phase 2 Dose Expansion cohort of the PRISM clinical trial. The Dose Expansion cohort of the PRISM study is a randomized, controlled Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating 4D-150 in previously treated wet AMD patients with severe disease activity and a high treatment burden. A single intravitreal dose of 4D-150 demonstrated favorable safety results through the data cutoff date. Safety results maintained in all 15 patients treated to date with no new inflammation and no change in steroid status Three patients treated with high dose 4D-150 were previously reported to be injection-free after 52 weeks of follow-up; all 3 patients remained injection-free through 80-104 weeks of follow-up.
EYPT		Hot Stocks 07:35 EST EyePoint announced results from new subgroup analyses from Phase 2 DAVIO 2 trial - EyePoint Pharmaceuticals announced results from new subgroup analyses from the Phase 2 DAVIO 2 clinical trial of EYP-1901, an investigational sustained delivery maintenance treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration combining vorolanib, a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor with bioerodible Durasert E. The analyses of the data reveal: In the sub-group of patients who were supplement-free up to 6 months, the EYP-1901 groups demonstrated numerical superiority in change in BCVA along with strong anatomic control compared to the aflibercept control group. This result confirms that the positive topline data from the Phase 2 DAVIO 2 trial were driven by EYP-1901 and not by study eyes requiring supplemental injection. Visual and anatomical outcomes were not meaningfully influenced by differences in patient baseline BCVA, duration of wet AMD diagnosis, or historical treatment burden. EYP-1901outcomes are consistent and durable in a range of wet AMD patient types. A second presentation also included the previously reported positive topline results of its Phase 2 DAVIO 2 trial of EYP-1901. The trial met its primary endpoint with both EYP-1901 doses demonstrating statistical non-inferiority change in best corrected visual acuity compared to aflibercept control and a favorable safety profile with no EYP-1901-related ocular or systemic serious adverse events. The trial also achieved key secondary endpoints with both EYP-1901 doses, including an approximately 85% mean reduction in historical treatment burden, nearly two-thirds of eyes supplement-free up to six months and over 83% receiving only zero or one supplement up to six-months. Additionally, there was strong anatomical control in both EYP-1901 cohorts as measured by optical coherence tomography. Phase 2 DAVIO 2 12-month results and the initiation of a Phase 3 trial in wet AMD are both expected in the second half of 2024. The company remains on track to report additional clinical milestones with EYP-1901 this year with the readout of topline data from the Phase 2 PAVIA trial in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy anticipated in the second quarter of 2024.
HOLI		Hot Stocks 07:16 EST Dazheng Group reaffirms commitment to acquire Hollysys at $29.50 per share - Buyer Consortium led by Dazheng Group Acquisition Limited issued a statement reaffirming the merits of its offer to acquire Hollysys Automation Technologies. The statement partly reads, "The Buyer Consortium, led by Dazheng Group, remains extremely motivated to acquire Hollysys at US$29.50 per share. This offer represents a significantly greater value proposition for Hollysys shareholders, providing an 11.3% premium to the Ascendant Capital offer. The Consortium emphasizes to Hollysys shareholders its commitment to acquire Hollysys at US$29.50 per share will remain unchanged by fluctuations in the share price of Hollysys, market conditions, or if the proposed Ascendent transaction is rejected by shareholders at the upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting on February 8, 2024... The commitment from Dazheng Group Acquisition Limited is robustly supported by back-to-back equity commitment letters, which have been formally executed by three sponsors as of January 25, 2024. Each sponsor has demonstrated their ability to fulfill their financial commitments by supplying robust proof of funding. This includes bank statements detailing offshore fund balances and/or documentation confirming available funds, all of which have been either officially stamped by the bank or signed by an authorized bank representative. The Consortium has adhered to all reasonable demands of the Special Committee throughout the entirety of this negotiation process, resulting in financing commitments beyond industry standards and, to the Consortium's knowledge, beyond those of Ascendent Capital. Notably, Hollysys has not detailed in its proxy statement the basis on which the Special Committee validated Ascendent Capital's financial capacity, aside from the filing of signed commitment letters... The Consortium wishes to highlight to the shareholders that, despite facing challenges in our dealings with the Special Committee, the Special Committee acknowledged in the proxy statement supplement dated January 31, 2024, that negotiations on transaction documents between Hollysys and the Consortium began on January 28, 2024. This acknowledgment implies the Special Committee's recognition of our proposal as superior or reasonably likely to be superior, because otherwise, the Special Committee is prohibited from negotiating documents with the Consortium under the signed merger agreement. Unfortunately, the Special Committee set a stringent deadline of January 29, 2024, for finalizing all aspects of the deal, without considering the possibility of recommending an adjournment of the EGM to shareholders. The Consortium maintains that in order to fully meet their fiduciary duties as dictated by BVI law, the Special Committee should have recommended to the shareholders the adjournment of the EGM. Without the presentation of this option to the shareholders, the shareholders' sole recourse to secure the benefit from an exit at $29.50 per share is to vote AGAINST the Ascendent transaction. Furthermore, should there be any recommendation from the Board or Chairman of the EGM to adjourn the EGM, and such adjournment is approved, the Consortium urges shareholders to require the Board to convene a shareholders meeting to be held at the same time as the adjourned EGM and allow shareholders to consider the Consortium's proposal... Hollysys shareholders have a better alternative than what the Board is currently presenting them. The Consortium urges shareholders to not leave an extra 11.3% on the table by voting AGAINST the proposed Ascendent transaction at the upcoming EGM on February 8, 2024."