Stockwinners Market Radar for December 26, 2024 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

20:22 EST Cathie Wood's ARK Investment bought 220K shares of GitLab today

20:20 EST Exicure signs MOU with GPCR Therapeutics - The company states: "Exicure has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with GPCR Therapeutics on December 24, 2024, aimed at the acquisition of GPCR USA, a subsidiary of GPCR Therapeutics, and the technology transfer and collaborative research on GPCR Therapeutics' ongoing drug development pipelines. Through this acquisition, Exicure plans to secure key technical personnel by purchasing all shares of GPCR USA held by GPCR Therapeutics. Following this, Exicure intends to receive technology transfer for GPCR Therapeutics' CXCR4 inhibitor, which is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials with the FDA, along with its related patents and intellectual property (IP). By acquiring excellent research personnel and clinical pipelines, Exicure aims to advance as a clinical-stage biotech company. GPCR Therapeutics plans to successfully finalize ongoing clinical trials involving stem cell mobilizers targeting multiple myeloma patients and prepare for clinical studies related to acute myeloid leukemia. The market size for the ongoing Phase 2 trials is estimated to be around $1 billion to $2 billion annually. Moreover, Exicure plans to engage in collaborative research and development in various forms for GPCR Therapeutics' ongoing research in immuno-oncology, fibrosis treatments, and obesity therapies. GPCR Therapeutics, the partner with Exicure in this MOU, is a South Korean drug development company specializing in GPCR, which represents over one-third of all drug targets. GPCR Therapeutics has secured target patents around prominent GPCRs such as CXCR4 and possesses multiple pipelines addressing blood cancers and solid tumors, genetic disorders, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and obesity, including ongoing Phase 2 trials in the U.S. for multiple myeloma. Dr. Pina Cardarelli, who previously served as Vice President at Bristol-Myers Squibb, where she led the development of the first-ever immuno-oncology drugs, Yervoy and Opdivo (nivolumab), has served as the Chief Scientific Officer of GPCR Therapeutics since 2019."

18:37 EST Netflix says Christmas NFL games averaged over 24M viewers each - The company states: "Netflix NFL Christmas Gameday was a record-breaking day, reaching 65 million US viewers according to Nielsen! With an average of more than 24 million people watching each game, Chiefs-Steelers and Ravens-Texans are now the top two most streamed NFL games in US history. Viewership peaked with #BeyonceBowl, with over 27 million viewers."Reference Link

17:17 EST Grid Dynamics to replace Revelyst in S&P 600 at open on 1/2 - Strategic Value Partners is acquiring Revelyst in a deal expected to close soon pending final conditions.

16:32 EST TechPrecision names new Chair and Vice Chair of the board - TechPrecisio announced that following the results of the Company's 2024 Annual Meeting, three new directors were elected to the Board of Directors of the Company by its stockholders: John A. Moore, General Victor E. Renuart Jr. and Robert D. Straus. The Board appointed by unanimous vote General Victor E. Renuart Jr. to serve as Chair of the Board and Robert D. Straus as Vice-Chair of the Board.

16:17 EST Ingles Markets Incorporated receives noncompliance notification from Nasdaq - Ingles Markets Incorporated announced that it received a notice from Nasdaq, stating that because the company has not yet filed its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, the company is no longer in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250, which requires listed companies to timely file all required periodic financial reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The notice has no immediate effect on the listing of the company's shares on Nasdaq.

16:11 EST Suzano says no formal or informal agreement with Clearwater Paper - In a notice to the market sent to its local securities regulator, Suzano (SUZ) stated, according to a translation: "Suzano S.A., in accordance with best corporate governance practices, hereby informs its shareholders and the market in general, in response to the news reported in the media regarding the Company evaluating the acquisition of the American company Clearwater Paper and to official letter No. 323/2024/CVM/SEP/GEA-2, issued by the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission, as transcribed in Annex I of this Notice to the Market, that it is permanently analyzing market opportunities and investments aligned with its strategy. However, the Company informs that, to date, there has been no formal or informal agreement, nor the execution of any document between the Parties, binding or otherwise, nor any decision or resolution by its management bodies in relation to the potential transaction reported in the media, nor any other event or fact that the Company understands to be characterized as a material fact. The Company also informs that it carried out the relevant internal investigations and questioned its managers about the news reported in the media before providing this clarification. In addition, the Company did not identify any atypical fluctuation in the securities issued by it or referenced to them as a result of said news. The Company reiterates its commitment to keeping the market duly informed about any relevant information." Reference Link

16:06 EST Seadrill announces sale of jack-up rig West Prospero for $45M - Seadrill Limited "announced that it has completed the sale of the jack-up rig West Prospero for cash proceeds of $45M."

16:03 EST Martin Midstream Partners announces termination of merger agreement - Martin Midstream Partners L.P. announced the termination of the previously announced agreement and plan of merger, dated October 3, with Martin Resource Management Corporation, pursuant to which MRMC would have acquired all of the outstanding common units of MMLP not already owned by MRMC and its subsidiaries. The merger agreement was terminated by the mutual written consent of MRMC and MMLP pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement. MMLP will continue to operate as a standalone publicly traded company. MMLP also announced the cancellation of its special meeting of unitholders scheduled for December 30 and the withdrawal from consideration by MMLP unitholders of the proposals set forth in MMLP's definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 27. Bob Bondurant, President and Chief Executive Officer of the General Partner said, "We appreciate the feedback we have received from unitholders during our extensive outreach and engagement over the last several weeks. We greatly value unitholders' perspectives and are pleased that unitholders have confidence in the future of MMLP as a standalone company. We will continue to focus on executing our long-term strategy, including strengthening the balance sheet through debt reduction and improving operating results, to create value for unitholders."

15:24 EST Ambipar Emergency Response trading resumes

13:34 EST Cosmos Health appoints Dimitrios Trafalis as head of oncology - Cosmos Health announced the appointment of Professor Dimitrios Trafalis as Head of Oncology at the company's Research and Development division. Trafalis currently serves as a Professor of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Trafalis will lead research initiatives focusing on the design and execution of preclinical and clinical development strategies, regulatory support, and studies aimed at addressing critical oncology challenges. Specifically, his role includes overseeing preclinical and clinical protocols, making strategic decisions in research, and presenting key developments at global medical conferences and in international scientific journals.

12:04 EST Linkers Industries Ltd trading resumes

12:00 EST United States Natural Gas Fund falls -5.8% - United States Natural Gas Fund is down -5.8%, or -94c to $15.20.

12:00 EST D-Wave Quantum rises 15.8% - D-Wave Quantum is up 15.8%, or $1.25 to $9.21.

12:00 EST Surf Air Mobility rises 47.0% - Surf Air Mobility is up 47.0%, or $1.65 to $5.16.

10:00 EST United States Natural Gas Fund falls -5.5% - United States Natural Gas Fund is down -5.5%, or -89c to $15.26.

10:00 EST Sunlands Online falls -7.5% - Sunlands Online is down -7.5%, or -50c to $6.19.

10:00 EST Surf Air Mobility rises 14.0% - Surf Air Mobility is up 14.0%, or 49c to $4.00.

09:51 EST Ryde Group receives three-year license renewal in Singapore - Ryde Group announced that Ryde's licence has been renewed for 3 years under full ride-hail service operator license and carpool service operator license, reflecting its dedication to delivering exceptional and sustainable mobility solutions for Singapore.

09:48 EST Surf Air Mobility rises 22.1% - Surf Air Mobility is up 22.1%, or 78c to $4.29.

09:48 EST SOS Limited falls -7.2% - SOS Limited is down -7.2%, or -50c to $6.48.

09:47 EST Sunlands Online falls -7.5% - Sunlands Online is down -7.5%, or -50c to $6.19.

09:41 EST Sealsq Corp trading halted, volatility trading pause

09:32 EST zSpace, Inc. trading halted, volatility trading pause

09:20 EST AmpliTech Group prices 1.87M shares at $3.10 in registered direct offering - AmpliTech Group has entered into one or more securities purchase agreements with certain institutional investors to purchase 1,871,000 shares of common stock at an offering price of $3.10 per share, in a registered direct offering. The gross proceeds to the Company from the registered direct offering are estimated to be approximately $5.8M before deducting the placement agent's fees and other estimated offering expenses. The offering is expected to close on or about December 27, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Maxim Group is acting as the sole placement agent in connection with the offering.

09:01 EST Arthur J. Gallagher acquires Afina Insurance Advisors, terms not disclosed - Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced the acquisition of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois-based Afina Insurance Advisors. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Afina Insurance is a property/casualty insurance broker serving clients in greater Chicago.

08:49 EST Snail announces expansion of ARK franchise - Snail is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Snail Games USA, in collaboration with Studio Wildcard, and Grove Street Games, marks a significant moment in the expansion of the ARK franchise with the launch of ARK: Ultimate Mobile Edition worldwide on App Store and Google Play Store and two major updates for ARK: Extinction Ascended and Bob's Tall Tales: Wasteland War. These releases underscore Snail Games' commitment to growing the ARK ecosystem and offering new opportunities to engage an ever-expanding global audience.

08:33 EST KULR Technology launches bitcoin treasury with purchase of 217.18 bitcoin - KULR Technology Group (KULR) has completed the purchase of 217.18 bitcoin for approximately $21M, at an average price of $96,556.53 per BTC. The purchase follows the company's announcement on December 4 of its Bitcoin Treasury strategy in which it announced allocating up to 90% of its surplus cash to BTC. The $21M of BTC purchased since the announcement is the first of ongoing purchases the company intends to make going forward. KULR selected Coinbase's (COIN) Prime platform to provide custody, USDC, and self-custodial wallet services for its BTC.

08:19 EST WiSA Technologies to acquire CompuSystems, terms undisclosed - WiSA Technologies has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately held CompuSystems, a provider of registration, data analytics, and lead management services for live events. In 2025, CompuSystems' current management expects CSI to contribute between $13M and $15M in revenue and between $3M and $4M in EBITDA. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Closing is subject to customary conditions and is anticipated to occur on or about January 31, 2025.

08:05 EST Kidpik announces suspension of Nasdaq trading, intention to appel - Kidpik received a notification letter from The Nasdaq Stock Market Hearings Panel on December 20, 2024, indicating that trading in the Company's common stock on Nasdaq's Capital Market will be suspended effective at the open of business on December 26, 2024, based upon the Company's non-compliance with Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), the Exchange's minimum shareholders' equity rule. The Company previously announced that on October 2, 2024, the Company received a delist determination letter from the Staff of Nasdaq, notifying the Company that the Staff had determined that the Company did not provide a definitive plan evidencing its ability to achieve compliance with the continued listing requirements and to deny the Company's request for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market. The Company subsequently appealed the Staff's determination to the Panel and the Panel denied the Company's appeal and determined to delist the Company's securities. The Company has 15 days after the date of the Nasdaq Delisting Notice to request that the Panel review the decision, or the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council may, on its own motion, determine to review the Panel's decision within 45 calendar days after the Nasdaq Delisting Notice. In connection with the Nasdaq Delisting Notice, Nasdaq will complete the delisting by filing a Notification of Removal from Listing and/or Registration under Section 12(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 on Form 25 with the Commission after the applicable Nasdaq review and appeal periods have lapsed. The Company intends to appeal the Panel's decision to the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council. An appeal to the Council will not stay the delisting of the Company's securities. Once the Company's securities are delisted, there may be a very limited market in which the Company's shares are traded, the Company's stockholders may find it difficult to sell their shares of the Company and the trading price of the Company's securities, if any, may be adversely affected. The Company anticipates that, concurrent with the suspension of trading of its common stock on Nasdaq, the Company's shares will begin trading on the OTC Markets' "OTC Pink Market" tier under the symbol "PIK."

08:04 EST Assembly Biosciences announces interim PK, efficacy from Phase 1b study - Assembly Biosciences announced interim safety, pharmacokinetic, PK, and efficacy results from participants with chronic hepatitis B virus, HBV, infection in its ongoing Phase 1b study evaluating ABI-4334, an investigational next-generation capsid assembly modulator, CAM. Improvements in trial-defined measures of antiviral activity were observed in the first Phase 1b cohort that received an oral, once-daily dose of 150 mg of ABI-4334 over a 28-day treatment period. A mean decline in HBV DNA of 2.9 log10 IU/mL was observed in a population of predominately hepatitis B e antigen negative participants. In this initial 150 mg cohort, ABI-4334 continued to show a half-life supportive of once-daily oral dosing and maintained clinical exposures multiple-folds above those anticipated to be required for potent antiviral activity and inhibition of cccDNA formation. Safety data for study participants in both cohorts to date demonstrated that ABI-4334 was well-tolerated with a favorable safety profile observed.

08:02 EST Graphjet Technology hosts Malaysia Deputy Minister YB Datuk Chan Foong Hin - Graphjet Technology was pleased to host Malaysia's Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities, YB Datuk Chan Foong Hin, at its recently commissioned green graphite facility located in the Subang District in Malaysia . "The team at Graphjet demonstrated the intricate process of sustainably converting palm biomass into carbon and subsequently graphite," said Malaysia's Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities YB Datuk Chan Foong Hin. "The Agri-commodity sector holds robust prospects that is yet to be tapped, and I look forward to seeing more participants add value to the supply chain. At the ministry, we're consistently working to ensure that the ecosystem is conducive to facilitate innovation among players in the sector that will bring higher returns to the economy. I look forward to a continued engagement with Graphjet as the company continues implementing its expansion plans."

07:51 EST Hepsiburada director Hikmet Ersek steps down - D-MARKET Electronic Services & Trading announces a change to the composition of its Board of Directors. Effective December 27, Hikmet Ersek, an independent member of the Company's Board of Directors and a member of the Corporate Governance Committee, stepped down from his position. The Board of Directors decided to appoint Tayfun Bayazit, an independent member of the Board of Directors, as new member of the Corporate Governance Committee to replace Hikmet Ersek.

07:18 EST SMX integrates coating, digital platform tech for NFC, RFID chips - SMX announces the integration of its technology to mark and protect NFC and RFID chips. The company said, "This innovative solution is being designed to offer unparalleled security, traceability, and durability, and to set a new standard in electronic component protection. SMX has successfully embedded its unique markers directly into the coating of readily available off the shelf NFC and RFID chips, enabling precise authentication and verification throughout their lifecycles. SMX believes that this advancement will significantly mitigate risks associated with counterfeiting, unauthorized tampering, and supply chain vulnerabilities. SMX's proprietary coating technology not only works with off the shelf chips, but also has been shown in testing to enhance their durability and performance, as well as their resilience against common environmental stressors, thereby potentially enabling the extension of their operational lifespan and reliability. Additionally, the SMX coating has the capability to store data, adding a potential extra layer of functionality, resilience to heat, and additional protection against the elements."

07:03 EST Berry Corporation completes refinancing transactions - Berry Corporation announced the closing of a comprehensive refinancing of its existing indebtedness on December 24, 2024, providing the Company with capital and liquidity to continue progressing Berry's corporate strategy: Ensuring capital and liquidity to execute on the Company's development plans including unlocking the significant upside potential in Utah to drive long-term shareholder value; Extending the Company's debt maturities enables Berry to execute on strategic growth opportunities that provide scale and geographic diversification; Sustaining production at current levels while utilizing cash flow for capital expenditures, dividend payments and debt reduction. Valor Upstream Credit Partners, which is managed by Breakwall Capital in partnership with Vitol, is the lender on the Senior Secured Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of November 6, 2024 entered into by, among others, the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Company party thereto, as guarantors and Breakwall Credit Management as administrative agent. TCBI Securities, doing business as Texas Capital Securities, served as capital structure advisor to Berry and sole arranger of the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of December 24, 2024 entered into by, among others, the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Company party thereto, as guarantors, and Texas Capital Bank, as lender and administrative agent. As part of the Transactions, the Company borrowed $450 million under the Term Loan Credit Agreement. Proceeds therefrom will be used to fund the full redemption of the outstanding 7.000% Senior Notes due 2026 of Berry Petroleum Company the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary and to pay fees and expenses relating thereto and with the remaining proceeds to be used to fund capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes in accordance with the terms of our indebtedness. This press release does not constitute a notice of redemption of the 2026 Notes. The redemption of the 2026 Notes is expected to occur on December 26, 2024. The Company has also entered into a three-year reserve-based revolving loan under the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement with Texas Capital Bank as administrative agent, and a syndicate of banks providing for borrowing availability equal to the lesser of the maximum commitments of $500M, the then effective borrowing base and the elected commitment amount. On the closing date, the borrowing base is $95M and the elected commitments are $63M, which would result in a $63M of borrowing availability under the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement until the next scheduled redetermination of the borrowing base, which is scheduled to occur in the Spring of 2025. The Term Loan Credit Agreement will have a delayed draw term loan commitment that, when aggregated with the available commitments under the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement, will provide up to $95M of borrowing availability for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

07:01 EST Optinose announces 1-for-15 reverse stock split - Optinose announced that it will effect a 1-for-15 reverse stock split on December 30, 2024. Beginning with the opening of trading on December 31, 2024, Optinose's common stock will trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on a split-adjusted basis under a new CUSIP number 68404V209 and Optinose's existing trading symbol "OPTN."

06:48 EST SciSparc: AutoMax announces $13M first delivery of JAC vehicles - SciSparc announced that AutoMax Motors, an automotive importer and distributor in Israel with which the company has entered into an agreement and plan of merger, received its first shipment of vehicles manufactured by Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Co., a globally recognized Chinese automotive company. This marks a significant milestone in AutoMax's direct import and distribution operations, launched under agreements signed earlier this year with JAC Motors. The shipment follows regulatory approvals for direct importation and positions AutoMax to begin marketing and sales activities for JAC Motors vehicles across Israel. SciSparc has provided financial support to AutoMax, which SciSparc believes helped provide AutoMax with resources to facilitate the transaction with JAC Motors. Further, as part of its growth strategy, AutoMax entered into a merger agreement with the company in April 2024, that if completed would pave the way for SciSparc's expansion into the automotive sector. The merger is subject to closing conditions, including the approval of the shareholders of each of the company and AutoMax.

05:48 EST Nippon Steel pushes out expected U.S. Steel closing date to Q1 of 2025 - Nippon Steel issued the following statement regarding the timely disclosure titled "Acquisition of United States Steel Corporation" dated as of December 18, 2023, "Nippon Steel Corporation would like to inform you that there has been a change as described below. The acquisition of United States Steel Corporation by Nippon Steel is still under review, following the decision from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States on December 23, 2024 to refer the matter to the President of the United States. The President must make a final determination on whether or not to approve the Acquisition within 15 days of the referral. The review process of the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice is also still pending. As a result, we have revised the estimated closing date of the Acquisition. Nippon Steel hopes that the President will use this time to conduct a fair and fact-based evaluation of the Acquisition. We remain confident that the Acquisition will protect and grow U. S. Steel, creating the best steelmaker with world-leading capabilities for the benefit of American workers and customers. Our significant investments in U. S. Steel's facilities and people will ensure a vibrant future for American steelmaking and strengthen U.S. national security, economic security, and job security. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the wide range of stakeholders in the United States and Japan, including the government officials, elected officials, local community members, and the employees of U. S. Steel, for their tremendous cooperation and enthusiastic support for this transaction." In conjunction, Nippon Steel changed the estimated date of closing from the third or fourth quarter of calendar year 2024, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and other conditions as specified in the merger agreement, to the first quarter of calendar year 2025, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and other conditions as specified in the merger agreement. "There is no impact on our consolidated performance," Nippon Steel added. Reference Link