-- Elevance Health (ELV) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $376.24, according to analysts polled by FactSet.
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Price: $342.37, Change: $+14.17, Percent Change: +4.32%
US natural gas futures extended earlier losses in after-hours trading, wiping out recent gains after government data showed a larger-than-expected injection into storage.The front-month Henry Hub contract and the continuous contract both fell 4.59% to $2.597 per million British thermal units.The decline followed bearish data from the US Energy Information Administration that showed natural gas inventories in underground storage rose by 103 billion cubic feet for the week ended Apr. 17. The build exceeded market expectations for a 95-98 Bcf increase. Total stockpiles climbed to 2,063 Bcf, leaving inventories 142 Bcf above year-ago levels and 137 Bcf above the five-year average. The injection also surpassed last year's 77 Bcf build and the five-year average increase of 64 Bcf.The Energy Buyers Guide said the 103-Bcf build was the largest on record at this point in the injection season, reflecting very low weather-related demand. Consumption across all domestic sectors hovered near seasonal minimums during the reporting week, offsetting the impact of weaker net supply. It also noted that inventories held just a 3-Bcf surplus as of Mar. 20, but that cushion has expanded to 137 Bcf over the past four weeks.A warmer US weather outlook is expected to further dampen heating demand, putting additional pressure on prices. Barchart, citing The Commodity Weather Group, said above-average temperatures are forecast across the eastern half of the US through Apr. 27.Total demand was estimated at 67.7 Bcf per day, up 3.1% over this time last year, Barchart said, citing BNEF data. Aegis Hedging said residential and commercial demand continued to decline as the Lower 48 weather warms, falling by a further 2 Bcf/d to 12.7 Bcf/d. That drop was partially offset by a 1.5 Bcf/d increase in power-sector demand.On the supply side, Barchart said Lower 48 dry gas production was estimated at 110.6 Bcf/d on Thursday, up 3.7% from a year earlier. Net flows to US LNG export terminals were near capacity at 19.8 Bcf/d, up 0.3% week-on-week.Geopolitical developments provided some underlying support. The most recent Dallas Fed survey of energy executives showed they expect the Strait of Hormuz to remain closed for months, potentially curtailing Middle Eastern supplies and boosting US LNG exports to help fill the gap.The EIA also reported that Golden Pass LNG shipped its first cargo on Wednesday, becoming the 10th LNG export terminal in the US. The launch comes as disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz have affected more than 10 Bcf/d, around 20%, of global supply. Golden Pass LNG is currently the only new US export facility expected to begin shipments in 2026.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:Edwards Lifesciences reported strong Q1 results with sales growing 16.7% Y/Y to $1.65B and adjusted EPS of $0.78, beating consensus estimates by $0.05. Operating margin expanded to 31.4% from 29.1% in the prior-year quarter, supported by $500M in quarterly share repurchases. The company benefits from momentum generated by EARLY TAVR study data driving earlier disease intervention, while Boston Scientific's European market exit strengthened EW's TAVR positioning, in our view. EW raised full-year 2026 guidance to 10% constant currency sales growth and $3.00 adjusted EPS midpoint, representing 17% growth vs. 2025. TAVR sales of $1.20B grew 14.4% Y/Y supported by SAPIEN growth globally, with raised guidance to 8% midpoint from 7% previously. TMTT sales surged 51.9% Y/Y driven by PASCAL adoption and higher EVOQUE utilization as procedure volumes rose in the double digits. We expect continued operating margin expansion toward the high end of EW's 28%-29% guidance range in 2026.
US electricity output rose 1.2% in February 2026 as fuel shifts and price swings reshaped markets, the Energy Information Administration said in the February monthly update on Thursday.Retail electricity sales increased 0.8%, while residential prices climbed 7.4% over the year to $17.65 cents per kilowatt hour, the agency said.Heating degree-days fell 5.2% to 689, signaling milder weather overall even as regional temperature swings drove uneven electricity demand patterns, the report said.Total US electricity generation increased 1.2%, with gains in the Northeast, MidAtlantic, Southeast, and Florida, while Central, West, and Texas regions posted declines, the agency said.Colder eastern weather supported higher generation, while warmer western conditions reduced output despite total production reaching 342,801 thousand megawatt hours, EIA added.Coal-fired output trends diverged regionally, with total coal consumption dropping 11.3% even as some eastern regions increased coal use, the report said.Natural gas generation rose across most regions as consumption increased 1.5% to 967,789 million cubic feet, supported by lower fuel prices, the agency said.Fuel share changes showed some regions shifting toward coal even as Henry Hub natural gas prices declined 7.2% over the year to $3.84 per million British thermal units, it said.The Northeast and MidAtlantic increased use of alternative fuels during winter demand periods as pipeline constraints limited gas supply despite lower prices, the agency said.Nuclear generation rose 0.9% to 62.4 million megawatt hours, contributing to overall growth in electricity supply, the report said.Coal stockpiles declined 1.9% over the year but increased 0.7% over the month to 104,721 thousand tons, remaining relatively low by historical standards, the agency said.Eastern bituminous coal plants reduced forward supply to 120 days from 130, while western subbituminous plants lowered levels to 138 days from 143, EIA said.Henry Hub gas prices dropped sharply from $7.55 per MMBtu in January to $3.84 per MMBtu in February, while New York prices fell to $6.75 per MMBtu from $19.84 per MMBtu, EIA added.On a power-cost basis, gas declined to $30.77 per megawatt-hour from $60.48 per MWh, falling below coal at $35.85 per MWh, while New York gas remained higher at $54.10 per MWh, it said.Wholesale electricity prices in eastern markets ranged from $24 to $260 per MWh due to colder weather and higher demand, the agency said.Western markets recorded tighter price ranges as above-average temperatures reduced winter electricity demand across those systems, the report said.Southern Company and Progress Florida recorded the widest peak demand swings during early February cold snaps, while California demand remained low amid warmer conditions, according to EIA.