-- Money managers in the WTI crude futures and options markets maintained their net long positions in the week ended Apr. 21, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's latest Commitments of Traders report released Friday.
The data showed that money managers reported 220,477 long positions, down 5,673 from Apr. 14, while short positions were down 4,830 to 77,076.
Producers, merchants, processors, and users held 714,558 long positions and 390,912 short positions.
Crude futures diverged in after-hours trading on Friday as the US and Iran are expected to hold indirect talks in Pakistan, paving the way for the resumption of energy flows via the Strait of Hormuz.Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 1.01% to $94.88 per barrel, while Brent futures were up 0.81% to $105.92/bbl."Spot crude and product prices eased off the early-April highs on a combination of system rerouting and deal optimism," Ole R. Hvalbye, commodities analyst, said, adding that April Gulf output is reduced by 14.5 million b/d of pre-war supply.US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will reportedly travel to Pakistan on Saturday morning for direct talks with the Iranian delegation, as Tehran sounded a pessimistic tone on the prospects for talks to end the Middle East conflict.Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Pakistan on Friday, but Tehran has not publicly agreed to meet with Trump's representatives. Araghchi plans to present a new written response to a US proposal for a peace deal while in Pakistan, according to media reports."Embarking on timely tour of Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow. Purpose of my visits is to closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments," Araghchi said in a social media post on X.Meanwhile, the US sanctioned a Chinese oil refinery as well as dozens of shipping firms and vessels that transport Iranian oil on Friday, as the Trump administration ramps up economic pressure on Tehran amid the blockade of the Hormuz.The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control said it imposed penalties on Hengli Petrochemical Refinery, one of China's smaller so-called teapot oil refineries that the department called "one of Tehran's most valued customers."OFAC also announced sanctions against about 40 shipping companies and tankers involved in the shadow-fleet transport of Iran's oil.The latest diplomatic developments and sanctions came as the US increased pressure on Iran with its naval blockade to choke off Iranian oil revenues as Washington seeks to get Tehran to agree to talks to end the conflict.Saxo Bank strategists said the disruption in the Hormuz threatens to further delay crude and fuel flows from the Arabian Gulf.MarineTraffic said Hormuz traffic remains constrained, with eight crossings recorded on Apr.23, flat day-over-day and far below typical volumes.While no new attacks have occurred since April 22, risks remain elevated for the 702 vessels still in the Persian Gulf, amid threats of Iranian action, US interdiction and persistent mine hazards, the ship-tracking data firm said.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We lower our 12-month price target to $515 from $565, reflecting a 2026 P/E of 17x, a premium to hospital operator peers given our view of HCA's stronger margin profile historically and attractive near-term earnings growth trajectory, and above HCA's three-year historical forward average of 15.3x. We lower our 2026 EPS estimate by $0.03 to $30.30 and raise our 2027 estimate by $0.04 to $33.31. HCA estimates a $150M EBITDA headwind during Q1, relative to Q1 2025, from the expiration of the ACA enhanced premium tax credits at year-end 2025, which contributed to significant coverage losses and put upward pressure on uncompensated care. However, the company maintained the full-year outlook for a $600M-$900M impact, which we view favorably, though we think the ACA coverage landscape could be volatile in the coming quarters.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We keep our 12-month price target at $96, 32x our 2026 EPS forecast, a small premium to EW's three-year historical forward average of 30.2x. Our target represents a multiple to health care equipment peers, supported by attractive EPS growth potential from EW's position in the structural heart disease market, as well as EW's negative net debt position, in our view. We raise our 2026 EPS estimate by $0.04 to $3.00 and raise our 2027 estimate by $0.05 to $3.36. We expect near 11.0% sales growth in 2026, building off of 11.6% growth in 2025, supported by procedure volume growth in the U.S. and abroad. EW anticipates a Q4 U.S. launch of PASCAL (transcatheter valve repair) for tricuspid patients (part of the TMTT segment). The company also sees the TRIFORMIS surgical tricuspid valve launching in 2H 2026 (part of the Surgical segment).