Today's noteworthy initiations include: A.O. Smith (AOS) assumed with an Outperform at William Blair...ARM Holdings (ARMH) initiated with an Outperform at Macquarie...Advaxis (ADXS) initiated with a Buy at Guggenheim...Align Technology (ALGN) initiated with an Outperform at Leerink...Barracuda (CUDA) initiated with a Buy at BTIG...Check Point (CHKP) initiated with a Neutral at BTIG...Citrix (CTXS) initiated with a Neutral at BTIG...Columbia Sportswear (COLM) initiated with a Buy at BB&T...Commvault (CVLT) initiated with a Buy at BTIG......D.R. Horton (DHI) reinstated with a Buy at BofA/Merrill...Demandware (DWRE) initiated with a Buy at BTIG...Dow Chemical (DOW) initiated with an Outperform at Bernstein...DuPont (DD) initiated with a Market Perform at Bernstein...Emerge Energy (EMES) initiated with a Buy at Global Hunter...FireEye (FEYE) initiated with a Neutral at BTIG...FirstEnergy (FE) initiated with an Overweight at JPMorgan...Halyard Health (HYH) initiated with a Buy at Deutsche Bank...Imperva (IMPV) initiated with a Buy at BTIG...Intec Pharma (NTEC) initiated with a Buy at Roth Capital...LyondellBasell (LYB) initiated with an Outperform at Bernstein...Maxwell (MXWL) initiated with a Perform at Oppenheimer...Mercer (MERC) initiated with a Neutral at Sidoti...Monsanto (MON) initiated with an Underperform at Bernstein...Mosaic (MOS) initiated with a Market Perform at Bernstein...NVR (NVR) initiated with a Neutral at BofA/Merrill...NeuroMetrix (NURO) initiated with a Buy at Maxim...NextEra Energy Partners (NEP) initiated with a Neutral at JPMorgan...Nike (NKE) initiated with a Buy at B. Riley...Oracle (ORCL) initiated with a Buy at BTIG...PSEG (PEG) initiated with a Neutral at JPMorgan...Palo Alto (PANW) initiated with a Buy at BTIG...Pattern Energy (PEGI) initiated with an Overweight at JPMorgan...Potash (POT) initiated with a Market Perform at Bernstein...PowerSecure (POWR) initiated with an Outperform at Oppenheimer...Proofpoint (PFPT) initiated with a Buy at BTIG...PulteGroup (PHM) reinstated with a Neutral at BofA/Merrill...Red Hat (RHT) initiated with a Buy at BTIG...Salesforce (CRM) initiated with a Buy at BTIG...ServiceNow (NOW) initiated with a Buy at BTIG...Silver Spring (SSNI) initiated with an Outperform at Oppenheimer...Southcross Energy Partners (SXE) assumed with a Neutral at JPMorgan...Symantec (SYMC) initiated with a Neutral at BTIG...Teleflex (TFX) initiated with a Buy at Deutsche Bank...Texas Roadhouse (TXRH) initiated with a Buy at Maxim...Toll Brothers (TOL) reinstated with a Buy at BofA/Merrill...Under Armour (UA) initiated with a Neutral at B. Riley...Union Pacific (UNP) initiated with a Hold at Topeka...Wendy's (WEN) initiated with a Buy at Guggenheim...Workday (WDAY) initiated with a Buy at BTIG...Zendesk (ZEN) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital.

Vertex (VERX) announced that it has been selected to join the Oracle Independent Software Vendor, ISV, Accelerator for SaaS Initiative. With expertise in Oracle (ORCL) Cloud Fusion Cloud Applications integrations, Vertex continues to leverage the power of contract and tax data to optimize customer operations and outcomes. "Building on our longstanding relationship with Oracle, we are thrilled to join the Oracle ISV Accelerator," said Bradd Wildstein, Vice President, Indirect Sales at Vertex, Inc. "Through this partnership, Vertex can now enhance our customers' finance and sales processes by integrating essential tax solutions into Oracle Fusion Applications. It's more than just data integration - it's about unifying disparate functions, streamlining operations, and amplifying benefits for our mutual customers."

Zelman upgraded PulteGroup to Outperform from Neutral.

BTIG analyst Carl Reichardt raised the firm's price target on PulteGroup to $133 from $122 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares after its Q1 earnings beat. The outperformance was driven by delivery volume, gross margin, financial services income and a lower tax rate, though these were partially offset by lower average selling prices, SG&A ex-the benefit and land sales profit, the analyst tells investors in a research note. BTIG maintains that PulteGroup's high relative returns, conservative balance sheet, balanced product mix and scale advantages over many smaller peers are underappreciated.

Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison said the company is moving its world headquarters to Nashville, Tennessee, Ashley Capoot of CNBC reports. Ellison said Oracle is moving to a "huge campus" and it is closer to "the center of the industry we're most concerned about, which is the health-care industry." Reference Link

BofA raised the firm's price target on FirstEnergy to $35 from $30 and keeps an Underperform rating on the shares. The firm, which is adjusting its 2024 through 2026 EPS estimates to $2.67, $2.86 and $3.00, respectively, still sees the need for further pension de-risking and deleveraging for FirstEnergy's discount to dissipate.

Reports Q1 revenue $3.95B, consensus $3.58B. "PulteGroup reported outstanding financial results that included first quarter records for home sale revenues of $3.8 billion, gross margins of 29.6% and earnings per share of $3.10, all of which helped to drive a return on equity* of 27.3%," said PulteGroup President and CEO Ryan Marshall. "Our strong financial performance reflects both favorable demand conditions and our balanced operating model that allows us to more effectively meet the individual needs of first-time, move-up and active-adult consumers. After more than a decade of underbuilding, it is estimated that our country has a structural shortage of several million homes," added Marshall. "Given PulteGroup's broad operating platform and deep product portfolio, along with the powerful incentive programs we can offer to help improve the overall affordability equation, we are well positioned to expand our market share while helping to provide much needed new housing stock."

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Bullish option flow detected in Toll Brothers with 1,008 calls trading, 1.1x expected, and implied vol increasing over 1 point to 37.16%. 4/26 weekly 115 calls and 4/26 weekly 114 calls are the most active options, with total volume in those strikes near 320 contracts. The Put/Call Ratio is 0.54. Earnings are expected on May 21st.

Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists. 1... To see the rest of the story go to thefly.com. See Story Here

Deutsche Bank placed a "Catalyst Call: Buy" on shares of Union Pacific (UNP) as a short-term investment idea. With all the attention Norfolk Southern (NSC) is getting in recent months, it is easy to overlook developments at other railroads, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm says Union Pacific is now the worst performing pail stock year-to-date. However, operating metrics "clearly show that UNP's renewed efforts on operations are gaining traction," contends Deutsche Bank. It keeps a Buy rating on the shares with a $266 price target.