California Closes Down as COVID Cases Rise
What had been another exuberant start to a new trading week, with a fresh Q2 earnings beat from PepsiCo PEP and the reopening of Walt Disney’s DIS Disney World in Florida, turned south in the final hour of regular trading Monday. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the state is ordering the closure of recently opened indoor bars, restaurants, health clubs, movie theaters and places of worship, to name just a few. The most populous 30 counties in the state, accounting for 80% of California’s population, are being particularly affected.
California is home to more to 39.5 million people, making it the most populated state in the U.S., by 10+ million more than second-place Texas. The state now has a COVID-19 tally of more than 327K cases — 8700 per 1 million citizens — with over 7000 deaths in the state alone. That means California has 5.1% of the entire coronavirus fatality rate in the U.S., and 1.2% of the world’s reported deaths from the coronavirus. LA County alone has reported 3800 deaths from the disease to date.
Today’s decision will make a big dent in the overall U.S. reopening and subsequent economic growth, not just in California-based restaurants like Jack in the Box JACK, down 2.3% Monday, but private companies like LA Fitness, as well. Marin County-based RH RH dropped 1% in regular trading, as well. But California hosts all manner of national and international business headquartered out of state and out of country, as well. This suggests the latest shutdown will have a real impact on Q3 earnings figures, GDP and employment; we are not yet out of the woods in dealing with the coronavirus. Los Angeles and San Diego had already reported it will start the school year at home.
This morning, San Jose, CA-based Maxim Integrated MXIM has risen 13% on the news that its business was merging with Massachusetts-based Analog Devices ADI for $21 billion in an all-stock deal. Maxim shareholders would own 0.63 shares on ADI stock for a 31% stake in the company. Analysts consider this a solid acquisition for ADI, as Maxim’s business focuses on microchips for programmable features in autos, healthcare services, communications and manufacturing. ADI traded down 1.7% on the news.
Questions or comments about this article and/or its author? Click here>>
Is the Market Rigged?
Computer-driven High-Frequency Traders (HFTs) manipulate the market thousands of times a day – and their gains come at the expense of human investors. Zacks has mounted a Counterstrike to take advantage of the best profit opportunities created by HFTs. Access to these recommendations must be limited; the doors close soon. See Counterstrike Trades Now >>
Click to get this free report Jack In The Box Inc. (JACK) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Walt Disney Company (DIS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (MXIM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) : Free Stock Analysis Report PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) : Free Stock Analysis Report RH (RH) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
