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Shares of Yum! Brands (YUM) advanced as the restaurant chain operator got a boost from its Taco Bell franchise.

In the third quarter, Taco Bell same-store sales rose 4%. That helped offset a drop of 4% at both its KFC and Pizza Hut locations. Overall, Yum! Brands reported same-store sales were down 2% worldwide.

Earnings per share (EPS) came in at $1.37, with revenue up 7% to $1.83 billion. Both missed estimates.

CEO David Gibbs said the company navigated “a complex consumer environment.” He added that sales were impacted by “pressures relating to geopolitical conflicts and challenged consumer sentiment.”

Gibbs also said that Taco Bell “significantly outperformed” competition from rival Restaurant Brands International (QSR). The owner of Burger King posted consolidated comparable sales grew just 0.3%.

Gibbs noted that looking at sales trends, the company was optimistic Taco Bell's momentum is continuing into the current quarter.

Yum! Brands shares are up about 6% so far in 2024.

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A lady was left devastated, after her crush pronounced ‘awe’ as ‘aware’.

The lady said she has not being feeling fine, since the incidence happened.

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Palantir Technologies (PLTR) shares rocketed higher Tuesday after last night's earnings results comfortably beat expectations. Some analysts remain wary that the analytics software provider is overvalued. 

“There's no denying that [Palantir] is deserving of a premium valuation,” wrote analysts at Mizuho after the company delivered revenue growth of 30% and raised its 2024 guidance. However, they said, it is "increasingly difficult to justify" the shares' valuation.

Mizuho, which has an "underperform” rating on the shares, raised its price target to $37 from $30—which, however, still calls for the shares to decline. The stock was recently up some 20% to about $50, more than tripling this year; the mean price target tracked by Visible Alpha is closer to $33.

Deutsche Bank analysts raised their price target to $26 from $21. Palantir, they wrote, benefits from what it calls “a more entrenched retail investor following relative to everything else we cover.” Palantir trades at roughly double the multiple of the next most-expensive stock the bank covers, the analysts said. 

CEO Alexander Karp said the company, “absolutely eviscerated this quarter, driven by unrelenting AI demand that won’t slow down.”

The company's U.S. commercial revenue grew 54% to $179 million in the period, and its U.S. government revenue improved 40% to $320 million. Executives cited AI-related demand as a driver of that growth.

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There was a tense situation along the expressway near Ilasa, heading towards Mile 2 in Lagos, as some individuals reportedly atta3ked a LASTMA officer.

According to a statement by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the incident occurred on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

The statement read: “On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at approximately 9:55 a.m., a Volkswagen T4 commercial driver, known for frequently violating traffic rules, was stopped by a LASTMA Patrol Team. The driver was observed picking up and dropping off passengers at an unauthorized location along the expressway near Ilasa, heading towards Mile 2.

During the incident, the driver and conductor, with assistance from nearby individuals, reportedly became aggressive, p3uring petrol on a LASTMA officer. The inj¥red officer was promptly rushed to the hospital for urgent medical care.”

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Boeing's (BA) machinists union voted to approve a third contract agreement, ending a crippling strike at the plane maker that has lasted nearly two months.

Shares fell, however, as analysts noted that ramping production up will take time.

Members of the International Association of Machinists accepted an offer that included 38% pay increases, along with a ratification bonus that workers can elect to use as part of their retirement savings. The union rejected a previous offer from Boeing that included a 35% pay hike, extending the strike that began on Sept. 13.

Boeing’s latest proposal received the support of 59% of the votes cast by union members, the union said.

"While the past few months have been difficult for all of us, we are all part of the same team,"Boeing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kelly Ortberg, who stepped into the role in August, said in a statement. "There is much work ahead to return to the excellence that made Boeing an iconic company."

The striking employees, whose absence had put production at a near-standstill, can return to work Wednesday "and must return by beginning of their shift on Nov. 12, 2024," according to the union and the company.

Bank of America Securities analysts stuck with their neutral call and $155.07 price target on Boeing stock, noting that "while the strike ending and workers returning to the shopfloor is a meaningful step in the right direction, ramping back up will take time."

"Some employees will need to attending[sic] retraining session before returning in full swing, with a firm return deadline of November 12th," the analysts added, noting they expect to see "some volatility" in Boeing's share price.

Boeing has been hit by a string of crises this year, starting in early January when a door plug detached during an Alaska Airlines (ALK) flight. The cash drain from the strike has led the jet maker to raise billions of dollars in funding.

Ortberg has announced plans to lay off about 10% of its workforce, or 17,000 workers, "over the coming months" and is postponing the launch of Boeing's first 777x jetliner.

Boeing shares fell as much as 0.38% Tuesday morning and are down around 40% this year.

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