Exchange-Traded Funds Lower as US Equities Drop After Midday

On October 5th, shares of software company PTC (PTC.O) surged by 34.6% in pre-market trading to $193.8 after France's Schneider Electric (SCHN.PA) agreed to acquire PTC in an all-cash deal valuing PTC's equity at approximately $22.6 billion. The offer price of $205 per share represents an enterprise value of $23.7 billion, a 42.3% premium over PTC’s previous closing price. According to data from London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), this is the largest acquisition in Schneider Electric’s history. Following the agreement to acquire private AI software and industrial data provider Cognite Holding in June this year, this deal marks another significant step in SCHN’s expansion into the software sector. As of the previous day’s close, PTC shares were down 17.3% year-to-date, while SCHN’s shares had risen 17.4% for the year.

October 5th - The stock price of cosmetics manufacturer Estée Lauder (EL.N) rose 2.2% in pre-market trading to $93.98. Barclays upgraded the stock rating from "Neutral" to "Overweight" and raised the target price from $97 to $108. The bank stated that the company’s expected sales growth and profitability in the coming years make it one of the most attractive companies in the Global Consumer Staples Index. It was noted that, since announcing its transformation plan, the company (link) has achieved more balanced revenue growth over the past seven quarters, contrary to previous market expectations that reshaping its operating model would require significant time and investment. Growth has been recorded in all regions, and strong North America growth is expected to continue this quarter; structural changes to the operating model are expected to support continued reinvestment and gradually drive the EBIT margin up to double-digit percentage highs. The average rating given by 44 brokerages is "Buy," with a median target price of $129—data compiled by London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). As of the last trading day’s close, the stock had declined about 12% year-to-date. (For the convenience of non-English speakers, Reuters has automated the translation of its reports into several other languages. Since automated translation may be inaccurate or fail to capture the intended context, Reuters makes no representations as to the accuracy of these translations and provides them solely for reader convenience. Reuters is not responsible for any damage or losses arising from the use of automated translations.)