Cactus Foods, the maker of Cactus Crunch tortilla chips, has significantly expanded its retail distribution by entering over 320 Kroger banner stores nationwide, including Ralphs, Fry’s, Fred Meyer, and King Soopers. This expansion is part of Kroger’s Innovation Program, featuring the brand in natural and organic endcaps. The chips, made from nopal prickly pear cactus, corn, spinach, and flaxseed, are gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO, and have quickly gained recognition since their 2024 launch.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Lewis Sanders has significantly reduced his stake in Seagate Technology (NASDAQ:STX) after the stock surged over 700% from its April 2025 lows, driven by its role in the AI storage ecosystem. Sanders Capital cut its position by about 24% in the first quarter of 2026, selling roughly 4.15 million shares. This move suggests a shift in positioning after a massive rally, indicating a focus on discipline rather than discovery in this hot AI trade.

International Paper (IP) has agreed to acquire North Pacific Paper Co. (Norpac) for $360 million from private equity firm One Rock Capital Partners. This acquisition aims to integrate Norpac's Longview, Washington mill, which produces about 1 million tons of containerboard and other grades annually, into IP's existing system to enhance flexibility and reduce costs, particularly for the West Coast region. The deal aligns with IP's strategic transformation under CEO Andy Silvernail, focusing on strategic investments and potentially splitting the company into two geographically distinct entities.

Walmart plans to remodel 19 stores across Mississippi this year, investing over $379 million in the state over the past five years. These upgrades will enhance the shopping experience by expanding healthy food options, integrating new technology, and offering services like free Pharmacy delivery for Walmart+ members. The remodels are part of a nationwide initiative and are expected to create construction jobs and long-term retail careers within the communities.

Ericsson (ERIC) ADR shares fell 5.3% after the company reported first-quarter revenue that missed analyst expectations, despite announcing a new share buyback program. The decline was attributed to weaker sales and profit pressure from restructuring costs and higher input costs, including those tied to increased AI-related demand for semiconductors. The company also announced a new SEK 15 billion share repurchase program to begin around April 23, 2026.

IBM is set to announce its fiscal first-quarter 2026 results next Wednesday, with analysts from Wedbush anticipating solid performance driven by accelerated demand in AI and hybrid cloud services. The firm highlights IBM's integrated software, consulting, infrastructure, and automation as a competitive advantage. Investors will be closely watching for growth trends in software, AI infrastructure, and adoption of platforms like WatsonX and Red Hat.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. analysts have lowered their price target for Church & Dwight (NYSE:CHD) from $100.00 to $98.00 while maintaining a "neutral" rating, indicating a potential upside of only 1.12%. Despite mixed analyst ratings, the consensus remains "Hold" with an average target of $101.59. The company recently beat quarterly EPS expectations and provided FY2026 guidance, trading with a market capitalization of $22.96 billion.

The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with oil companies, including Chevron, allowing lawsuits from Louisiana officials regarding coastal damage to be moved to federal court. This 8-0 ruling, affecting one of 42 similar cases, is a significant win for energy companies, which generally prefer federal jurisdiction. The case revolves around allegations that companies violated coastal management acts, with a previous state court ruling against Chevron for $744.6 million.

PECO Energy, an Exelon subsidiary, has withdrawn its $510 million rate hike proposals for electric and gas operations from the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission due to affordability concerns from customers, policymakers, and community partners. The utility stated it would continue necessary investments for safety, maintenance, and reliability, while evaluating future capital projects with affordability in mind. Exelon expects the withdrawal to be manageable and not impact its adjusted operating earnings forecast through 2029.

Shares of Abbott Laboratories rose after the company reported Q1 results largely in line with expectations. BTIG analyst Marie Thibault reiterated a Buy rating and a $131 price target, noting that while the company's sales growth outlook reflects lower expectations in some segments, the overall Q1 performance was solid and the sales outlook leaves room for upside. Management also lowered its 2026 adjusted earnings projection but expects sales growth to accelerate in the second half of the year.