S&P Global Stock Price, News & Analysis

S&P 500 stock buybacks in Q3 2024 decreased 4.0% to $226.6 billion from Q2 2024's $235.9 billion, but increased 22.1% from Q3 2023. The 12-month buyback expenditure through September 2024 rose 16.7% to $918.4 billion.

Information Technology maintained its lead in buybacks despite a 6.4% decrease, while Consumer Discretionary increased spending by 13.5%. The 1% buyback tax reduced Q3 2024 operating earnings by 0.42%.

Apple dominated with $25.4 billion in Q3 buybacks, followed by Alphabet ($15.3B), NVIDIA ($12.7B), Meta Platforms ($12.4B), and JP Morgan ($6.4B). Total shareholder returns (buybacks + dividends) decreased 1.5% to $383.6 billion in Q3 2024.

S&P Global Commodity Insights hosted its 26th annual Platts Global Energy Awards in New York City, recognizing excellence across 19 categories with winners from nearly a dozen countries. Repsol emerged as the evening's triple winner, securing Energy Company of the Year, Energy Transition – Downstream Award, and Strategic Deal of the Year for its $768 million ConnectGen acquisition.

Notable individual achievements included Lorenzo Simonelli of Baker Hughes winning Chief Executive of the Year, Greg Jackson of Octopus Energy Group named Chief Trailblazer of the Year, and Jeffrey W. Martin of Sempra receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. The awards recognized companies and leaders demonstrating excellence in traditional and renewable energy sectors, with winners from Australia, Canada, France, India, Spain, Turkey, UAE, UK, and the US.

S&P Global Commodity Insights has released its 2025 energy outlook, highlighting significant market uncertainties driven by ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, China-West geopolitical tensions, and Trump's election impact on energy policies. The outlook identifies key trends including AI-driven power demand growth from data centers, expected to represent 5% of global power demand by 2030, and fossil fuel market adjustments with OPEC+ facing challenges in balancing supply and prices.

The report forecasts global primary energy demand to grow by over 8 million boe/d in 2025, with fossil fuel demand increasing by 3 million boe/d. Notable developments include potential nuclear energy revival, China's dominance in clean technology, and peak gasoline demand coinciding with new refining capacity. The outlook also addresses the upcoming wave of LNG exports and coal consumption trends.

CARFAX reports a significant increase in odometer fraud nationwide, with over 2.14 million vehicles potentially affected in 2024, marking an 18% rise since 2021 and adding 82,000 more cases from the previous year. The fraudulent practice, which can be executed quickly using modern technology, costs unsuspecting buyers an average of $4,000 in lost value, plus additional repair costs.

Nine out of the top 10 states reported increases, with Virginia showing the highest spike at 11.7%, followed by Arizona at 8.0% and Florida at 6.4%. The fraud typically occurs when sellers alter vehicle mileage displays to avoid lease charges or increase vehicle value.

S&P Dow Jones Indices has clarified the float-adjusted liquidity ratio (FALR) eligibility criteria for U.S. Indices. The clarification specifies that FALR is calculated using the annual dollar value traded divided by float-adjusted market capitalization, utilizing composite pricing and all publicly reported U.S. consolidated volume (excluding dark pools). For the S&P Total Market Index, FALR must be greater than or equal to 0.1, with current constituents having no minimum requirement. The clarification affects major indices including the S&P Composite 1500, S&P 500, S&P 400, S&P 600, and Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index. The update is effective December 9, 2024, with no constituent changes occurring.

S&P Global Market Intelligence has released a new report, 'Power Plays in 2025', outlining four key themes that will shape global political and economic relationships in 2025. The report identifies economic angst, domestic discontent, elusive alliances, and trade troubles as major factors affecting markets.

The analysis suggests that while global economic expansion is expected to continue, led by emerging markets, multiple risks including structural challenges and geopolitical issues could impede growth. The report highlights concerns about domestic instability, protectionist measures, and fragmented trade environments that may lead to higher consumer prices and increased inflationary pressures.

Enteligent has been named a finalist in two categories for the 26th annual S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards: Emerging Technology of the Year and Rising Star Company. The company was recognized for its DC-coupled electric vehicle charging and PV solar technologies.

Their DC-coupled EVSE fleet charging solution delivers 20-30% energy savings by eliminating DC-to-AC-to-DC conversions, featuring integrated PV solar generation and battery storage. The technology reduces infrastructure costs and simplifies deployment compared to traditional AC-based systems.

Additionally, Enteligent's NMax PV module-level power electronic optimizer aims to help smaller solar installers compete with market leaders by providing comparable features at more affordable prices in a market where two players control 80% of installations.

S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) has released its latest Look Forward research series, analyzing AI's impact across multiple sectors. The report examines three key areas: labor markets, where AI will drive efficiency and create new roles while requiring reskilling; the energy sector, where growing datacenter demand will impact power infrastructure and clean energy adoption; and societal implications, including AI's potential to transform creative processes, education, and access to essential services.

According to Swamy Kocherlakota, EVP and Chief Digital Solutions Officer, the research leverages S&P Global's expertise and data to help organizations navigate these transitions effectively. The report highlights how AI will reshape electricity consumption patterns and emphasizes the need to balance risks and opportunities in AI implementation.

S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) and UBS have announced the launch of the S&P UBS Leveraged Loan Indices, formerly known as the Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Indices. These indices track performance across global loan markets using S&P Global Market Intelligence's pricing data.

The suite encompasses over 2,000 indices covering USD 1.6 trillion in market value, measuring leveraged loans in US dollars, Euro, and British sterling. S&P DJI will serve as the exclusive publisher, calculator, administrator, and licensor of this index family.

The U.S. leveraged loan market has experienced substantial growth, expanding from USD 400 million to USD 1.3 trillion. The indices will be consolidated in 2025, with S&P DJI's iBoxx USD Leveraged Loan Indices being integrated into the S&P UBS Leveraged Loan Index suite.