Jeeno Thitikul Claims LPGA Title at Mizuho Americas Open, Sets Career Earnings Record Jeeno Thitikul secured her ninth LPGA victory at the Mizuho Americas Open, marking another milestone in her career. The 23-year-old Thai star claimed the title with a final-round performance that included a birdie on the 18th hole at Mountain Ridge Country Club, finishing four strokes ahead of her close friend Ruoning Yin. Her first-place prize of $487,500 brought her total career earnings to over $18 million, making her the fastest player in LPGA history to reach that figure. Thitikul previously held the record for the fastest to surpass $8 million and $16 million in earnings. “I mean the world to me,” Thitikul said after her victory, reflecting on her success at the Mizuho Americas Open. The tournament, hosted by Michelle Wie West, emphasized a player-centric experience, offering additional perks beyond the $3.25 million purse. Players received free accommodations courtesy of Mizuho and complimentary transportation provided by Ford. Additional player gifts included $250 gift cards to Delta and Starbucks, with LPGA moms receiving a $1,000 Starbucks card, as Wie West highlighted the importance of caffeine for all mothers. The tournament’s prize money distribution was detailed in a comprehensive breakdown. The top finishers received the following earnings: Jeeno Thitikul earned $487,500 for her victory, while Ruoning Yin took second place with $306,558. Multiple players tied for third place, earning $161,544 each, including Jenny Bae, Alison Lee, Gaby Lopez, and Hye-Jin Choi. Lower positions saw progressively smaller payouts, with players like Jenny Shin and Allisen Corpuz earning $88,955 each for their T7 finishes.#mizuho #mizuho_americas_open #jeeno_thitikul #ruoning_yin #michelle_wie_west
Mizuho Analyst Raises Micron Stock Price Target Amid AI-Driven Memory Demand Surge Micron Technology’s stock has surged over 125% year-to-date, fueled by robust demand for memory chips driven by artificial intelligence advancements. Vijay Rakesh, a top analyst at Mizuho, has raised his price target for Micron shares from $545 to $740 while maintaining a “Buy” rating. Rakesh attributes the upward momentum to agentic AI, which he believes is significantly increasing demand for memory and processing power. The analyst’s revised projections highlight the growing importance of AI-driven applications in shaping the semiconductor industry’s trajectory. Rakesh’s research note emphasizes that Micron’s position is strengthened by both short-term and long-term factors. In the near term, he points to rising demand for traditional DRAM and NAND memory, as AI applications continue to expand into consumer markets. This has led to higher pricing power for memory providers, boosting profitability. Looking ahead, Rakesh forecasts substantial growth in Micron’s revenue and earnings. For Fiscal 2026, 2027, and 2028, he raises revenue estimates to $109 billion, $181 billion, and $179 billion, respectively, from previous forecasts of $108 billion, $165 billion, and $164 billion. Similarly, EPS estimates are elevated to $58.16, $104.74, and $94.40, up from $57.21, $95.04, and $85.35. A key focus of Rakesh’s analysis is the rapid expansion of high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a critical component for AI infrastructure. He projects HBM revenue to reach $19.1 billion in Fiscal 2026, $30.7 billion in 2027, and $35.7 billion in 2028. This represents a 40% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), with HBM revenue expected to surpass $100 billion by 2028. Rakesh underscores that AI demand remains strong, with momentum anticipated to persist through at least 2027.#ai #micron_technology #vijay_rakesh #mizuho #hbm
Wolfe Research Boosts Occidental Petroleum Price Target to $70.00 Wolfe Research has raised its price target for Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY) to $70.00 from $67.00, maintaining an "outperform" rating. The analyst’s recommendation suggests a potential 11.8% upside from the stock’s current price. This adjustment comes amid mixed analyst sentiment, as the broader consensus remains cautious. The average rating for OXY is "Hold," with a consensus target price of $59.52, reflecting divergent views among financial institutions. Occidental Petroleum’s recent financial performance highlights its resilience. The company reported Q4 earnings of $0.31 per share, exceeding the estimated $0.18, and opened its stock near $62.61 on the day of the report. With a market capitalization of approximately $62.1 billion, OXY’s stock has traded within a 52-week range of $34.78 to $67.45. Institutional investors hold roughly 88.7% of the company’s shares, underscoring strong ownership by large financial entities. Analysts have issued varied recommendations on OXY. Barclays increased its target to $59.00 with an "equal weight" rating, while Weiss Ratings upgraded its stance from "sell" to "hold." Jefferies raised its target to $47.00 with a "hold" rating, and Bank of America lifted its price target to $45.00. Mizuho, however, boosted its target to $72.00 with an "outperform" rating, aligning with Wolfe Research’s bullish outlook. Despite these positive signals, the overall analyst consensus remains neutral, with one Strong Buy, eight Buys, fifteen Holds, and two Sells. The stock’s technical indicators reflect a mixed outlook. OXY’s 50-day moving average is at $53.21, while its 200-day average stands at $46.21. The company’s quick ratio of 0.74 and current ratio of 0.94 suggest moderate liquidity, while its debt-to-equity ratio of 0.#wolfe_research #jefferies #occidental_petroleum #barclays #mizuho
