Wedbush Securities

So far, 2024 has been an interesting year economically. Interest rates remain relatively high and the Federal Reserve has not indicated for certain whether or not they will indeed cut the Fed Funds rate as many as three times this year. The stock market, though volatile at times, is hovering at near all-time high levels for the Dow, the S&P 500 and other major indexes. Home sales remain robust, and inflation is definitely still here as well. And of course there is the huge potential economic wildcard, the 2024 election. Here are some thoughts as you review your portfolio and overall financial plan at mid-year.

We're proud to share that our very own Burke Dempsey, EVP and Head of Investment Banking & Capital Markets, moderated the "Energy Transition & Cleantech" panel at Maybank Invest ASEAN. Burke led discussions on the rapid pace of energy transition, groundbreaking cleantech innovations, and strategies for sustainable growth. Thank you to the insightful panelists and Maybank for this impactful event. Let's continue driving sustainable energy solutions! #EnergyTransition #Cleantech #Sustainability #MaybankInvestASEAN

We recently honored our 2023 Service Award recipients to commemorate their years of dedication at Wedbush. These awards go beyond mere recognition; they symbolize the grit and passion of our organization—the people who make it all possible. This has been a long-standing tradition at Wedbush, created by our late founder, Ed Wedbush and his legacy of valuing service. Keep an eye out this summer as we spotlight our exceptional Wedbush colleagues who have been with the firm for over 35 years!

🎥 : Bob Fitzsimmons, EVP & Co-Head of MAPS, recently joined John Lothian News’ Futures Discovery video series to shed light on the crucial role FCMs (Futures Commission Merchants) play in the financial landscape.    Bob and host, Corties Draper, spoke about FCMs being essential pillars in the derivatives market who facilitate risk management, capital allocation, liquidity provision and much more.    Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/gd2qq7CQ

Our Investment Banking & Capital Markets (IBCM) team recently wrapped up a week-long tour around Silicon Valley with our top Malaysian pension & sovereign fund clients and our ASEAN partner, Maybank Investment Banking Group. This immersive experience allowed our clients to engage with 20 of the most influential and innovative tech and AI companies and meet industry leaders, including Meta, NVIDIA, AMD, Intel Corporation, Tesla, Salesforce, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Zscaler, Palantir Technologies, AppLovin and many more. Discover more about our IBCM services and how we can support your business growth: wedbush.co/3x7MSCw

Meet Carsen Sharkey, a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in Applied Mathematics and Statistics & Analytics with a minor in Data Science, currently interning with our Investment Banking & Capital Markets division. Carsen’s passion lies at the intersection of technology and finance. With a keen interest in artificial intelligence, he saw Wedbush as the ideal place to explore these fields. Starting in high school, Carsen volunteered as an adaptive aquatics instructor, teaching swimming to underprivileged children. He also co-organized a swim-a-thon for the YMCA Strong Kids Fund. In college, he continued as a peer tutor, helping students in mathematics, computer science, and Spanish. Beyond academics, Carsen enjoys swimming, running, lifting weights, solving crossword puzzles, and more. Fun fact: He can place every country on a map! #MeetTheInterns #WedbushInternship

Our Equity Research and Investment Banking & Capital Markets teams, under the leadership of Equity Research analyst and Managing Director, Rich Anderson, were actively involved in this year's Nareit REITweek conference. We connected with industry leaders, delved into the latest REIT trends, and successfully hosted a cocktail reception with top public REIT company executives. For further insights into our comprehensive coverage, visit here: wedbush.co/3V72n5y

Meet John Freeman, a Data Science Economics major at Rutgers University, who is interning with our Wealth Management division. Drawn by the exciting opportunities and the consistently friendly staff, John is eager to contribute to the company’s success. He’s also an active member of Rutgers’ Calisthenics Club, where he serves as Treasurer. Beyond his official role, John manages intercollegiate competitions and community events. When not working or studying, he enjoys hiking, calisthenics, cooking, wrestling, and spending time with family and friends. Fun fact: John has traveled to three countries outside the US! #MeetTheInterns #WedbushInternship 

"We are fans of the CD PROJEKT team and their work, but believe that the shares face an obstacle of sorts from the lack of clarity around game release timing," said Equity Research Analysts, Nick McKay and Michael Pachter. Wedbush initiated coverage on CD PROJEKT S.A. (CDR.WA) at #NEUTRAL, setting a 12-month price target of 125 PLN.

Equity Research Analysts, Richard Anderson and Jay Kornreich initiated coverage on Apple Hospitality REIT (APLE) at #NEUTRAL, setting a 12-month price target of $15.00. The team sees "APLE as a more defensive way to play the hotel REIT space behind its diversified portfolio with no market representing more than 6% of EBITDA, high margins, and low leverage at 3.4x."