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Glonghui, May 22｜Macquarie issued a report stating that ZTO Express showed strong business volume and revenue performance in the first quarter, but its profit margin was slightly below expectations as the company prioritized business volume over pricing. With increased contributions from returns and retail parcels, as well as integration of automation and AI technologies, there has been an expansion in market share, average selling price, and unit economics. The bank maintains its "Outperform" rating on ZTO Express and raises its US stock target price by 3% to $31.4. With the establishment of a price floor in the industry, it is believed that ZTO, relying on its competitive advantage in customer service, has the potential to capture a larger share of business volume.

According to Odaily, Allianz Research stated that the Middle East crisis may trigger a surge in semiconductor prices. “The risk of energy shortages caused by the Middle East crisis may push prices even higher, as supply is already tight and highly concentrated,” the institution said. In addition, shortages of raw materials essential for semiconductor production (especially helium) could affect factories, possibly causing monthly losses of over 1 billion USD, the institution added. “Qatar accounts for one-third of global helium production. Helium is an upstream input for the artificial intelligence supply chain and is almost entirely shipped through Gulf ports,” Allianz Research stated. (Golden Ten Data)

ChainCatcher news, according to Golden Ten Data, UBS Group has raised its S&P 500 Index target for the end of 2026 to 7,900 points, up from the previous target of 7,500 points; the mid-2027 target is 8,200 points.