Here’s Why Traders Are Buzzing About Microsoft, Boeing, Visa, and More Today

Although crude futures are almost 2% in the red, the major indexes are defiant today, as the S&P 500 and Dow remain near record highs and the Nasdaq is up by almost half a percent. In this article, we’ll analyze five stocks that traders are talking about today: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Boeing Co (NYSE:BA), Visa Inc (NYSE:V), Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (ADR) (NYSE:PBR), and Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc (NYSE:ZBH). In addition, we’ll use SEC filings to see how elite funds have been trading these equities lately.

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Microsoft Wins Contract

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)‘s cloud business just got a little bigger after Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) agreed to transition many of its commercial aviation applications used by over 300 airlines into the Microsoft Azure cloud. Boeing currently offers a portfolio of advanced analytics tools to those airlines to optimize operating efficiency. Boeing’s expertise in the area along with Microsoft’s cloud tech will help accelerate “the digital transformation of aviation through the use of analytics-based applications, cloud technologies and large-scale integration,” according to the two companies.

Microsoft is currently in a heated battle with Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) for dominance over the large growth market. Microsoft and Boeing are both up by around 0.75% in afternoon trading. Of the 766 active funds that we track, 144 owned shares of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) as of March 31, while 37 owned shares of Boeing Co (NYSE:BA).

Wal-Mart Plays Hardball

Traders are watching Visa Inc (NYSE:V) shares today after three Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) locations in Canada stopped taking Visa as an acceptable payment. The Wal-Mart stores aren’t accepting Visa cards due to the company’s “unacceptably high” fees on transactions. Although small on an individual basis, credit card transaction fees add up in aggregate for a company like Wal-Mart. The fees narrow Wal-Mart’s profit margins and increase costs for consumers. Wal-Mart has said that the decision to stop accepting Visa will eventually spread to over 370 stores in Canada if the two companies cannot work out a compromise. Warren Buffett‘s Berkshire Hathaway was a major shareholder of Visa Inc (NYSE:V) at the end of March, owning 10.24 million shares.

On the next page we’ll check in on why Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (ADR) and Zimmer Biomet Holdings are trending today.

Petrobras Won’t Be Privatized Anytime Soon

Although the Brazilian government will give Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (ADR) (NYSE:PBR) more autonomy over pricing decisions to prevent corruption and increase returns on investment, Brazil’s government has no intention to privatize the company anytime soon. According to CEO Petro Parente, Brazilian society is not mature enough to even discuss privatization at this point. After falling sharply in 2014 and 2015, Petrobras shares have rebounded strongly in 2016, rising by 89% year-to-date. 23 funds that we track had a long position in Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (ADR) (NYSE:PBR) at the end of the first quarter, down by one quarter-over-quarter.

Zimmer Makes Another Acquistion

A few weeks after it agreed to acquire LDR Holding Corp for $1.00 billion, Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc (NYSE:ZBH) is in expansion mode once again, this time acquiring Medtech SA for around €120 million (or around $132 million). Zimmer already had a 58.77% direct and indirect stake in the company, and the acquisition will help Zimmer expand in the fast-growing robotic medical device category. 45 funds in our system were long Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc (NYSE:ZBH) at the end of the first quarter, up by eight from the end of 2015.

Disclosure: None