XPeng, Albertsons-Kroger, Planet Fitness: 3 Stories In Focus

XPeng Motors (XPEV) CEO He Xiaopeng reported that he has bought over 2 million shares of the Chinese EV maker — a purchase worth over $13 million. XPeng's stock is rising Monday morning on this news.

Grocery chains Kroger (KR) and Albertsons (ACI) will be defending their $25 billion merger in federal court after Federal Trade Commission regulators moved to block their deal.

Baird analysts have labeled Planet Fitness (PLNT) as one of their "Bullish Fresh Picks" while reiterating their Outperform rating on the gym operator's stock.

For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Morning Brief.

This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

Video Transcript

We're taking a closer look at Yahoo Finance's trending tickers.

We've got Expo, Albertson's and Planet Fitness and we're doing it in 30 seconds each.

Let's give it a shot.

Expound shares surging this after its chief executive disclosing that he bought over 2 million shares of the electric vehicle maker.

And there you're seeing the stock movement higher by about 6% as of right now, this typically looked at as a vote of confidence.

And the board also saying in a filing that they believe the acquisition demonstrates the strong confidence of he towards prospects and growth of the company as well and his long term commitment towards the brand.

So there you see shares and I think that this is something that obviously when you see this type of action and give a vote of confidence.

So investors are looking for at this time, you know, Expo up against some stiff competition within the space.

Right now, there has been a price war that has broken out within China amongst Xo and many of its competitors.

So again, the fact that maybe he is buying 2 million shares or he is buying not, maybe he is buying 2 million shows, but maybe the signals a more bullish.

I'll look here for exon going forward.

That is really what is explaining the move to the upside here this morning.

Right.

Let's take a look at Albertsons and Kroger.

This is a story that just does not go away.

The two companies heading to a federal court today to defend its merger plan.

This after the FTC in several states sued the block, sued to block the deal earlier this year.

We're seeing a bit of a decline of just about 4/10 of a percent.

I don't think that has much to do with the fact that the Trump is starting today.

But of course, Brad, this makes a question about what exactly this looks like going forward here for the company.

Whether or not this deal is going to get approved, we know price gouging front and center for Vice President Kamala Harris is economic plan going forward.

So I'm not too sure whether or not that's going to really change things here, but we'll see whether or not this gets approved.

All you mean the 30 seconds there.

Let's get this last one.

Planet Fitness shares taking higher right now, be adding a Bullish fresh pick designation this first time heard that one and that designation is being applied to the gym chain and reiterating their outperform rating and $92 price target.

The firm saying Planet Fitness is an attractive idea and a slow growth environment.

However, everybody's hoping to pick up those gains on a quick growth scale.

Anyway, all those things considered shares moving higher by about 9/10 of a percent.

Uh This company also has a new CEO we heard from the new CEO.

Uh finally.

Well, not finally.

But anyway.

All right, my time's up.