Sector Update: Financial

02:57 PM EDT, 10/06/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Simulations Plus (SLP) said Tuesday that affiliates of Altaris have completed the acquisition of the company. The transaction price was $375 million, with each Simulations shareholder receiving $18.50 in cash per share, according to an earlier statement. As a result of the acquisition, Simulations said it has become a privately held company and its common stock will no longer trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.

On October 6th: - Shares of discount retailer Dollar General (DG.N) rose about 3% in afternoon trading, closing at $122.34. - Gordon Haskett raised its rating to "Buy" with a target price of $140 after meeting with company management. - The brokerage said that as high gasoline prices put pressure on household budgets, higher-income consumers are increasingly shopping at Dollar General, creating opportunities for the company to further expand its market share. - The firm added that, despite rising fuel costs, consumption patterns among lower-income consumers have stabilized and adjusted accordingly, thanks to ongoing stability in employment conditions. - The brokerage noted that consumers prefer shopping at stores closer to home and are making purchases more frequently, although the quantity of products per purchase has decreased; these trends are seen as favorable for Dollar General. - The company is working to expand its $1 products lineup, planning to increase the number of seasonal $1 items by 40% in the second half of this year. - Dollar General stated that its distribution partnerships help attract new customers and capture market share from traditional grocery and pharmacy retailers. - According to data compiled by London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), out of 32 brokerages covering the stock, 13 rate it as "Buy" or higher, 18 as "Hold," and 1 as "Sell", with a median target price of $140. - As of the previous trading session's close, the stock has fallen about 8% year-to-date. (For the convenience of non-English speakers, Reuters automatically translates its reports into several other languages. Because automated translation may be inaccurate or lack the required context, Reuters does not guarantee the accuracy of these automated translations and provides them solely for the convenience of readers. Reuters is not responsible for any damage or loss caused by the use of such translation features.)