Many forms of criminal activity generate significant amounts of money. To avoid attracting the attention of law enforcement, criminals must find a way to disguise the source of their ill-gotten funds. That’s the goal of money laundering, which involves criminals engaging in a series of transactions to conceal the criminal origins of their money.

Money laundering involves three stages:

1. A criminal (or those under their direction) introduces funds earned through criminal activity to the financial system.
2. A money launderer (or the criminal themselves) engages in a series of transactions to create layers between the illegal source of the cash they control.
3. The criminal moves laundered money back into the financial system.

The layering process

During the layering stage, the goal is to disconnect the money from the illegal activity that generated it. Generally, the more layers money passes through, the harder it becomes to connect the funds to criminal activity.

The goal of layering is to make the process of tracking money through each layer more difficult to accomplish. Layering can include changing the nature of the assets, i.e. cash, gold, casino chips, real-estate, etc.

Complex layering schemes involve sending the money around the globe using a series of transactions. The more countries the money enters and leaves, the harder it is to uncover the “dirty” source of the money.

Layering and AML

A complex layering scheme makes anti-money laundering (AML) operations challenging. Since they lack jurisdiction overseas, law enforcement must coordinate with their foreign counterparts, which can delay the tracking of the funds while complicating the document trail associated with the funds.

To complicate matters further, criminals often use shell companies, which engage in fraudulent transactions, such as the creation of fake invoices. Once the company receives payment for the fake invoice, those who control the shell company can return the proceeds or send them to another shell company as payment for a subsequent fake invoice.

Layering can involve electronic transactions such as wires and ACHs, paper transactions, and/or manual movement of the funds between countries using covert means. Those laundering the funds may also decide to use non-traditional financial systems, such as Hawala (Middle East), Hundi (India), or Hui Kuan (Hong Kong), which are alternative remittance systems that allow for the movement of money without doing so physically.

Chevron Corporation (CVX), a Oil & Gas Integrated organization, was a bullish stock in the prior session. Chevron Corporation (CVX) shares opened the market for trading at $86.75 and closed the day at $89.71 with momentum of +3.10%. This increase movement beat the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, gain of +1.11% for the prior session.

Chevron Corporation (CVX) is focused on the Oil & Gas Integrated sector. This stock market sector has seen some movement from day traders in recent trading sessions. Bullish day traders of Chevron Corporation (CVX) will be looking for positive upcoming earnings whereas bearish day traders of Chevron Corporation (CVX) will be looking for negative earnings. The last time Chevron Corporation (CVX) had an earnings surprise was on Qtr Ending 12/19 when they reported $1.49 compared to an estimate of $1.47 which was a difference of $+0.02 resulting in a change of +1.36%. Current earnings estimates are to be released for Current Qtr 03/2020 on Chevron Corporation (CVX) and out of 7 Wall Street estimates the average is saying $0.64. The high estimate is saying $0.80 whereas the low estimate is saying $0.31 and the prior year Chevron Corporation (CVX) announced earnings at $1.39 a growth rate est. (year over year) of -53.96%.

The market performance of Chevron Corporation (CVX) has varied recently. Year to date Chevron Corporation (CVX)’s shares are down -27.80%. Over the past 12 weeks Chevron Corporation (CVX) is down -21.89% and over the last 4 weeks Chevron Corporation (CVX) is up 13.92%. Chevron Corporation (CVX) current income statement shows revenue (ttm) of $139.86B. Gross Profit is $59.75B. This puts the current EBITDA of Chevron Corporation (CVX) at $29.02B.

Wall street day traders might also notice recent changes to stock analyst estimates for Chevron Corporation (CVX). The stock is trading with an RSI (relative strength index) of 58.13 indicating Chevron Corporation (CVX) is neither overbought nor oversold. Technically, CVX’s short term support levels are around $86.95, $80.07 and $76.20 on the downside. CVXs short term resistance levels are $121.48, $115.97 and $109.33 on the upside. The market cap of Chevron Corporation (CVX) is $167.487B and institutions hold 68.60% of the stock. The outstanding share count stands at 1.87B while the short float (shares short) stands at 0.89%.

Research shows that these estimate changes look to be directly correlated with short-term shares prices. The day traders can look to capitalize on the basis of ranking. Chevron Corporation (CVX) has short term rating of Bullish (0.44), Intermediate rating of Neutral (0.10) and long-term rating of Neutral (0.03) giving Chevron Corporation (CVX) an overall rating of Neutral (0.19).

The EPS growth this year on Chevron Corporation (CVX) is decreased -80.00% and is expected to increase 675.70% next year. However, quarterly earnings (EPS) growth year over year on Chevron Corporation (CVX) has decreased by -293.70% and quarterly revenue (Sales) growth year over year stands at -13.20%. Gross margin is detected at 42.90% that represents the percent of total sales revenue that the company retains after direct cost of goods sold. Net profit margin (ttm) is 2.10% while return on equity (ttm) is 1.90%.

Recent Developments:

2020-04-16 – Chevron Sells Azerbaijan Assets To MOL Hungarian Oil And Gas.
2020-04-07 – Chevron Says CEO M.K. Wirth’s 2019 Total Compensation Was $33.1 Mln Versus $20.6 Mln In 2018.
2020-03-30 – Worley Says Chevron Awards Two‐Year Extension To Services Contract For Australian Assets.
2020-03-24 – Chevron CEO Michael Wirth Says No Plans To Cut Dividend – CNBC Interview.
2020-03-24 – Chevron Announces Actions In Response To Market Conditions.

About Company:

Chevron is one of the largest publicly traded oil and gas companies in the world with operations that span almost every corner of the globe. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, San Ramon, CA-based Chevron is fully integrated, meaning it participates in every aspect related to energy – from oil production, to refining and marketing. The company generates more than $146 billion in annual revenues and produces in excess of three million barrels per day of oil equivalent.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD), a Drug Manufacturers—General business, was a gaining stock in the previous trading session. Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) shares started the day for trading at $77.10 and closed the day at $79.64 with momentum of +2.39%. The increase move in Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) beat the move in the S&P 500 for the day which gained +1.39% in previous trading day.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) is focused on the Drug Manufacturers—General sector. This sector has seen some movement from investors in recent months. Bullish investors of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) will be looking for positive upcoming earnings whereas bearish investors of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) will be looking for negative earnings. The last time Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) had an earnings surprise was on Qtr Ending 12/19 when they reported $1.10 compared to an estimate of $1.58 which was a difference of -$0.48 resulting in a change of -30.38%. Current earnings estimates are to be released for Current Qtr 03/2020 on Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) and out of 7 Wall Street estimates the average is saying $1.47. The high estimate is saying $1.74 whereas the low estimate is saying $1.33 and the prior year Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) announced earnings at $1.67 a growth rate est. (year over year) of -11.98%.

The market performance of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) has varied recently. Year to date Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD)’s shares are up 22.56%. Over the past 12 weeks Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) is up 24.38% and over the last 4 weeks Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) is up 7.83%. Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) current income statement shows revenue (ttm) of $22.45B. Gross Profit is $17.77B. This puts the current EBITDA of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) at $6.49B.

Wall street investors might also notice recent changes to stock analyst estimates for Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD). The stock is trading with an RSI (relative strength index) of 53.72 indicating Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) is neither overbought nor oversold. Technically, GILD’s short term support levels are around $79.27, $78.28 and $77.36 on the downside. GILDs short term resistance levels are $85.17, $80.98 and $80.27 on the upside. The market cap of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) is $100.268B and institutions hold 84.00% of the stock. The outstanding share count stands at 1.32B while the short float (shares short) stands at 1.80%.

Stock market research indicates that these earning estimate changes look to be directly correlated with short-term shares prices. The investors can look to capitalize on the basis of ranking. Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) has short term rating of Bullish (0.28), Intermediate rating of Bullish (0.29) and long-term rating of Bullish (0.44) giving Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) an overall rating of Bullish (0.34).

The EPS growth this year on Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) is increased 1.10% and is expected to increase 0.32% next year. However, quarterly earnings (EPS) growth year over year on Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) has increased by 89766.70% and quarterly revenue (Sales) growth year over year stands at 1.40%. Gross margin is detected at 79.20% that represents the percent of total sales revenue that the company retains after direct cost of goods sold. Net profit margin (ttm) is 24.00% while return on equity (ttm) is 24.60%.

Recent Developments:

2020-04-23 – Gilead Says Regrets That WHO Prematurely Posted Data Regarding Remdesivir Study.
2020-04-23 – Gilead Antiviral Drug Remdesivir Flops In First Trial – FT.
2020-04-06 – Gilead Sciences And Second Genome Announce Collaboration In Biomarker And Inflammatory Bowel Disease Drug Discovery.
2020-04-05 – Gilead Sciences Says Taking Actions Since January To Rapidly Expand Production, Supply Of Investigational Drug Remdesivir.
2020-03-30 – Gilead Announces Expiration Of Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period For Forty Seven Tender Offer.

About Company:

Headquartered in Foster City, CA, Gilead Sciences is a pioneer in developing drugs for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), liver diseases, hematology/oncology diseases and inflammation/respiratory diseases. The company has a strong HIV franchise with key HIV/AIDS therapies like tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)-based products Genvoya, Odefsey, Descovy, Biktarvy and Truvada. Total sales from HIV franchise came in at $16.