Many Americans are wondering if a bachelor's degree is still worth it, as tuition costs soar and newly minted graduates struggle to find jobs in their field. While the data shows that a college degree is still largely a good investment, that can be cold comfort to graduates sending out hundreds of applications without a single callback. KEY TAKEAWAYS This year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics identified the top 10 jobs with the most projected openings from 2024 to 2034 for workers with a bachelor's degree—an ...

Core Insights - Labor productivity surged at an annualized rate of 4.9% in the third quarter, the fastest pace since 2023, while hourly compensation decreased by 0.2% after adjusting for inflation, resulting in reduced buying power for workers [1][7]. Economic Implications - Economists view the increase in productivity as beneficial for the long-term economic outlook, suggesting that higher productivity can lead to improved living standards and wage growth without triggering inflation [2][4]. - Increased productivity allows firms to enhance profitability, which can enable them to absorb higher costs, reinvest, or lower prices, potentially alleviating inflation concerns [3][4]. Technology and Productivity - The rise in productivity indicates that companies' goals of leveraging artificial intelligence to achieve more output with fewer workers may be within reach, although the full impact has yet to be realized [5][7]. - Experts caution that while productivity growth is promising, it remains uncertain how much it will benefit workers, with concerns about a "jobless expansion" where economic growth does not translate into improved labor market conditions [6][7].

Core Insights - Millions of federal student loan borrowers are currently in default or delinquent, with numbers expected to rise as payments restart [2][11] - The Department of Education is ending the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan, affecting 7.43 million borrowers who will need to transition to another plan [2][5] - The transition process may be slow due to a backlog in applications and reduced staffing at the Department of Education [3][4] Group 1: Borrower Impact - Borrowers transitioning from the SAVE plan may face significantly higher monthly payments, potentially hundreds of dollars more than anticipated [5][8] - Many borrowers have not made payments in over six years, leading to concerns about their ability to adjust to new payment requirements [7][8] - The number of borrowers in default or delinquency is likely to increase as payments resume, exacerbating existing financial struggles [8][11] Group 2: Economic Implications - Defaulting borrowers may have wages garnished, which could reduce their disposable income and negatively impact overall economic growth [4][11] - The increase in delinquency and default rates could lead to long-term economic consequences, including lower federal revenue [4][10] Group 3: Recommendations - Borrowers are advised to explore repayment plan options now and prepare for new monthly payments, as some plans will be phased out by 2028 [12]

Group 1 - The Supreme Court is expected to rule on President Trump's tariff policy, which could significantly impact markets and individual stocks, with a complex range of possible outcomes [1][2] - If the tariffs are deemed illegal, companies heavily affected by the tariffs, such as Dick's Sporting Goods, Mattel, and Hasbro, could see substantial reductions in tariff expenses [5][3] - Retailers currently face an estimated incremental tariff of 20%, which could be alleviated if the IEEPA tariffs are struck down, although new tariffs may be introduced at around 15% [6][5] Group 2 - The tariffs imposed last year resulted in an average tax increase of $1,100 per U.S. household, projected to rise to $1,400 this year, but could decrease significantly if the IEEPA tariffs are removed [4][3] - The court's decision may not provide total clarity, as it could either fully support or partially roll back the tariffs, potentially allowing for a grace period for the administration to adjust legal authorities [7][8] - Even if tariffs are fully repealed, the Trump administration has alternative powers to reimpose or replace current tariff levels, adding uncertainty to trade policy [9][8]

Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley analysts have identified Colgate-Palmolive as their top pick in the Household & Personal Care sector, anticipating a recovery in the company's sales growth in 2026 after a disappointing performance in 2025 [2][8] Sales Growth Expectations - Analysts expect Colgate-Palmolive's sales growth to recover in 2026, projecting 3% organic sales growth and 6% earnings per share growth, despite a conservative outlook for the fourth quarter [5][6] - The company experienced a low point in organic sales growth at 0.4% in its last quarterly results, but is expected to outperform competitors in the coming quarters [5] Market Context - The consumer packaged goods sector faced "category weakness" in 2025, which impacted Colgate-Palmolive's performance, alongside challenging comparisons from a strong 2024 [3][4] - Colgate-Palmolive shares fell by double-digit percentages in 2025, but analysts predict a 13% increase in share price this year, aligning with Wall Street's average forecast [4][8] Competitive Position - Factors contributing to the expected recovery include easier comparisons from 2025, growth in developing markets, and a projected recovery in market share within the oral care segment [6][7] - Analysts believe that while individual factors may not be significant, collectively they create a clear path for Colgate-Palmolive to reaccelerate organic sales growth above its peers [7]

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale's shares have been declining for nearly a year but saw a 5% increase recently due to positive sales announcements [1] - December sales rose 8.5% year-over-year, with same-store sales increasing by 7% [1] Sales Performance - The food category, particularly bakery, meat, and candy sales, drove the sales growth last month, along with strong performances in jewelry, tires, and small appliances [2] Investor Sentiment - Investors appreciate Costco for its value, and there is optimism regarding potential stock splits and special dividends, contributing to the recent rise in share prices [3][6] - Analysts from William Blair noted that the recent sales figures could provide a much-needed boost after a 10% decline in shares over the past six months due to valuation concerns [4] Analyst Ratings - Sell-side analysts maintain a generally positive outlook on Costco's stock, with a mean price target of around $1,035, indicating a 17% premium over recent closing prices, though it remains below record highs of approximately $1,080 [5] Market Expectations - Recent investor discussions have included speculation about a stock split or special dividend, which could further enhance stock performance [6] - Analysts from UBS noted that expectations for same-store sales growth were between 3% and 5%, which Costco exceeded, indicating strong business performance [7][8]

Core Insights - The services sector of the economy expanded at its fastest pace in December, marking its 10th month of growth in the last 12 months, while the manufacturing sector continued to struggle, slowing down for the 10th consecutive month [2][4][9] Group 1: Economic Performance - The services sector constitutes 73% of the economy as measured by Gross Domestic Product, compared to manufacturing's 9% share, indicating the services sector's dominance in economic activity [5] - Employment in the services sector expanded in December for the first time since May, contrasting with manufacturing, which has lost an average of 9,600 jobs per month since April [6] Group 2: Impact of Tariffs - Tariffs imposed last year aimed to protect U.S. manufacturing but have instead led to increased costs, reduced demand, and job losses in the manufacturing sector [3][9] - Managers in various industries, including chemicals and food services, reported that tariffs have raised prices and created uncertainty, negatively impacting their operations [5][8] Group 3: Economic Outlook - Despite the struggles in manufacturing, the overall economy appears to be growing at a solid pace, supported by the resilience of the services sector [10] - The continued expansion in services suggests that the economy is still on a growth trajectory, even if it did not end the year on a high note [10]

Core Insights - Defense contractors' shares surged following President Trump's proposal to significantly increase the military budget to $1.5 trillion for 2027, up from $1 trillion [1][6] Group 1: Stock Performance - Shares of Lockheed Martin (LMT), Huntington Ingalls (HII), and L3 Harris (LHX) rose over 7%, leading gains in the S&P 500 index [2] - General Dynamics (GD) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) saw increases of more than 4%, while RTX Corp. (RTX) gained 2% [2] Group 2: Budget Details - The Department of Defense had a budget of $850 billion in fiscal 2025, which was an increase of $34 billion from the previous year [3] - The White House proposed an increase of over $113 billion for the fiscal 2026 defense budget [3] - Trump's proposed budget represents a roughly 50% increase from the current budget levels [3] Group 3: Market Reactions - The gains in defense stocks on Thursday reversed losses from the previous day, when Trump criticized companies for spending on stock buybacks and dividends instead of enhancing manufacturing processes [4]

Core Insights - The average down payment for homebuyers between July 2024 and June 2025 is approximately 19% of the purchase price, marking the highest share in over 30 years [1][9] - This figure is nearly double the down payment percentage seen in the years following the 2008–09 housing crash and significantly higher than the 12% average just before the pandemic in 2020 [2] Down Payment Trends - Down payments have been steadily increasing over the past decade, indicating that current buyers are generally better-resourced or equity-rich [2] - A 19% down payment translates to about $82,300 based on the median U.S. home price of $433,200 [2] First-Time vs. Repeat Buyers - First-time buyers typically make a down payment of about 10%, which is approximately $43,300 on a median-priced home, while repeat buyers average 23%, or about $99,600 [4] - The disparity in down payment amounts is attributed to the funding sources; first-time buyers often rely on savings and assistance, whereas repeat buyers utilize proceeds from previous home sales [5] Financial Implications of Down Payments - Paying a 20% down payment can save buyers thousands by avoiding private mortgage insurance (PMI), which can add significant monthly costs [6][9] - For instance, a 10% down payment on a median-priced home results in a loan balance of about $389,900, with PMI adding roughly $3,900 annually, equating to over $19,500 in five years without building equity [8] Strategies for Saving - To reach a 20% down payment and avoid PMI, buyers are encouraged to automate savings into high-yield accounts or consider certificates of deposit (CDs) for guaranteed growth [10][11]

Core Insights - Used car pricing is experiencing seasonal movements with significant changes in hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs) as of early 2026 [2][4] - The December 2025 data indicates a reset in pricing dynamics for hybrids and EVs, driven by demand shifts and supply changes rather than just seasonal factors [3][10] Pricing Dynamics - December is historically a volatile month for used car pricing due to dealers' calendar-driven sales goals, leading to increased negotiation flexibility for buyers [5][6] - Hybrids and EVs saw the largest price declines among used vehicles in December, indicating a broader market adjustment rather than typical seasonal changes [7][10] Demand and Supply Factors - The end of tax incentives for clean vehicles after September 30, 2025, led to a decrease in buyer urgency, resulting in softened demand and less pricing power for dealers [8][9] - The used hybrid and EV market is expected to remain competitively priced in 2026 due to the absence of incentive-driven demand and increasing inventory [10][12] Year-over-Year Trends - Despite a decline in December, used hybrid and EV prices were still up 2.1% year-over-year, although this increase lagged behind overall inflation of approximately 2.7% in 2025 [11]