Core Insights - Defense stocks may present a buying opportunity as the government shutdown continues, with analysts suggesting potential upward revisions in outlooks once funding clarity is restored [1][3][4] Market Performance - Defense stocks have underperformed during the government shutdown, with the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) and Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA) remaining flat while the S&P 500 rose nearly 2% [2] - Northrop Grumman (NOC) shares have decreased about 1% since the shutdown began but have increased approximately 28% in 2025, outperforming the S&P 500's nearly 15% rise [5][9] Analyst Recommendations - Analysts from Morgan Stanley recommend buying defense stocks with muted outlooks, anticipating upward revisions as government funding issues are resolved [3][7] - Companies such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin (LMT), and RTX Corp. (RTX) are expected to report earnings soon, with analysts predicting conservative outlooks due to the ongoing shutdown [7][8] Future Expectations - The White House Economic Advisor indicated that the government shutdown is likely to end soon, which could positively impact defense stocks [9]

Group 1: Apple Inc. - Apple shares reached a record high, climbing nearly 4% following strong demand for the iPhone 17 in the U.S. and China [4][9] - Sales of the iPhone 17 significantly outpaced those of the previous model in the first 10 days of availability, according to Counterpoint Research [4] Group 2: Super Micro Computer - Shares of Super Micro Computer increased by 5.5% as a technical analyst suggested a potential bullish cup and handle pattern [5] - The company has garnered attention for opportunities related to AI infrastructure, despite a slump in August due to missed sales and profit forecasts [5] Group 3: Natural Gas Market - Natural gas prices rose due to forecasts of colder weather, increasing expectations for heating-related demand [6] - Expand Energy, the largest natural gas producer in the U.S., saw its shares surge by 6%, while EQT Corp. shares gained close to 5% [6] Group 4: AppLovin Corp. - AppLovin's stock dropped 5.6% amid intensifying regulatory scrutiny and an ongoing investigation by the SEC into its data-collection practices [7] Group 5: Oracle Corporation - Oracle shares fell nearly 5% as concerns arose regarding the company's capital expenditure plans and reliance on revenue from OpenAI [10][9] - The company had set ambitious growth targets at its Oracle AI World conference, which raised skepticism among analysts [10] Group 6: Data Storage Companies - Shares of Seagate Technology and Western Digital fell by 4.9% and 3.7%, respectively, despite UBS raising their price targets [11] - Analysts suggested that while demand trends driven by AI infrastructure are strong, a potential cyclical downturn could occur in 2027 [11]

Core Insights - Apple shares reached an all-time high following reports of strong demand for the iPhone 17 series in the U.S. and China, which are key markets for the company [1][2] Sales Performance - The iPhone 17 outsold the iPhone 16 by 14% during its first 10 days of availability in the U.S. and China [2][8] - Sales of the iPhone 17 base model in China were nearly double those of the iPhone 16 over a comparable period [4] Consumer Behavior - Strong early sales of the iPhone 17 indicate resilient brand loyalty and consumer spending power despite economic uncertainty [3] - The iPhone 17 Pro Max saw significant sales growth in the U.S., driven by consumers upgrading from previous models and increased carrier subsidies [5][8] Product Features - The iPhone 17 base model is noted for its "great value," featuring a better chip, improved display, higher base storage, and upgraded selfie camera, all at the same price as the iPhone 16 [4]

Starbucks thinks AI may improve customers' experience with its app. David Paul Morris / Bloomberg via Getty Images Close Key Takeaways Getting your morning caffeine fix may soon be as simple as grumbling into your phone about your need for coffee. AI could some day allow the Starbucks (SBUX) app to handle voice orders and do a better job of remembering customers' preferences, CEO Brian Niccol said recently. He said the cafe chain was eager to use artificial intelligence to "remove friction" in how customers ...

Core Insights - Tesla is set to report its third-quarter earnings, with expectations that the stock may reach its highest level since last December, driven by traders anticipating a potential 7% price movement in either direction following the report [2][6]. Group 1: Earnings Expectations - Options pricing indicates that Tesla's stock could fluctuate approximately 7% after the earnings report, potentially reaching around $470 or dropping to about $409 [2][6]. - Historically, Tesla shares have shown volatility post-earnings, averaging a 9.6% movement the day after the last four earnings reports [2]. Group 2: Market Sentiment - Investor sentiment is mixed, with some analysts believing Tesla's stock is currently overvalued, while others maintain a bullish outlook [6][7]. - The average price target among analysts is approximately $363, which is about 17% lower than the stock's closing price prior to the earnings report [7]. Group 3: Key Focus Areas - Investors are particularly interested in updates regarding Tesla's new low-cost models, the rollout of robotaxi services, and advancements in the Optimus humanoid robot [6][7]. - The impact of the recent expiration of electric vehicle tax credits on future sales is also a significant point of interest for investors [4][7].

Shares of Beyond Meat jumped Monday as meme-stock traders piled in. Whatever the investor appetite for meat alternatives is, plenty have a hankering for risk. Shares of Beyond Meat (BYND) show it. Retail investors are crowding into the name, bidding to revive the plant-based burger and sausage maker's beaten-down stock as a meme. Trading volumes in its shares and options started to surge last week, and are now at multiples of their 30-day averages, according to Yahoo Finance. Beyond's shares recently traded ...

Steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs said two of its mines look promising for producing rare earths. Dustin Franz / Bloomberg / Getty Images Close Key Takeaways Shares of Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) popped 20% Monday afternoon after it shared some news along with its third- quarter earnings: The steelmaker said it wants to get into the rare earths mining business. CEO Lourenco Goncalves said "the renewed importance of rare earths has driven us to re-focus on this potential opportunity at our upstream mining assets.†He ad ...

Core Insights - Alphabet's shares have outperformed both the S&P 500 and the Magnificent 7 this year, indicating strong market performance [1] - Oppenheimer analysts favor Alphabet over Meta, setting a price target of $300 for Alphabet and $825 for Meta, reflecting a preference for Alphabet's more conservative estimates and lower valuation [2][6] Performance Comparison - Both Alphabet and Meta have shown strong performance, surpassing the Magnificent 7 ETF and the S&P 500 [1] - Despite the overall success of the Magnificent 7, three of the stocks within this group have underperformed the S&P 500 year-to-date, suggesting a need for selective investment [3][4] Analyst Recommendations - Oppenheimer's analysts believe that Alphabet's shares present a friendlier valuation and more conservative street estimates compared to Meta [2][6] - The analysts express a bullish outlook on Alphabet in the near term, while remaining positive about Meta's long-term potential in AI [4] Market Trends - There is a noted increase in market breadth, with more stocks outside the Magnificent 7 contributing to the index's performance, indicating a healthier market environment [5] - Rising valuations among companies and clarity on tariffs and interest rate cuts could positively impact the U.S. equities market, which has lagged behind European markets [7]

Core Insights - Tesla's stock has rebounded, now up approximately 10% since the beginning of 2025 after a challenging first half where shares were down over 20% [2][5] - The company's future growth narrative is increasingly focused on AI transformation, particularly through autonomous and robotics initiatives [4][3] - Upcoming third-quarter earnings are highly anticipated, with analysts expecting better-than-expected results and a focus on next-generation opportunities [5][9] Stock Performance - Tesla was the best-performing stock among major tech companies in the third quarter, contrasting with its earlier underperformance [2][7] - Despite a recent cooling in stock prices, Tesla shares remain above Wall Street's consensus price target, indicating investor optimism [5][8] - The stock has shown volatility, with a year-to-date high near $460, but has generally maintained levels consistent with its recent performance [8] Earnings Expectations - Tesla's third-quarter earnings report is set to kick off the earnings season for the "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks [9] - Analysts project revenue and net income for Tesla at $26.6 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively, reflecting strong delivery numbers [6][9] - The overall S&P 500 is expected to see an 11% growth in Q3 earnings, with many companies already beating estimates by 7% [9]

Core Insights - Gold is viewed as a hedge against inflation and a safe haven during economic turmoil, with ETFs providing a way to invest in gold through physical commodity tracking or mining company shares [2][4]. Group 1: Gold ETFs Overview - Several ETFs are dedicated to gold, which is utilized in jewelry and electronics, and is valued for its industrial uses [1]. - Gold ETFs allow investors to capitalize on gold's investment characteristics, either by tracking the physical commodity or through mining companies [2]. Group 2: Leveraged ETFs - Investors seeking to amplify returns may consider leveraged ETFs, which use derivatives and debt to magnify returns by a factor of two or three, but also increase risk significantly [3][9]. - There are four leveraged gold ETFs in the U.S., with two offering 2× daily long leverage (UGL and DGP) and two providing 2× daily short leverage (GLL and DZZ) [8][10]. Group 3: Performance and Risks - The Bloomberg Gold Subindex has outperformed the broader market over the past year, but leveraged ETFs are designed for short-term trading and not for long-term investment strategies [8][14]. - The performance of leveraged ETFs can be volatile, with significant losses possible during adverse price movements, and they are not suitable for beginner investors [5][9]. Group 4: Specific ETF Details - UGL has a three-month average daily volume of 109,686, with a one-year performance of -12.2% and assets under management of $184.6 million [18]. - DGP, structured as an ETN, offers 2× daily long leverage and is intended for sophisticated investors, with low trading volumes indicating higher trading costs [21][11]. - GLL and DZZ provide 2× daily short leverage, with GLL having a one-year performance of -10.5% and DZZ having a performance of 7.4% [24][29].