The past decade and a half have truly been incredible for investors. Most could have chosen from a list of top-performing growth stocks and done just fine for themselves. Many of the largest and what many consider the “best” growth stocks have outperformed smaller counterparts, which isn’t usually the case.In recent months, the stock market environment has been much more turbulent than in the past. Volatility has picked up as various macro forces continue to shift, and global dynamics remain in flux.However ...

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) stock saw a 14% increase last week, outpacing the 4% return for the S&P 500. This strong performance was driven by a positive market response to Meta’s earnings report, highlighting second-quarter results in its core advertising business.The stock’s recent rally marks a significant turnaround from the previous quarter, when concerns over Meta’s AI investments led to a sharp decline in its share price. The high stock price growth reflects growing street optimism about Meta’s capa ...

Microsoft’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) fiscal fourth-quarter results, unveiled on July 30, showed that the tech giant’s Azure cloud unit continues to expand very quickly. Moreover, the firm is benefiting meaningfully from the AI boom. It should also get a significant lift from the refresh of its operating system that’s currently under way. Finally the firm is well-positioned to benefit from potential acquisitions in the AI and cybersecurity spaces over the longer term. With the valuation of Microsoft stock reasonably at ...

Core Viewpoint - The market has shown signs of calm after recent volatility, but investors remain cautious and are likely to react negatively to bad news, making defensive stocks appealing [1][2]. Defensive Stocks Overview Campbell Soup (CPB) - Campbell Soup is a leading manufacturer of packaged foods, benefiting from increased grocery shopping during economic challenges. The company reported an average EPS of $0.74, exceeding the consensus of $0.71, and offers a dividend yield of 3.06% with a payout ratio of just under 60% [3][4]. Consolidated Edison (ED) - Consolidated Edison operates as a utility provider in New York, benefiting from its natural monopoly status. The company reported an average EPS of $1.34, beating the consensus of $1.25, and offers a forward dividend yield of 3.26% with a payout ratio of 63.69% [6][7]. Medtronic (MDT) - Medtronic specializes in medical devices and therapies for chronic diseases, reporting an average EPS of $1.30, surpassing the consensus of $1.25. The company offers a forward dividend yield of 3.45%, but has a high payout ratio of 100% [8][9]. Colgate-Palmolive (CL) - Colgate-Palmolive produces oral and personal care products, with an average EPS of $0.88, exceeding the consensus of $0.83. The company has a dividend yield around 2% and a payout ratio under 57% [10][11]. Walmart (WMT) - Walmart is a major player in retail, providing essential goods at low prices. The company has a forward dividend yield of 1.21% and a low payout ratio of 33.37%. Analysts project sales of $676.5 billion for the current fiscal year, a 13.7% increase from last year [12][13]. Philip Morris (PM) - Philip Morris, a tobacco company, reported an average EPS of $1.53, slightly above the expected $1.51. The company offers a forward yield of 4.48% with a payout ratio of 92% [14][15]. Gilead Sciences (GILD) - Gilead Sciences focuses on antiviral drugs, reporting an average EPS of $1.15, beating the consensus of $0.92. The company offers a dividend yield of 4.22% with a high payout ratio, and analysts expect revenue of $27.64 billion for fiscal 2024, a 9.1% increase from last year [16][17].

The United States may be about to witness antitrust history. Recently, a federal judge handed down a warning against Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL), ruling that Google holds an unfair monopoly over the search engine market. Described as the “biggest tech antitrust case in decades,” this ruling may already be about to yield action. According to reports, the U.S. Department of Justice is considering taking steps to break up the Google monopoly. Indeed, after years of politicians floating the possibility ...

Last Monday’s market rout saw tech stocks, specifically AI stocks experience major selloffs as investors across the board decided to take profits from overvalued positions.In fact, for many of the companies that experienced the correction, the selloff was a long time coming. As such, oversold AI stocks could be poised for a strong comeback as investors flock back to bullish sentiments on AI.Moreover, these three AI stocks could see their prospects improve as a result of broader tech success beyond the news- ...

Nasdaq stocks are effectively navigating a rollercoaster market with resilience.Despite a recent flurry of challenges for the tech space, Nasdaq stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 in the past two months. A lot of its recovery is linked to the strong recoveries in the Magnificent Seven (Mag 7) stocks. Though these stocks took a hammering in recent weeks, they have bounced back emphatically.To put things in perspective, The Nasdaq Index comprises more than 3,000 diverse stocks ranging from heavyweight tech ...

Core Viewpoint - Investing in growth stocks with the potential for significant returns requires thorough research and patience, particularly in sectors poised for expansion by the end of the decade [2][3]. Group 1: Growth Sectors - Key sectors identified for potential multibagger opportunities include artificial intelligence, renewable energy, healthcare, and infrastructure [2]. - Companies in these sectors may experience revenue, earnings, and free cash flow growth due to industry-specific tailwinds [2]. Group 2: Company Highlights - **GoDaddy (GDDY)**: - The company has seen over a 50% increase in stock price year-to-date, driven by expanding revenue, earnings, and free cash flow [4]. - In Q2, revenue grew by 7% year-over-year, with net earnings increasing by 76% to $146.3 million [4]. - GoDaddy is investing in its AI-powered platform, GoDaddy Airo, enhancing customer experience through features like AI logo generation and SEO capabilities [4]. - **Texas Roadhouse (TXRH)**: - The restaurant chain is expanding its operations, which is expected to significantly boost revenue and earnings through 2030 [5][6]. - In Q2, revenue rose by 14.5% year-over-year to $1.34 billion, and net earnings increased by 46% to $120 million [6]. - The company plans to open 15 company restaurants and six franchises in 2024, indicating strong future growth potential [6]. - **Comfort Systems USA (FIX)**: - The company is positioned to benefit from increasing global infrastructure spending [7]. - In Q2, revenue surged by 40% year-over-year, and net earnings soared by 93% to $134 million [8]. - Comfort Systems has a record backlog of $5.77 billion, reflecting strong demand for its HVAC services [8].

Earlier this month, the CBOE Volatility Index or VIX shot higher, indicating extreme pessimism among investors. While not a directional index per say, the VIX measures anticipated market movement. Since equities tend to accelerate faster during downcycles than up, a heightened VIX is generally equivalent to negative expectations. Not surprisingly, several high-flying Nasdaq stocks suffered in recent sessions.However, the narrative may be shifting. Recently, the Producer Price Index showed a slower rise than ...

Early this month, the CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX soared to multi-year highs. As a contrarian indicator, a northward trek of the fear gauge implies a negative outlook for equities. To put it simply, the VIX tells us the magnitude by which options traders anticipate the market will move. Since acceleration is sharper during down cycles than up, higher mobility is generally bearish. Still, speculators may want to consider certain stocks to buy now.That’s because the VIX is part of the usual ebb and flow of ...