Economic Indicators - The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) will publish the Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) Price Index on February 20, which is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve and could influence monetary policy for 2026 [1] - The PCE Price Index is preferred by the Fed over the Consumer Price Index (CPI) because it provides a broader measure of inflation and quickly reflects changes in consumer behavior [2] Inflation Trends - Recent CPI data showed consumer prices rose 2.4% annually in January, slightly below the expected 2.5%, with core CPI (excluding food and energy) at 2.5%, the lowest since April 2021 [3] - If the upcoming PCE Price Index confirms a moderation in inflation, it would align with the CPI report, indicating inflation is moving closer to the Fed's target [4] Monetary Policy Implications - A confirmation of moderating inflation would give the Fed room to implement additional interest rate cuts, with the futures market currently pricing in two to three quarter-percentage point cuts in 2026 [5] - Lower interest rates or the expectation of them could positively impact the stock market by reducing borrowing costs for companies and consumers, potentially boosting spending [6]

Sprouts has displayed steady growth rates. Over the past 10 years, its revenues and earnings have clocked CAGRs of 9.80% and 15.79%, respectively. It may not be spectacular, but the company has grown sustainably, as evidenced by the manageable amount of debt on its books.What led to this rise, and how come it was able to convince a tech native like Laffont to buy its shares? Let's find out.Valued at a market cap of $6.6 billion, the SFM stock is down 14% on a year-to-date (YTD) basis. Notably, Laffont bough ...

As I was recently scrolling through tons of exchange-traded fund (ETF) and stock charts on Barchart.com, in multiple time frames, something caught my eye. It prompted an audible, “Oh, wow!” and I knew I had to tell you about it. Because while these types of moments do not always turn into major market moves, sometimes they do. And as I always say, long-term trend changes start with short-term price action. More News from Barchart At issue is the Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQQ). This ETF is big and powerful, the c ...

Verizon has been struggling to retain loyal customers following recent price hikes and increasing competition in the wireless industry. Amid those pressures, the company has made a major policy change that makes it harder for customers to cut ties and move to another carrier. Last month, Verizon received approval from the Federal Communications Commission to waive a rule requiring it to automatically unlock a phone it sells to a customer after 60 days, despite backlash from consumers and advocacy groups w ...

Billionaire investor George Soros made major changes to his U.S. stock portfolio in the fourth quarter of 2025, boosting bets on AI chip and megacap tech companies. With the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite down about 1.8% year to date, perhaps his fund's recent moves can offer investors some hints. Soros is a legendary hedge fund manager who is best known for his $1 billion bet against the British pound in 1992, one of the most famous currency trades in history. Born in Hungary in 1930, Soros survived the ...

While some of your expenses may decrease in retirement, your healthcare costs may inevitably go up. That could come as a result of aging or losing an employer health insurance plan that had fantastic benefits. The good news is that there are steps you can take to lower your healthcare bills as a Medicare enrollee. But if that's your goal, it's important to avoid these three mistakes. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, ...

Sami B. Sulaiman: A leading subscription-based financial health technology company, further diversifying our complementary offerings and strengthening our ability to serve our core customer. In addition, we welcomed two accomplished executives to our leadership team. I will start with Hal, our new CFO, who is on his first Upbound earningsOur team's dedication and shared vision have driven key achievements that we believe strongly position Upbound for continued success and long-term growth. During 2025, we e ...

YPF Sociedad Anónima (NYSE:YPF) is included among the 12 Best Crude Oil Stocks to Buy as Tensions Rise. YPF Price Target Raised by $3 YPF Sociedad Anónima (NYSE:YPF) is an energy company that engages in upstream and downstream oil and gas activities in Argentina. On February 12, JPMorgan analyst Rodolfo Angele raised the firm’s price target on YPF Sociedad Anónima (NYSE:YPF) from $51 to $54, while maintaining an ‘Overweight’ rating on the shares. The revised target indicates an upside of over 44% from t ...

Core Viewpoint - Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:VIST) is recognized as one of the top crude oil stocks to consider amidst rising tensions in the market [1] Company Overview - Vista Energy is a prominent independent operator with significant assets located in Vaca Muerta, which is the largest shale oil and gas play currently under development outside North America [2] Recent Developments - On February 4, BofA resumed coverage of Vista Energy with a 'Buy' rating and a price target of $88, suggesting an upside potential of over 63% from the current share price [3] - This positive outlook follows Vista's announcement on February 2 regarding the acquisition of Equinor's onshore business in Argentina's Vaca Muerta basin for $1.1 billion, which includes a 30% stake in the Bandurria Sur production asset and a 50% holding in Bajo del Toro [3] Production Insights - The Bandurria Sur assets produced an average of 24,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) in Q3 2025, while Bajo del Toro, still in early development, reported an output of 2,100 net boed [4] - CEO Miguel Galuccio stated that the acquired blocks enhance Vista's portfolio by adding both flowing barrels and a substantial inventory of productive, ready-to-drill wells, which will support the company's growth trajectory [4] Financial Projections - BofA views the acquisition favorably, estimating a potential internal rate of return (IRR) of 24% based on its Brent crude price assumptions [4]

Core Viewpoint - Talos Energy Inc. (NYSE:TALO) is recognized as one of the best crude oil stocks to buy amid rising tensions, with a positive outlook from analysts [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Talos Energy Inc. is a prominent energy company engaged in offshore oil and gas exploration and production in the United States Gulf Coast, the Gulf of America, and offshore Mexico [2]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Guidance - Citi has raised its price target for Talos Energy from $12 to $14, maintaining a 'Buy' rating, indicating an upside potential of over 10% from current levels [2]. - The company is set to announce its Q4 and full-year 2025 results on February 24, with revised operational and financial guidance forecasting total production between 34.3-35.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe), an increase from the previous forecast of 33.3-34.7 MMBoe [3]. - Talos expects to achieve this higher production with reduced spending, lowering its capital expenditure (CapEx) guidance for FY 2025 to a midpoint of $500 million, down from $510 million [3]. Group 3: Market Performance - As of the current reporting period, Talos Energy's share price has increased by more than 13% since the beginning of 2026 [4].