Group 1: Company Performance - Salesforce (CRM) shares fell 29.1% year-to-date, underperforming the Dow by 32.5 percentage points, despite reporting Q3 fiscal 2026 revenue of $10.26 billion and raising full-year guidance to $41.45 billion to $41.55 billion [1][2] - Microsoft (MSFT) experienced a 17.4% decline in stock price, lagging the Dow by 20.8 percentage points, even after reporting Q2 revenue of $81.3 billion, a 17% year-over-year increase, and Azure growth of 39% [1][2] - UnitedHealth (UNH) saw a 12.7% drop in stock value, trailing the Dow by 16.1 percentage points, with Q4 2025 revenue of $113.22 billion missing estimates and operating income plummeting 95% to $380 million [1][2] Group 2: Market Sentiment and Trends - The divergence in performance between these companies and the Dow reflects a broader market sentiment where fundamentals alone do not drive returns, as investors reassess structural assumptions regarding AI, healthcare regulations, and capital expenditures [2] - Concerns over AI's impact on traditional software demand have led to a sell-off in software stocks, with Salesforce's valuation being questioned despite a projected 14.7% growth in business software spending in 2026 [1][2] - Microsoft's significant capital expenditures of $29.9 billion in Q2, up 89% year-over-year, raised investor concerns about whether this would translate into expected growth rates, contributing to stock price declines [1][2] Group 3: Financial Metrics - Salesforce's revenue grew 8.6% year-over-year, but shares dropped from $264.91 to $187.79 between December 31, 2025, and February 18, 2026 [1] - Microsoft reported a free cash flow decline of 9.3% despite strong operating cash flow growth, indicating potential challenges in maintaining profitability amid high capital expenditures [1] - UnitedHealth's net income fell to $10 million, down 99.8% year-over-year, highlighting the fragility of its Medicare Advantage model amid regulatory pressures and increased medical costs [1][2]

This REIT ETF has a couple of major upside catalysts in 2026.The State Street SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (RWR 1.43%) aims to track the performance of real estate investment trusts (REITs). The exchange-traded fund (ETF) holds 100 REITs, providing investors with broad exposure to the entire sector. That makes it a potentially great way to play a rebound in the commercial real estate sector. Here's a look at two catalysts that could send shares of this top REIT ETF soaring. Long-term interest rates start to fall ...

From Crisis to Comeback: How Dow Inc Became 2026's Unlikely Winner - 24/7 Wall St.[S&P 5006,828.20 -0.29%][Dow Jones49,368.00 -0.25%][Nasdaq 10024,652.80 -0.43%][Russell 20002,624.50 +0.33%][FTSE 10010,394.40 -0.39%][Nikkei 22557,200.50 +0.32%][Stock Market Live February 13, 2026: S&P 500 (SPY) Fighting to Go Green][Investing]# From Crisis to Comeback: How Dow Inc Became 2026's Unlikely Winner### Quick ReadDow (DOW) stock surged 40% year-to-date despite posting a $2.6B net loss in 2025.Dow's restructuring p ...

Core Insights - The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) recently surpassed the 50,000 mark for the first time, indicating a strong bull market led by AI, although it experienced a subsequent decline [1] - Investors are shifting from high-growth AI stocks, referred to as the "Magnificent Seven," to value stocks that generate cash flow, amid concerns over capital expenditures (CapEx) [1] - Caterpillar, a significant component of the Dow, has seen a 33% year-to-date gain, contributing to the index's outperformance [1] Market Dynamics - The current market environment suggests a rotation away from AI disruptors and software companies towards more stable, cash-generating assets [1] - The Dow's relative strength is notable, as it has outperformed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, indicating a potential shift in investment strategy [1] - Concerns over CapEx and the performance of major tech companies have led to a cooling off period for high-growth stocks, prompting investors to consider diversifying their portfolios [1] Company-Specific Insights - Moody's shares have declined over 23% recently due to fears that agentic AI could undermine its competitive advantages, despite its strong data moat and regulatory barriers that may protect its market position [1] - The article suggests that the recent drop in Moody's stock presents an opportunity for investors looking to capitalize on the broader bull market and AI-driven productivity gains [1] - Goldman Sachs has highlighted the potential benefits for old-economy stocks from AI adoption, indicating a broader market trend towards undervalued companies that can leverage AI technologies [1]

About this content About Stephen Gunnion Stephen Gunnion is a senior financial journalist and broadcaster at Proactive Investors. He has more than 25 years of experience in television, radio and print media, anchoring on a number of television channels including South Africa's Business Day TV, CNBC Africa and the South African Broadcasting Corporation, where he was the economics editor. He has also worked for Daily Maverick, Bloomberg, the Business Day newspaper and Investors' Chronicle. Read more About ...

Core Viewpoint - Dow's stock has shown a significant technical improvement with the formation of a Golden Cross, indicating a potential shift from selling pressure to a new upward trend [1]. Technical Analysis - The stock price is currently above the 20-, 50-, and 200-day moving averages, indicating strong bullish control [1]. - Momentum indicators such as the RSI are in the low-70s, suggesting strong demand, while the MACD is widening positively [1]. Volume and Support Levels - Increased trading volume during the breakout indicates genuine institutional buying rather than just short covering [2]. - A critical support level is identified at $30, with deeper support around $25–26 near the Golden Cross zone [2]. Strategic Initiatives - Dow's recent "Transform to Outperform" initiative includes cutting 4,500 jobs and targeting $2 billion in near-term EBITDA gains, alongside the integration of AI in production and supply chains [3]. - The restructuring aims to create a more efficient company prepared for a challenging chemicals cycle [3]. Investor Implications - The stock appears to be transitioning from recovery to a potential re-rating phase, with the possibility of the Golden Cross signaling a market anticipation of a turnaround if the stock can maintain levels above $30 [4].

Group 1 - Dow Inc. is experiencing a bounce in its stock price, but it still relies on the return of Chinese buyers for sustained growth [1][3] - Jim Cramer suggests trimming positions in Dow Inc. rather than buying, indicating a cautious approach after a significant price run [1][3] - The company develops chemical and material products used across various industries, including packaging, construction, transportation, and consumer goods [3] Group 2 - There are other investment opportunities, particularly in AI stocks, that may offer greater upside potential and less downside risk compared to Dow Inc. [4]

Core Insights - The Dow Chemical Company has announced the revival of its Path2Zero petrochemical complex project in Alberta, Canada, with the first phase expected to commence operations by the end of 2029, a delay of approximately two years from the original plan, while the second phase is projected to be operational by the end of 2030, one year later than previously anticipated, which is earlier than analysts' pessimistic forecasts from last year [1][2] Group 1 - The project was previously put on hold in April 2025 due to a prolonged downturn in the global basic chemicals market, leading the company to reassess the market and cut $1 billion in capital expenditures, creating uncertainty around the project's future [1] - The resumption of the project injects confidence into Alberta's industrial investment environment, highlighting the strategic value recognized by Dow [1][2] Group 2 - Concurrently, Dow is undergoing a significant global restructuring, including the layoff of approximately 4,500 employees, yet it remains committed to the project, demonstrating confidence in low-emission petrochemical production and positioning Alberta as a core hub for future growth [2] - The project received final approval in November 2023 and is expected to double Dow's local ethylene and polyethylene production capacity, marking it as the world's first integrated net-zero ethylene cracking and derivatives complex [2]

The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow), and Nasdaq Composite are all stock market indexes used to measure the performance of various aspects of the U.S. stock market. The indexes generally rise and fall together, however the extent of gains or losses produced by each can differ depending on market conditions and the state of the economy. The indexes differ in several key ways such as weighting methods, coverage, and criteria for including stocks. The S&P 500 assigns weightings based on market capit ...

Core Insights - The Dow Jones Industrial Average has reached a significant milestone by crossing 50,000 for the first time on February 6, 2026 [1] Group 1 - The achievement marks a historic moment for the 30-stock blue-chip index [1]