Core Viewpoint - The content emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence and consulting competent advisors before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of investments and trading [1]. Group 1 - The website provides general news, publications, and personal analysis intended for educational and research purposes [1]. - It explicitly states that the information does not constitute any recommendation or advice for investment actions [1]. - Users are advised to perform their own research and consider their financial situation before making decisions [1]. Group 2 - The website includes information about complex financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies and contracts for difference (CFDs), which carry a high risk of losing money [1]. - It encourages users to understand how these instruments work and the associated risks before investing [1].

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets have faced a setback in 2025 following a significant bull run in 2023 and 2024, attributed to overstretched valuations, sticky inflation, weak economic data, geopolitical conflicts, and concerns over the Trump administration's trade policies [1] - The technology sector has been the most affected, particularly AI-focused stocks, due to the Federal Reserve's uncertainty regarding rate cuts, recession fears, and competition from low-cost Chinese AI platforms [2] Nasdaq Composite Performance - The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite is down 0.4% year to date, although some technology stocks listed on the Nasdaq have achieved double-digit returns [3] Stock Picks - Selected stocks with potential for double-digit returns include CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR), Lam Research Corp. (LRCX), and monday.com Ltd. (MNDY), all carrying favorable Zacks Ranks [3][4] CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR) - CyberArk is benefiting from rising demand for cybersecurity solutions due to increasing data breaches and digital transformation strategies [7] - The company has a strong presence across various sectors, which helps mitigate the impact of softening IT spending, and is shifting towards software-as-a-service and subscription models to drive growth [8] - CyberArk's expected revenue and earnings growth rates are 31.9% and 25.1%, respectively, with a short-term price target indicating a potential upside of 30.6% from its last closing price of $382.81 [11][12] Lam Research Corp. (LRCX) - Lam Research is capitalizing on strengths in 3D DRAM and advanced packaging technologies, with a rebound in its System business due to improving memory spending [13] - The company is well-positioned to benefit from an expected $100 billion in wafer fab equipment spending in 2025, driven by increased investments in foundry/logic, DRAM, and NAND [14] - Lam Research's expected revenue and earnings growth rates are 22.2% and 33.4%, respectively, with a price target suggesting a maximum upside of 48.8% from its last closing price of $83.94 [15] monday.com Ltd. (MNDY) - monday.com develops cloud-based software applications and provides various work management solutions across multiple sectors [16][17] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 25.6% and earnings growth rate of 6.3%, with a price target indicating a potential upside of 50.5% from its last closing price of $299.11 [17][18]

About this content About Oliver Haill Oliver has been writing about companies and markets since the early 2000s, cutting his teeth as a financial journalist at Growth Company Investor with a focusing on AIM companies and small caps, before a few years later becoming a section editor and then head of research. He joined Proactive after a couple of years freelancing, where he worked for the Financial Times Group, ITV, Press Association, Reuters sports desk, the London Olympic News Service, Rugby World Cup ...

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - The total short interest in Nasdaq securities has increased, indicating a growing bearish sentiment among investors as of the settlement date of May 15, 2025 Group 1: Nasdaq Global Market - Short interest in 3,168 Nasdaq Global Market securities totaled 13,735,568,588 shares, up from 13,300,707,903 shares in the previous reporting period [1] - The mid-May short interest represents an average of 2.41 days, slightly higher than the previous period's 2.40 days [1] Group 2: Nasdaq Capital Market - Short interest in 1,639 securities on The Nasdaq Capital Market reached 2,731,907,808 shares, an increase from 2,645,060,429 shares in the prior period [2] - The average daily volume for this segment remained stable at 1.00 day [2] Group 3: Overall Nasdaq Securities - Total short interest across all 4,807 Nasdaq securities amounted to 16,467,476,396 shares, compared to 15,945,768,332 shares in the previous reporting period [3] - This represents an average of 1.79 days of short interest, down from 1.92 days in the prior period [3] Group 4: Short Sale Definition - A short sale is defined as the sale of a security that the seller does not own, or any sale completed by delivering a borrowed security [4]

Core Points - 23andMe announced its decision to voluntarily delist from Nasdaq and de-register with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission following the acquisition of its assets by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals for $256 million [1][2] - The acquisition comes after 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March, indicating a significant shift in the company's financial status and operational strategy [2] Company Actions - The voluntary delisting from Nasdaq and de-registration with the SEC marks a strategic move for 23andMe as it transitions following the asset acquisition [1] - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals emerged as the winning bidder in a bankruptcy auction for 23andMe, acquiring "substantially all" of its assets [2]

Core Insights - The Zacks Securities and Exchanges industry is benefiting from a diversified product portfolio, increased trading volumes, and the adoption of crypto assets, with companies like Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), CME Group (CME), Nasdaq Inc. (NDAQ), and Cboe Global Markets (CBOE) expected to gain from these trends [1][3]. Industry Overview - The Zacks Securities and Exchanges industry includes companies that operate electronic marketplaces for trading stocks, options, bonds, and commodity contracts, generating revenue from fees and providing data and listing services [2]. - The industry is experiencing a rise in crypto asset adoption, but companies must navigate various regulatory requirements [2]. Trends Shaping the Industry - Trading volume is driven by volatility, with transaction and clearing fees being significant revenue sources. A pro-crypto environment under Trump's potential second term is expected to further increase trading activity [3]. - The securities exchanges market is projected to reach $49.6 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 12.1% [3]. - Mergers and acquisitions are on the rise as companies seek to enhance growth through strategic partnerships and technology acquisitions [4]. - Continuous investment in technology, particularly in AI and blockchain, is crucial for improving trading efficiency and reducing risks [5]. Industry Performance - The Zacks Securities and Exchanges industry ranks 10, placing it in the top 4% of 251 Zacks industries, indicating strong near-term prospects [6][7]. - The industry has outperformed the broader Zacks Finance sector and the S&P 500, gaining 17.3% year-to-date compared to the sector's 3.9% increase and the S&P 500's decline of 1.8% [10]. Valuation Metrics - The industry currently trades at a trailing P/E of 24.69X, higher than the S&P 500's 21.36X and the sector's 16.03X, with historical trading ranges between 19.02X and 27.94X over the past five years [13]. Company Highlights - **Intercontinental Exchange (ICE)**: A leading global operator with a strong portfolio and risk management services, expected to benefit from digitization in the mortgage industry. EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 indicate year-over-year increases of 14.3% and 10.7%, respectively [17][18]. - **CME Group (CME)**: The largest futures exchange globally, focusing on expanding product offerings and strong liquidity, with EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 showing increases of 8.7% and 3.3% [21][22]. - **Cboe Global Markets (CBOE)**: A major stock exchange operator with a growing product line and recurring revenues, projecting EPS increases of 9.8% and 6.2% for 2025 and 2026 [25][26]. - **Nasdaq (NDAQ)**: A key provider of trading and marketplace technology, focusing on non-trading revenue growth, with EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 indicating increases of 13.1% and 11.7% [29][30].

Market Overview - U.S. stocks experienced a positive trading session, with the Nasdaq Composite increasing by over 300 points on Tuesday [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 0.95% to 41,997.56, while the NASDAQ surged by 1.78% to 19,070.48, and the S&P 500 gained 1.33% to 5,879.93 [1] Sector Performance - Consumer discretionary shares saw a significant increase of 2% on Tuesday, indicating strong performance in this sector [2] - In contrast, consumer staples stocks only rose by 0.3%, suggesting weaker performance compared to discretionary shares [2] Company Earnings - AutoZone, Inc. reported third-quarter earnings that were weaker than expected, with earnings per share of $35.36, falling short of the analyst consensus estimate of $37.17 [3] - The company achieved quarterly sales of $4.46 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 5.4%, which exceeded the street view of $4.35 billion [3] - AutoZone also reported a 3.2% growth in same-store sales, driven by strength in the domestic segment [3] Commodities - In commodity markets, oil prices decreased by 1% to $60.93, while gold fell by 2.3% to $3,287.30 [5] - Silver and copper also saw declines, with silver down 1.5% to $33.12 and copper down 1.3% to $4.7720 [5] Stock Movements - SharpLink Gaming, Inc. shares surged by 411% to $34.33 following the announcement of a $425 million private placement [9] - E-Home Household Service Holdings Limited shares increased by 98% to $0.1995, while SCWorx Corp. shares rose by 63% to $0.6567 [9] - Conversely, Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. shares dropped by 57% to $2.67 after reporting a patient death in its Phase 2 trial [9] - NeuroPace, Inc. shares fell by 36% to $11.25 following preliminary results from a study, and Savara Inc. shares decreased by 29% to $2.0099 after receiving a refusal to file letter from the FDA [9]

Group 1: Palantir Technologies - Palantir Technologies has seen a remarkable stock increase of 64% year-to-date and over 1,800% since 2023, driven by its focus on artificial intelligence (AI) [4][5] - The company specializes in custom software that utilizes AI for data analysis, helping organizations identify trends and optimize processes [5] - Following the launch of its AIP platform in mid-2023, Palantir has entered a new growth phase, with significant market opportunities ahead [6] - Despite strong business performance, Palantir's stock is considered overvalued, trading at an enterprise value of nearly $280 billion against $3.1 billion in trailing-12-month revenue [7][8] Group 2: MercadoLibre - MercadoLibre has experienced a 54% stock increase in 2025, with potential for further growth due to its strong position in Latin America [9] - The company operates in e-commerce, fintech, and logistics, leveraging these sectors to enhance its competitive advantage [9] - With minimal exposure to the U.S. market, MercadoLibre is less affected by tariffs, allowing it to thrive in the region's challenging economic environment [10] - The company reported $5.9 billion in revenue for Q1 2025, a 37% increase year-over-year, with net income rising by 44% to $494 million [13] - Despite a P/E ratio of 63, which may seem high, this valuation is consistent with growth rates seen in similar companies like Amazon [14] Group 3: Netflix - Netflix's stock has risen 33% year-to-date, recovering from a 19% drop earlier in the year, and is currently trading at nearly $1,200 per share [15] - The company's profit margin reached 23% in its most recent quarter, the highest in its history, nearly double that of two years ago [16] - Netflix's large global audience of over 700 million, with more than 450 million outside the U.S., enhances its attractiveness to advertisers [17] - The company has raised prices for its service, reflecting confidence in subscriber retention due to an expanded content offering [18] - Overall, Netflix's strong fundamentals and stock performance position it as a compelling investment opportunity within the Nasdaq-100 [19]

Market Overview - The stock market is experiencing volatility, with the S&P 500 index falling nearly 20% from February highs but recovering fully by May 22 [1] - Investors are concerned about high tariffs, a proposed major tax bill, and the potential for recession or rising inflation [1] Amgen - Amgen is a pharmaceutical company known for its diverse range of drugs, including Enbrel, Prolia, XGEVA, Otezla, and Repatha [3] - The company is developing a weight-loss drug, MariTide, and has initiated two phase 3 trials [4] - In Q1, Amgen reported adjusted earnings of $4.90 per share, surpassing Wall Street estimates of $4.26, with revenue growth of 9% year over year [6] - Amgen has consistently paid dividends since 2011, increasing them for 14 consecutive years, with a current dividend yield of approximately 3.5% [7] - Management expects free cash flow to rebound to $7.4 billion in 2023, covering the expected $5.2 billion in dividend payments [7] Sirius XM - Sirius XM is a leading digital audio company in the U.S., operating Sirius satellite radio and Pandora, reaching 160 million listeners monthly [8] - The company has faced significant challenges, with stock down about 57% over the last five years due to rising competition and declining subscribers [8] - Management is investing in technology, expanding its podcast network, and streamlining subscription offerings, aiming for a 25% increase in subscribers to 50 million and a 50% increase in free cash flow to $1.8 billion [9] - In Q1, Sirius XM's revenue fell 4.3% year over year, and total U.S. subscribers declined by 2% [10] - The company offers a 4.9% dividend yield, having regularly paid and increased its annual dividend since 2017, with a trailing free cash flow yield close to 10% [11]

Core Points - Plus Therapeutics, Inc. received a delinquency notification from Nasdaq due to delayed filing of its Quarterly Report for the period ended March 31, 2025 [1] - The company is required to submit a compliance plan by July 21, 2025, and if accepted, may receive an extension until November 17, 2025 [2] - Plus Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing targeted radiotherapeutics for challenging cancers of the central nervous system [3] Company Overview - Plus Therapeutics is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and is developing a pipeline of product candidates aimed at improving clinical outcomes for difficult-to-treat cancers [3] - The company combines image-guided local beta radiation with targeted drug delivery approaches, with lead programs in leptomeningeal metastases and recurrent glioblastoma [3] - Plus Therapeutics has established a supply chain through strategic partnerships to support the development, manufacturing, and potential commercialization of its products [3]