Market Overview - The S&P 500 Index has recovered all losses from the tariff-related market turmoil, achieving a nine-day winning streak for the first time since November 2004 [1] - The index was previously down nearly 20% from its all-time high during the April turmoil but has since rebounded and is currently about 7% away from its peak recorded in February [2] Investment Recommendations - Five S&P 500 stocks are recommended for investment, all having provided over 20% returns year to date: Netflix Inc. (NFLX), Philip Morris International Inc. (PM), Newmont Corp. (NEM), CenterPoint Energy Inc. (CNP), and Exelon Corp. (EXC) [3][4] Company Insights Netflix Inc. (NFLX) - NFLX exceeded earnings estimates while maintaining healthy engagement levels despite trade and tariff challenges, reaffirming its 2025 guidance [8] - The launch of its Ad Suite in the U.S. is expected to drive subscriber and average revenue per user (ARPU) growth, with strong visibility in its business leading to positive earnings estimate revisions [9] - NFLX's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 14% and 27.7%, respectively, with a 3.1% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [11] Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) - PM is experiencing strong pricing power and growth in its smoke-free product portfolio, aiming to become substantially smoke-free by 2030 [12] - The company anticipates a 2% increase in volume growth for the fifth consecutive year, with smoke-free products projected to grow by 12-14% [13] - PM's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 8.1% and 13.7%, respectively, with a 4.6% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [14] Newmont Corp. (NEM) - NEM is progressing with growth projects, including the Tanami expansion and the Ahafo North project, which is expected to commence commercial production in the second half of 2025 [15][16] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 0.1% and an earnings growth rate of 16.7% for the current year, with a significant 23.4% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [17] CenterPoint Energy Inc. (CNP) - CNP is set to benefit from rising electricity demand due to the electrification of transportation and investments in renewable energy [18] - The company is investing in infrastructure upgrades to support the growing electric vehicle market, including off-road electrification initiatives [20] - CNP's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 3.4% and 8%, respectively, with a slight 0.1% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 60 days [21] Exelon Corp. (EXC) - EXC is focusing on strengthening its transmission and distribution infrastructure, which will enhance service reliability and operational resilience [22] - The company is expected to see revenue and earnings growth rates of 4.3% and 6.8%, respectively, with a 0.4% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [23]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of identifying stocks that can exceed market expectations during earnings season, highlighting a selection of companies likely to outperform [1][4]. Stock Selection Criteria - A screening process identified five stocks: Fox (FOXA), Newmont (NEM), Affirm (AFRM), HealthStream (HSTM), and Iridium Communications (IRDM) as potential earnings beaters [1][10]. - The selection criteria included: - Last EPS Surprise greater than or equal to 10% [7] - Average EPS Surprise in the last four quarters greater than 20% [7] - Average EPS Surprise in the last two quarters greater than 20% [8] - Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2 [8] - Earnings ESP greater than zero [9] - Next 3–5 Years Estimated EPS Growth (Per Year) greater than 10% [10] - Average 20-day Volume greater than 100,000 [10] Company Profiles - **Fox (FOXA)**: A Zacks Rank 1 company with an average earnings surprise of 24.20% over the past four quarters [11]. - **Newmont (NEM)**: A Zacks Rank 2 company, one of the largest gold producers globally, with an average earnings surprise of 32.41% [11]. - **Affirm (AFRM)**: A Zacks Rank 1 financial technology company specializing in payment solutions, boasting an average earnings surprise of 84.09% [12]. - **HealthStream (HSTM)**: A Zacks Rank 1 company providing workforce development solutions in healthcare, with an average earnings surprise of 42.02% [13]. - **Iridium Communications (IRDM)**: A Zacks Rank 2 satellite communications company, achieving an average earnings surprise of 40.90% [14].

Core Viewpoint - The stock market experienced significant volatility during President Trump's first 100 days, with the S&P 500 dropping approximately 8%, marking the worst performance for a new president since 1974. However, certain stocks, particularly in the AI and healthcare sectors, have shown remarkable resilience and growth during this period. Group 1: Palantir Technologies - Palantir's stock surged by 47% as of April 28, defying market trends despite high valuations and challenges in the AI sector [3][4]. - The company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and projected revenues of up to $3.76 billion for the year, surpassing analyst estimates of $3.52 billion [4]. - Palantir's involvement with NATO, which announced a swift contract for its systems, highlights its effectiveness in providing AI solutions for data analysis and decision-making [6]. Group 2: CVS Health Corp - CVS Health Corp's stock increased by 45%, contrasting sharply with its 40% decline in 2024, attributed to previous underestimations of costs in its Aetna insurance business [7][8]. - The company exceeded Wall Street's earnings and revenue expectations in the fourth quarter and provided guidance of $5.75 to $6.00 adjusted earnings per share, aligning with analyst forecasts [9]. - New CEO David Joyner is optimistic about improving Aetna's margins and reducing Medicare Advantage membership, which is expected to lower expenses [10]. Group 3: Newmont Corp - Newmont Corp's stock rose by 45%, benefiting from a significant increase in gold prices amid concerns over the U.S. fiscal situation, including a $1.83 trillion deficit and over $36 trillion in debt [13][14]. - The company is recognized as the world's leading gold mining firm, with substantial reserves and operations across multiple countries [13]. - Gold is viewed as a hedge against inflation and uncertainty, making it a valuable asset for portfolio diversification, especially given the concentration of the S&P 500 [15].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The meeting confirmed that 853,979,827 shares were represented by proxy, approximately 75.76% of all shares outstanding as of the record date, indicating strong shareholder engagement [7][29] - Each nominee for the board of directors received votes of more than a substantial majority, and the advisory approval of executive compensation was also approved by more than a majority of the votes cast [40][42] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - No specific business line data or key metrics were discussed during the meeting, as the focus was primarily on governance matters and voting on proposals [12][34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - There were no specific market data or key metrics changes mentioned in the meeting, as it was primarily focused on internal governance and shareholder voting [12][34] Company Strategy and Development Direction and Industry Competition - The board of directors emphasized the importance of aligning executive compensation programs with the interests of the company and its stockholders, indicating a focus on governance and accountability [12][34] - The appointment of Ernst and Young as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending 12/31/2025 was ratified, reflecting the company's commitment to maintaining high standards of financial oversight [37][42] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management did not provide specific comments on the operating environment or future outlook during the meeting, as there were no questions directed to the CEO [22][46] Other Important Information - The meeting concluded with all proposals being approved, including the election of directors and the advisory resolution for executive compensation, indicating a stable governance structure [40][42] Q&A Session Summary Question: Were there any questions for the CEO? - There were no questions submitted for the CEO during the Q&A session, indicating a lack of immediate concerns from shareholders [22][46]

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street experienced significant volatility in April due to President Trump's tariffs and trade policies, with major stock indexes mostly in negative territory for the month [1][2] Group 1: Stock Performance and Recommendations - A number of corporate giants with market capitalizations over $50 billion have managed to provide positive returns of over 5% month to date despite the turmoil [2] - Five recommended stocks with favorable Zacks Rank include Netflix Inc. (NFLX), Newmont Corp. (NEM), Philip Morris International Inc. (PM), Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM), and Spotify Technology S.A. (SPOT) [3] Group 2: Netflix Inc. (NFLX) - Netflix exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in Q1 2025, maintaining healthy engagement levels despite trade-related challenges [7] - The launch of Netflix's Ad Suite in the U.S. is expected to drive subscriber and average revenue per user (ARPU) growth, with plans for international expansion in Q2 [8] - NFLX's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 14% and 27.7%, respectively, with a 1.8% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [11] Group 3: Newmont Corp. (NEM) - Newmont is advancing its growth projects, including the Ahafo North project, with commercial production expected to start in the second half of 2025 [12][13] - NEM's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 0.9% and 16.4%, respectively, with a 2% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [14] Group 4: Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) - Philip Morris is transitioning to smoke-free products, with strong pricing power and a projected 12-14% growth in smoke-free product sales [15][16] - PM's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 7.3% and 13.2%, respectively, with a 2.9% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [17] Group 5: Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM) - Agnico Eagle is focused on production growth through projects like the Kittila expansion and acquisitions, enhancing its market position [18][19] - AEM's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 18.9% and 33.3%, respectively, with a 5.8% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [20] Group 6: Spotify Technology S.A. (SPOT) - Spotify operates through Premium and Ad-Supported segments, with total Monthly Active Users (MAUs) reaching 675 million, surpassing estimates [21][23] - SPOT's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 14.8% and 75.8%, respectively, with a 1.6% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [24]

Core Insights - The article discusses record profits and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the current market environment [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - Companies are reporting unprecedented profit levels, indicating strong financial health and operational efficiency [1] - The increase in profits is attributed to various factors including market demand and cost management strategies [1] Group 2: Mergers and Acquisitions - There is a notable surge in M&A activity, reflecting companies' strategies to consolidate and expand their market presence [1] - The trend in M&A is driven by the need for companies to enhance their competitive edge and achieve synergies [1]

Group 1: Gold Market Overview - Gold has increased nearly 24% over the past year and over 900% since 2000, outperforming the S&P 500 index's 489% increase during the same period [2] - The current surge in gold prices is attributed to heightened uncertainty in the stock market, leading to increased demand for gold as a safe-haven asset [2][4] - Historical patterns show that gold prices have gone through boom-and-bust cycles, influenced by the quantity of gold produced and prevailing market prices [5] Group 2: Newmont Corporation Insights - Newmont Corporation is the world's largest gold mining company, also producing copper, silver, zinc, and lead, with operations spanning globally [3][4] - The company's financial performance is heavily dependent on gold prices and production levels, with a total return of 240% since 1989 [4][7] - Newmont's current price-to-earnings ratio is 15, with earnings of $3.48 per share last year, but only $1.57 per share in 2023, indicating potential challenges ahead [11] Group 3: Market Sentiment and Future Outlook - The VIX index has spiked, indicating high anticipated stock market volatility, while consumer sentiment has dropped to near record lows, suggesting increased fear among investors [9] - There are signals that gold prices may be at or nearing a short-term peak, making it a potentially risky time to invest in gold mining stocks like Newmont [8][12] - The timing of investments in cyclical stocks like Newmont is crucial, as buying during peak earnings may not yield favorable long-term results [11][12]

Core Insights - The article discusses the importance of accurate information in the financial sector and the challenges faced in ensuring this accuracy [4]. Group 1 - The author emphasizes the need for reliable reporting in the financial industry, highlighting the potential consequences of misinformation [4]. - The article notes that while efforts are made to ensure accuracy, there are inherent limitations in guaranteeing the information provided [4]. - It is mentioned that the content is intended solely for informational purposes and does not constitute a solicitation for financial transactions [4].

Core Viewpoint - Newmont has reported strong quarterly results driven by historically high gold prices, leading to a significant increase in its stock price [1][2]. Financial Performance - Newmont's revenue for the first quarter reached $5.01 billion, nearly $1 billion higher than the $4.02 billion reported in the same period last year [2]. - Non-GAAP adjusted net income more than doubled to over $1.4 billion from $630 million year-over-year, surpassing analyst expectations [2]. Operational Highlights - The company completed the divestment of several projects, generating over $2.5 billion in sales from these assets [3]. - Gold production fell by 19% year-over-year to slightly more than 1.5 million ounces, attributed to asset sales and safety improvements at certain sites [3]. Future Guidance - Newmont maintained its gold production guidance for 2025 at 5.9 million ounces and forecasted exploration and advanced project costs of $525 million for the year [4].

Company Overview - Proactive is a financial news publisher that provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The company has a team of experienced news journalists who produce independent content across key finance and investing hubs including London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, and Perth [2] Market Focus - Proactive specializes in medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - The content delivered by the team includes insights across various sectors such as biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging digital and EV technologies [3] Technology Adoption - Proactive is recognized for its forward-looking approach and enthusiastic adoption of technology to enhance workflows [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring that all content is edited and authored by humans to maintain quality and best practices in content production [5]