Core Viewpoint - The market turbulence following President Trump's announcement of increased tariffs appears to have subsided, but the risk departments of major global banks remain cautious, implementing measures to mitigate potential losses while potentially sacrificing profits [1]. Group 1: Market Reactions and Strategies - Major banks like Bank of America, NatWest Markets, and Dutch Bank are taking precautionary measures such as daily risk inquiries, stress testing portfolios, and reducing swap positions to lower the risk of significant losses [1]. - Despite the recent calm in the markets, there are concerns about a potential new shock comparable to the one in April, particularly with the upcoming deadline for raising the U.S. federal debt ceiling and the expiration of Trump's tariff exemptions [1]. Group 2: Bond Market Dynamics - The volatility in the U.S. bond market surged to a two-year high in April, with both U.S. Treasuries and equities experiencing significant sell-offs, indicating a breakdown of the safe-haven role of U.S. bonds during stress periods [6][7]. - There are signs of a rebound in demand for longer-term bonds, as weak U.S. economic data has recently pushed up Treasury prices, while Japan's 30-year bond auction results were better than expected [5]. Group 3: Risk Management Practices - The uncertainty in the market has led to a reduction in positions by trading departments, with a focus on managing risks associated with potential volatility spikes, particularly in light of upcoming employment data [5][6]. - Risk management techniques such as scenario analysis and Value at Risk (VaR) are being employed to assess potential losses, but predicting market conditions remains challenging due to the unpredictable nature of current events [6].

Market Overview - Wall Street has experienced volatility in 2025 due to overstretched valuations of U.S. stocks, persistent inflation, weak economic data, geopolitical conflicts, and concerns regarding the Trump administration's trade policies [1] - The Federal Reserve's uncertainty over rate cuts, recession fears, and the emergence of a low-cost Chinese AI platform have contributed to investor unease [1] Investment Strategy - It is advisable to invest in high dividend-paying corporate giants, which typically possess strong financial positions, robust business models, and globally recognized brand value [2] - Regular dividend payments from these firms can provide a steady income stream during market fluctuations [2] Company Highlights Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) - Zacks Rank 1, benefiting from strong pricing power and an expanding smoke-free product portfolio, aiming to become substantially smoke-free by 2030 [6][7] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates of 8.1% and 13.7% respectively for the current year, with a current dividend yield of 3.01% [8] CVS Health Corp. (CVS) - Zacks Rank 2, investing in technology to reduce costs and enhance customer experience, with plans to close 271 stores to save over $500 million in 2025 [9][10] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates of 3.7% and 12.6% respectively for the current year, with a current dividend yield of 4.34% [10] Energy Transfer LP (ET) - Zacks Rank 2, benefiting from long-term fee-based contracts, with nearly 90% of earnings from such contracts [11][13] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates of 18.2% and 12.5% respectively for the current year, with a current dividend yield of 7.30% [13] GSK plc (GSK) - Zacks Rank 2, strong position in HIV and Vaccines, with increased sales growth in Specialty Medicines and promising new products [14][15] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates of 5.1% and 6.7% respectively for the current year, with a current dividend yield of 4.28% [16] NatWest Group plc (NWG) - Zacks Rank 1, providing a range of banking and financial services in the UK and internationally [17][18] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates of 20.1% and 17.3% respectively for the current year, with a current dividend yield of 5.41% [19]

Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.Even though momentum is a popular stock char ...

Core Insights - The article discusses an active investing strategy focused on identifying breakout stocks within a specific price range, emphasizing the importance of support and resistance levels in making investment decisions [1][2][3]. Group 1: Breakout Stocks - Barclays PLC (BCS), NatWest Group plc (NWG), and Aris Mining Corporation (ARMN) are highlighted as today's breakout stocks [1]. - BCS anticipates an earnings growth rate of 21.2% for the current year [7]. - NWG expects an earnings growth rate of 17.3% this year [9]. - ARMN projects an impressive earnings growth rate of 226.5% for the current year [10]. Group 2: Screening Criteria - The screening criteria for selecting breakout stocks include a percentage price change over four weeks between 10% and 20%, current price close to 52-week highs, and a Zacks Rank of 1 [6]. - Additional criteria include a beta for 60 months less than or equal to 2 and a current price less than or equal to $20 [7]. - These criteria narrow down the stock universe from over 6,853 to only nine potential candidates [7].

Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that m ...

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that despite uncertainties, 2025 is expected to be a favorable year for NatWest Group [1] - The first quarter results exceeded consensus expectations, indicating strong business performance [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes a long-term investment strategy focused on stocks that can deliver sustainable high-quality earnings, particularly in the dividend and income sectors [1]

Core Insights - The article discusses the background and expertise of a financial analyst named Harrison, who has been active on Seeking Alpha since 2018 and has over a decade of market experience [1]. Group 1 - Harrison has professional experience in private equity, real estate, and economic research, indicating a diverse skill set relevant to investment analysis [1]. - The analyst possesses an academic background in financial econometrics, economic forecasting, and global monetary economics, which enhances his analytical capabilities [1].

NatWest Group (NWG) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.The power of a ch ...

Company Overview - NatWest Group (NWG) is headquartered in London and operates in the Finance sector, with a stock price change of 27.83% since the beginning of the year [3] - The bank currently pays a dividend of $0.39 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 5.94%, which is significantly higher than the Banks - Foreign industry's yield of 3.73% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.6% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of $0.77 represents a 75% increase from the previous year, with a five-year average annual increase of 46.32% [4] - NatWest Group has increased its dividend five times on a year-over-year basis over the past five years [4] - The current payout ratio is 52%, indicating that the company pays out 52% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Outlook - For the fiscal year, NWG anticipates solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 at $1.50 per share, reflecting a 12.78% increase from the previous year [5] Investment Appeal - Dividends are favored by investors for various reasons, including tax advantages and reduced overall portfolio risk, which can enhance stock investing profits [6] - Larger, established companies are more likely to offer dividends compared to tech start-ups or high-growth businesses [7] - NWG is positioned as an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [7]

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets experienced severe volatility in April, with the S&P 500 and Dow falling by 3.2% and 0.8%, respectively, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.9% [1] - The volatility was attributed to President Trump's tariffs and trade-related policies, with economists warning of a near-term recession as U.S. GDP contracted for the first time in three years in Q1 2025 [2] Economic Indicators - Better-than-expected nonfarm payrolls data for April and optimism regarding U.S. government trade negotiations are expected to boost confidence in equities [3] Investment Opportunities - Recommended stocks for investment in May include Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (SFM), Philip Morris International Inc. (PM), Sony Group Corp. (SONY), Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM), and NatWest Group plc (NWG), all of which have shown double-digit returns in the past month and hold a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [4][5] Company Analysis Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (SFM) - Focus on product innovation, e-commerce, and private label offerings has led to better-than-expected Q4 2024 results, with both revenue and earnings growing year over year [9] - SFM expects net sales to rise between 10.5% and 12.5% in 2025, with comparable store sales anticipated to increase by 4.5-6.5% [10] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 13.4% and 30.7%, respectively, with a 5.2% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [11] Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) - Strong pricing power and an expanding smoke-free product portfolio are driving growth, with PM aiming to become substantially smoke-free by 2030 [13] - Anticipates positive volume growth for the fifth consecutive year, with an expected increase of 2%, and smoke-free products projected to grow by 12-14% [14] - 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 [15] Sony Group Corp. (SONY) - Growth is supported by strong performance in Game & Network Services, Music, and Financial Services, despite challenges in the Entertainment, Technology & Services unit [16] - Fiscal 2024 sales view raised to ¥13,200 billion from ¥12,710 billion, driven by momentum in Financial Services and G&NS units [17] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 0.7% and 14.4%, respectively, with a 0.7% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [18] Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM) - Focus on production growth through project execution and strategic acquisitions, including the merger with Kirkland Lake Gold [19][20] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 20.6% and 44.4%, respectively, with a 6.1% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [20] NatWest Group plc (NWG) - Provides a range of banking and financial services across various segments, including Retail Banking and Private Banking [21][22] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 10.8% and 12.8%, respectively, with a 2.7% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [22]