Nike, Starbucks score well among teen shoppers — and Microsoft has fans in the C-suite

Market Overview - Stocks are mostly lower, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq pulling back from record highs, leading to a potential wipeout of most weekly gains [1] - The AI trade is also mostly lower, although major tech companies like Nvidia and Oracle saw gains [1] Company Insights - Nvidia received a new price target of $300 from Cantor Fitzgerald, indicating strong analyst confidence following a meeting with management [1] - Nike remains the top footwear brand among teens, showing signs of stabilization in brand awareness, particularly among upper-income teens, which has led to increased bullish sentiment from analysts [1] - Starbucks retained its position as the preferred coffee chain for 51% of respondents, although this is a decline from 57% in the previous survey, indicating resilience in a competitive market [1] Sector Analysis - Defensive sectors such as consumer staples and healthcare outperformed, while materials, industrials, energy, and consumer discretionary sectors lagged [1] - Microsoft is expected to gain incremental share in generative AI spending and IT budgets, with CIOs prioritizing AI investments, positioning Microsoft favorably for future growth [1] Upcoming Events - Levi Strauss is set to report earnings after the market closes on Thursday, with no major earnings reports expected before Friday's opening [1] - Economic data releases are delayed due to the government shutdown, but the University of Michigan sentiment and one-year inflation expectations are anticipated on Friday [1]