Five things to know ahead of today's opening bell. Open AAI is talking with Amazon about the tech giant possibly investing in the AI startup and having Open AI use Amazon's chips. A source tells CNBC that Amazon's investment could top $10 billion.Self-driving car company Whimo is in talks to raise $15 billion in 2026. A person familiar with the matter tells CNBC that Whimo plans to raise the money from its parent company, Alphabet, as well as outside investors at a valuation as high as 110 billion. Spirit A ...

Core Insights - General Mills reported a decline in second-quarter profit and sales as the company implements price cuts to attract consumers affected by inflation [1] Financial Performance - The company experienced lower profit and sales figures in the second quarter [1] - Price cuts are being utilized as a strategy to draw in inflation-weary consumers [1]

Gold has made its biggest jump since the 1979 oil crisis in 2025 -- with prices doubling in the last two years -- a performance which might previously have meant forecasts of a big correction. ...

Core Viewpoint - As 2025 approaches, there is a growing debate regarding concentration and high valuations in large-cap stocks, alongside concerns about macroeconomic uncertainty and economic conditions, leading to a collective call for diversification, particularly highlighting opportunities in small-cap stocks [1] Group 1 - The discussion emphasizes the need for diversification in investment strategies [1] - There are concerns about the concentration of investments in large-cap stocks and their lofty valuations [1] - The macroeconomic environment and economic conditions are contributing to the call for diversification [1] Group 2 - Small-cap stocks are identified as a specific area of opportunity within the diversification strategy [1]

Key Points In the last decade, this top auto stock has significantly lagged the overall S&P 500. Ford’s low growth, low profits, huge capital expenditures, and cyclicality are negative factors. 10 stocks we like better than Ford Motor Company › Investors should be pleased with Ford (NYSE: F) this year. The Detroit automaker's shares have returned an impressive 48% so far in 2025 (as of Dec. 12), including dividends. The S&P 500 comes up short. Ford has positive momentum as 2026 approaches. Does thi ...

Oil prices surged Wednesday, jumping off multi-year lows after President Donald Trump ordered a "total and complete blockade†of oil tankers into and out of Venezuela. ...

Core Viewpoint - Stifel analyst J. Bruce Chan has raised the price target for J.B. Hunt (JBHT) to $172 from $147 while maintaining a Hold rating on the shares, indicating a cautious outlook on the stock's performance in the near term [1]. Group 1: Price Target and Rating - The price target for J.B. Hunt has been increased to $172 from $147 [1]. - The firm maintains a Hold rating on J.B. Hunt shares, suggesting a neutral stance on the stock [1]. Group 2: Industry Focus - For 2026, the focus for transport stocks is expected to be on supply rationalization and cost-driven self-help strategies [1]. - The analyst emphasizes a conservative positioning in high-quality names that can preserve or expand market share during a mild pullback [1].

Group 1 - Stifel raised the price target on Knight-Swift (KNX) to $59 from $52 while maintaining a Buy rating on the shares [1] - For 2026, the focus for transport stocks is expected to be on supply rationalization and cost-driven self-help [1] - The analyst suggests a conservative positioning in high-quality names that can preserve or expand market share during a mild pullback [1]

Core Insights - The State Street SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF (MDYV) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Mid Cap Value segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $2.47 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs in this category [1] Group 1: Investment Characteristics - Mid cap companies, with market capitalizations between $2 billion and $10 billion, offer a balance of lower risk and higher growth opportunities compared to small and large companies [2] - Value stocks typically have lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, and while they may have lower sales and earnings growth rates, they have historically outperformed growth stocks in long-term performance [3] Group 2: Cost and Performance - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.15%, positioning it as one of the least expensive options in the market, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.79% [4] - MDYV aims to match the performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Value Index, with a year-to-date return of approximately 8.19% and a 1-year return of about 3.92% as of December 17, 2025 [7] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Financials sector, comprising about 21% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Consumer Discretionary [5] - Flex Ltd accounts for approximately 1.52% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings representing about 10.73% of total assets under management [6] Group 4: Risk Assessment - MDYV has a beta of 1.03 and a standard deviation of 18.51% over the trailing three-year period, indicating it is a medium-risk investment option [8] Group 5: Alternatives - Other ETFs in the mid-cap value space include the iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) and the Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF (VOE), with assets of $14.30 billion and $19.86 billion respectively, and expense ratios of 0.23% and 0.07% [11]

Core Insights - The State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) is a passively managed ETF launched on December 16, 1998, providing broad exposure to the Materials - Broad segment of the equity market [1][3] - The ETF has amassed over $5.26 billion in assets, making it one of the largest in its category [3] - XLB has a low expense ratio of 0.08%, making it the least expensive product in the space, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.91% [4] Fund Details - XLB seeks to match the performance of the Materials Select Sector Index, which represents the materials sector of the S&P 500 Index [3] - The ETF has a heavy allocation in the Materials sector, approximately 100% of the portfolio [5] - The top holding, Linde Plc (LIN), accounts for about 16.74% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings making up approximately 63.1% of total assets under management [6] Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, XLB has increased by roughly 8.48%, and it is up approximately 3.71% over the last year [7] - The fund has traded between $37.135 and $46.305 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 1.01 and a standard deviation of 16.82% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [7] Investment Alternatives - XLB holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum [8] - Other ETFs in the space include SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF (GNR) and FlexShares Morningstar Global Upstream Natural Resources ETF (GUNR), with GNR having $3.70 billion in assets and GUNR having $5.62 billion [10]