Jim Cramer just tossed another log on the bank-stock fire. Fresh off the buzz around Electronic Arts Inc's (NASDAQ: EA) deal, the Mad Money host says JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS) are "still cheap on a P/E basis" — a contrarian take when many investors think financials are tapped out.Track GS stock here.Valuations That Defy The TapeThe intrigue is simple: JPMorgan trades at just over 15.6 times forward earnings, Goldman closer to 15.3 times, per Benzinga Pro data. Co ...

The chip maker's board authorizes a new $5 billion buyback program. ...

Group 1: Federal Reserve and Economic Outlook - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is set to speak for the first time since interest rates were cut, with investors anticipating insights on future interest rate paths [2] - The OECD has raised global growth forecasts to 3.2% for this year, up from 2.9% previously, citing resilience in many economies [5] - U.S. growth expectations have also been lifted to 1.8% for 2025, compared to a previous estimate of 1.6% [6] Group 2: Gold Market Insights - Gold prices have surged to record highs above $3,750, marking a 40% increase year-to-date, the best performance since 1979 [6][7] - Analysts predict bullish targets for gold, with some forecasting prices could reach $4,000 by mid-2026 and up to $5,000 by the end of next year [8] Group 3: AI and Semiconductor Sector Developments - Nvidia announced a partnership with OpenAI, investing up to $100 billion, which boosted Nvidia's shares by approximately 4% [11][12] - Micron Technology is expected to report strong earnings, driven by high demand for its memory chips used in AI data centers [15][16] Group 4: Boeing and Trade Negotiations - Boeing's shares rose over 2% following reports of advanced negotiations for a significant deal to sell up to 500 aircraft to China, marking its first major sale to the country since the pandemic [32] Group 5: Corporate Share Buybacks - The S&P 500 has added $16 trillion in market capitalization since April, with stock buybacks playing a significant role, nearing $1 trillion in announcements for 2025 [20][22] - The current buyback activity is expected to decline due to the earnings blackout period, which typically leads to increased market volatility [27][29]

Bank holding company Financial Institutions (NASDAQ:FISI) announced on Monday a share repurchase program for up to 1,006,379 shares of common stock. The maximum shares to be repurchased represent ~5% of the company's outstanding stock. Effective September 18, the new buyback authorization ...

Summary of Key Points from Conference Call Records Industry Insights Global Equity Market - The current analysis indicates that the broader US equity market is not at a bubble stage despite signs of fragility and a resurgence in tech IPOs, particularly in the AI sector [1][27][37] - The AI trade has gained significant attention, exemplified by Oracle's 36% stock price increase on September 10, marking its largest one-day market cap gain ever for an S&P stock [1][27][29] - Historical comparisons to the late 90s dotcom bubble suggest that current market behaviors are still subdued, indicating potential for further growth in the AI bubble [1][27][36] European Stock Buybacks - 2025 is projected to have the highest European stock buyback volumes in at least a decade, with Financials, Energy, and Industrials leading this activity [2][59][62] - The Industrials sector has shown the largest year-on-year buyback volume growth, which is expected to support stock prices and reduce volatility [2][59][65] - The top 100 STOXX 600 buyback stocks have outperformed the benchmark by over 5% year-to-date, indicating the positive impact of buybacks on stock performance [2][59][67] Core Insights and Arguments Market Dynamics - The analysis of market volatility suggests that the current environment is not indicative of a bubble, as realized volatilities remain low compared to historical peaks [1][4][42] - The GFSI (Global Financial Stress Index) has shown a decline in stress across asset classes, reaching its lowest level since July 2025, indicating a more stable market environment [9][19][25] Trading Strategies - Leveraging steep skew in options markets, particularly through QQQ call spread collars, is recommended to capitalize on potential upside in tech stocks while managing downside risk [1][49][50][51] - The strategy involves buying call spreads while simultaneously selling out-of-the-money puts, which can enhance risk-reward profiles [1][49][51] Volatility and Risk Management - The current low levels of implied volatility in European indices present opportunities for premium harvesting through put-writing strategies, especially in stocks with significant buyback programs [2][60][73] - The steep volatility term structure in European equities suggests potential for capturing volatility carry through selling forward variance [73][85] Additional Important Content Market Performance Indicators - The performance of tech IPOs has shown strong initial returns, reminiscent of the early dotcom bubble, with notable gains from companies like Via Transportation and Gemini [1][28][31] - The analysis highlights that while tech stock returns are high, they are still below the extreme levels seen during the late 90s, suggesting room for growth without immediate bubble concerns [1][38][45] Risk Considerations - Short put trades carry risks of incurring losses if stock prices fall below the breakeven point, emphasizing the need for careful risk management [2][61] - The potential for a market pullback remains, but historical trends suggest that dips may be bought strongly, mitigating deep-tail risks [1][52][53] This summary encapsulates the key insights and strategic recommendations derived from the conference call records, focusing on the current state of the equity markets, particularly in the context of AI and European stock buybacks.

Group 1 - Frequency Electronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FEIM) specializes in precision time and frequency control products essential for satellite communications and defense systems [1] - Craig-Hallum has initiated coverage on FEIM with a "Buy" rating, indicating a positive outlook despite recent challenges [5] - The stock price of FEIM was approximately $27.64 when Craig-Hallum's bullish stance was announced [2] Group 2 - FEIM's stock price declined by 16% after the earnings report for the quarter ending July 31, 2025, contrasting with a 1.4% growth in the S&P 500 index during the same period [2][5] - The fiscal first quarter 2026 results showed a net income of 7 cents per diluted share, a 72% decrease from 25 cents per share in the same quarter the previous year [3] - Revenue fell to $13.8 million, down 8.4% from $15.1 million in the prior year, with net income dropping to $0.6 million from $2.4 million, a nearly 74% reduction [3] Group 3 - Despite financial challenges, FEIM remains optimistic due to a strong backlog, new contract bids, and a $20 million buyback plan [4][5] - The current stock price is $31.38, reflecting a significant increase of 14.80% with a change of $4.05 [4] - Over the past year, FEIM's stock has reached a high of $34.84 and a low of $11.71, with a market capitalization of approximately $305.9 million [4]

Core Viewpoint - Chipotle Mexican Grill has approved a $500 million stock buyback program, increasing its total authorization to $750 million, as a strategic move to repurchase shares amid a challenging market environment [2][4]. Group 1: Buyback Program Details - The buyback program was updated ahead of schedule, with the approval occurring on September 3 [2]. - Chipotle had previously spent approximately $1 billion on share repurchases in the first half of 2025, with an average repurchase price just above $52 [4]. - The current stock price is around $39, indicating a significant drop of about 35% year-to-date [3][4]. Group 2: Market Context and Analyst Sentiment - The company's shares have been under pressure due to a negative outlook for same-store sales, despite management's optimism for future performance [3]. - Analysts view the current stock price as an opportunity, with a mean price target of $58.65, representing a potential upside of over 50% from recent closing prices [5].

Core Viewpoint - Upwork Inc. has initiated a $100 million stock buyback program, indicating that the current stock price may be undervalued and that management anticipates further growth potential [2][12]. Financial Performance - Upwork reported a record second quarter with net revenue of $194.9 million, driven by an increase in connections between businesses and labor opportunities [7]. - Free cash flow increased significantly to $65.6 million from $35.5 million year-over-year, enabling reinvestment in growth and shareholder benefits [11]. Market Position and Growth Potential - Upwork has 796,000 active clients, positioning the company well to meet the anticipated demand during the employment rebound in the U.S. [8]. - Recent acquisitions of Bubty and Ascen are expected to expand Upwork's market reach into a total addressable market (TAM) of $650 billion [9]. Future Outlook - Analysts have set a 12-month stock price forecast for Upwork at $18.67, representing a 9.77% upside from the current price of $17.01 [9]. - Management has raised guidance figures for the remainder of 2025, suggesting additional upside potential not yet reflected in the stock price [10]. Investment Efficiency - The company has a return on invested capital rate of 24.9% over the past 12 months, indicating strong compounding potential for the $100 million buyback program [13].

Let's turn to what may end up being the stock story of the day. That's Tesla big move higher after Elon Musk reveals a big share purchase. Robert Frank with us and has more on the numbers.Robert, and how unusual this is. It is unusual for Elon to buy shares. Sarah, Elon buying two and a half million shares on Friday totaling around $1 billion.It was his first per first purchase of Tesla stock since 2020 is being taken by the market as a big sign of confidence in Tesla's future. But that $1 billion buy is ju ...

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