Economic Context - Current economic conditions are characterized as "stagflation-lite," indicating slowing growth alongside inflation, although unemployment remains relatively stable [1] - The impact of tariffs on prices has not fully materialized and may be temporary [1] Defensive Investment Opportunities - Two small-cap food companies are highlighted as defensive plays that are likely to withstand the stagflation environment due to the non-discretionary nature of food products [2] Village Super Market, Inc. (VLGEA) - Operates 34 supermarkets under ShopRite and Fairway brands across several states and is the second-largest member of Wakefern Food Corporation [3] - The company is investing $75 million in capital expenditures for fiscal 2025 to upgrade and expand its supermarket chain, including new store constructions [4] - For the fiscal third quarter, VLGEA reported earnings per share of 75 cents, up from 60 cents a year earlier, with sales increasing 3.2% year over year to $563.7 million [5] - Net income rose 24% to $11.2 million, with adjusted net income increasing 21% to $11.6 million [5] - The stock is trading at 0.19X trailing 12-month EV/sales, significantly lower than the Zacks sub-industry average of 1.15X [6] - The stock's trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA is 4.08X, compared to 18.37X for the Zacks sub-industry [7] Armanino Foods of Distinction, Inc. (AMNF) - Engaged in producing and marketing upscale frozen and refrigerated food products, including pesto sauces and stuffed pasta [8] - For the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, AMNF reported net sales of $19.97 million, a 14% increase from the previous year, with gross profit rising 26% to $9.11 million [9] - Net income climbed 27% to $4.85 million, resulting in earnings per share of 15.44 cents, a 30% increase from 11.86 cents a year earlier [9] - The company has $4.65 million authorized for future buybacks and offers a dividend yield of 1.6% [10] - The stock is trading at 3.81X trailing 12-month EV/sales, higher than the Zacks sub-industry average of 1.57X [10] - The trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA for AMNF is 12.45X, comparable to the Zacks sub-industry average of 12.19X [11] - Both companies are characterized as "steady eddies" with moderate ongoing appreciation potential and currently hold a Zacks Outperform rating [11]

Economic Outlook - The Chicago Federal Reserve President expressed caution regarding further interest rate cuts as the U.S. economy faces slower growth and a weaker labor market [1][2] - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted 11-1 to lower the federal funds rate to a range of 4%-4.25%, marking the first easing of the year [2][3] Inflation and Interest Rates - Inflation has remained above the Fed's 2% target for over four and a half years, prompting a careful approach to aggressive rate cuts [2][4] - The FOMC's projections suggest a neutral funds rate around 3.1%, indicating potential for further cuts in the benchmark rate [3][4] Labor Market Insights - Recent trends show a significant softening in hiring, although the unemployment rate remains low at 4.3% historically [4] - The Chicago Fed introduced a labor market monitor that forecasts the unemployment rate and includes real-time labor statistics, indicating stability in the labor market [5][6]

Market Overview - The recent market performance has seen record closes for major indices including the Dow, NASDAQ, S&P, and Russell, a phenomenon not observed since 2021 [1] - A pullback in the market is anticipated as healthy corrections are necessary, despite recent upward trends [2][3] Economic Conditions - Current labor numbers are flat or declining, indicating potential stagflation characterized by high inflation and low employment opportunities [4][5] - Historical comparisons suggest stagflation is rare, with the 1970s being a notable period, but the current situation is described as unusual [6] Market Predictions - A potential market selloff is projected, with estimates ranging from a 12% to 17% decline, which is considered a healthy correction [7][8] - There is significant margin money available, approximately $7.2 trillion, which could support market recovery [8] Investment Strategies - The "buy the dip" mentality remains prevalent among retail traders, while institutions are taking profits [9] - Recommended sectors for investment include Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and oil companies, which are expected to perform well amid inflation [12][21] - Specific stocks mentioned as potential buys on dips include John Deere and Caterpillar, with a focus on agricultural technology and equipment [13][19] Government and Policy Impact - Concerns are raised regarding an impending budget crisis, which could negatively impact market stability [15][16] - Historical context indicates that government shutdowns create market uncertainty, which is generally unfavorable [17] Consumer Technology - Apple products, particularly the iPhone 17 Pro Max, are highlighted as attractive investments, reflecting a shift in consumer preference [25]

Group 1 - The U.S. economy is facing potential stagflation, leading to increased short interest in several securities, including Snap Inc (SNAP) [1] - SNAP's short interest is currently at 13.13% of its float, exceeding the 10% threshold that traders often consider a warning sign [2] - The Barchart Technical Opinion indicator rates SNAP as a 64% Sell, indicating a weakening short-term outlook [3] Group 2 - Among 37 Wall Street analysts, 29 (or 78.4%) have a neutral view on SNAP, which can be interpreted as a Sell [4] - Despite a 3.32% loss on Friday, SNAP stock gained almost 12% the previous week and is up nearly 16% in the past month [5] - Total options volume for SNAP reached 294,264 contracts, a 54.44% increase over the one-month average, with call volume significantly higher than put volume [6] Group 3 - The largest transactions by dollar volume were for debit-based calls expiring on October 17, suggesting optimism among traders [7] - SNAP is close to being considered a penny stock, indicating the need for caution despite potential opportunities [8]

Core Viewpoint - Citigroup predicts a continued rally in gold and silver, with potential opportunities emerging in copper and aluminum by 2026, driven by economic factors and changes in U.S. monetary policy [1][4]. Group 1: Precious Metals Performance - Gold prices increased by $44.40, or 1.2%, reaching $3,750 per ounce, aiming for a new closing high, potentially its 36th this year [2]. - Silver rose over 2% to $43.86 per ounce, with an intraday peak of $44.10, the highest level since August 2011, as investors anticipate a new settlement high [3]. Group 2: Future Outlook for Metals - The bull market for gold and silver is expected to broaden into copper and aluminum by 2026, influenced by anticipated dovish Federal Reserve leadership and lower U.S. real interest rates [4]. - Factors driving this trend include a weak labor market, tariff-related growth concerns, U.S. debt worries, and a weakening dollar [5]. Group 3: Investment Strategies - Citigroup suggests buying dips in gold, targeting $3,800 per ounce in the next three months, with a peak expected in the first quarter of the following year [6]. - The bullish scenario for gold could see prices reaching $4,000 amid stagflation and Fed independence concerns, while a bearish scenario could see prices drop to $3,400 [6]. - For aluminum, the strategists express strong bullish sentiment over the next six to 36 months, indicating that any price dips should be viewed as long-term buying opportunities [7].

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers cautioned that the United States may be heading into a period of stagflation led by President Donald Trump’s trade and tariff policies, citing the lingering effects of tariffs and rising risks for both unemployment and inflation. We’re Likely On The ‘Foothills of Stagflation’ On Thursday, in a post on X, Summers highlighted a snippet from his recent online conver ...

Group 1: Treasury Yields Overview - The yield on the 10-year Treasury note ended at 4.14% on September 19, 2025, while the 2-year note was at 3.57% and the 30-year note at 4.75% [1] - A long-term view of the 10-year yield shows significant historical context, starting from 1965, highlighting the impact of events like the 1973 oil embargo [2] - The inverted yield curve, where longer-term yields are lower than shorter-term ones, is a reliable leading indicator for recessions, with the 10-2 spread turning negative before recessions [2][3] Group 2: Recession Indicators - The average lead time to a recession based on the first negative spread date is approximately 48 weeks, while using the last positive spread date yields an average of 18.5 weeks [4][6] - The 10-3 month spread also indicates a lead time to recessions ranging from 34 to 69 weeks, with similar patterns observed as in the 10-2 spread [5] - The most recent negative spread for the 10-2 occurred from July 5, 2022, to August 26, 2024, while the 10-3 month spread was negative from October 25, 2022, to December 12, 2024 [3][5] Group 3: Mortgage Rates and Federal Funds Rate - The Federal Funds Rate influences borrowing costs for banks, which typically leads to higher mortgage rates when the FFR increases; however, recent trends show mortgage rates declining despite steady FFR [7] - The latest Freddie Mac survey reported the 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.35%, the lowest since October 2024 [7] Group 4: Market Behavior and Federal Reserve Influence - Federal Reserve policy has significantly influenced market behavior, particularly in relation to Treasury yields and the S&P 500 [8] - ETFs associated with Treasuries include Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL), Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (VGIT), and Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (VGLT) [9]

Company Insights - Nvidia has made a $5 billion investment in Intel, which is seen as a strategic move to support domestic chip manufacturing and align with national interests [1][2] - Intel's stock has increased over 50% year-to-date, nearing its 52-week highs, indicating strong market performance [4][6] - Despite the positive sentiment around Intel, the valuation is considered high, and the investment from Nvidia is relatively small compared to Nvidia's market cap of $4 trillion [6][5] Economic Context - The Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cuts are viewed as insufficient to address underlying structural issues in the economy, leading to concerns about job losses and potential stagflation [7][10] - Stagflation is characterized by rising inflation and job losses, a situation not seen in a long time, which raises alarms about the current economic environment [10][12] - There is a disconnect between the stock market, which is reaching all-time highs, and the struggles faced by the broader economy, particularly in terms of employment [11][12] Market Strategy - The expectation is for a market pullback of approximately 15-17%, which is considered necessary for healthy market corrections [15][16] - Current market conditions suggest that institutional selling is occurring as profit-taking begins, particularly as the market enters historically weaker months [14][15] - In a stagflationary environment, the focus is shifting towards undervalued companies that generate cash flow, with interest in sectors like agriculture and construction, such as John Deere and Caterpillar [24][25]

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Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve has initiated its first interest rate cut of 2025, reducing the benchmark rate by 25 basis points to a range of 4.00-4.25%, with expectations for further cuts later in the year [1][2]. Economic Projections - The Fed has raised its economic growth outlook for 2025 to 1.6% from 1.4% and has also increased GDP growth expectations for 2026 and 2027 to 1.8% and 1.9% respectively [3][4]. - The unemployment rate is projected to rise to 4.5% this year, with a gradual decline expected to 4.4% in 2026 and 4.3% in 2027 [5]. Market Implications - Value stocks are expected to outperform in a higher-rate environment, while growth stocks may benefit from anticipated rate cuts [7]. - Consumer discretionary ETFs are likely to perform well due to the upcoming holiday season and positive retail sales data [8]. - Small-cap stocks are positioned to gain from lower borrowing costs and an improving domestic economy [9]. - High-income investment options, such as the Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF, are appealing due to their steady income generation [11]. - The AI sector is expected to thrive in a low-rate environment, benefiting AI-focused ETFs [12]. - The hydrogen power industry is projected to grow despite recent production estimates being lowered, indicating a potential opportunity for related ETFs [13][14].