Hey, Rick, it's great to have you with us. Thanks for having me. How was your trip in Texas so far. So far. So far, so good.I love being here. First of all, the weather's great. Second of all, people are people are really you know, it's got it's got an open, friendly feeling to it.So, no, I love it. I think it's great. BlackRock's been active in Texas investment planning an ETF, building its profile.You're now off the list of the companies boycotted by the state over ESG policies. So let's talk about what a ...

VOO ETF gains $51 billion, eyes $1 trillion as SPY and IVV lose billions A major rotation is happening among exchange-traded funds tracking the S&P 500 Index. The Vanguard S&P 500 Index (VOO) has continued soaring, while the other large funds are shedding billions of dollars in assets. VOO ETF inflows are soaring this year Data compiled by ETF shows that investors are piling into the popular Vanguard S&P 500 Index this year. The fund added over $55 billion in assets this year, bringing that cumulative asset ...

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve's signals indicate that interest rate cuts are unlikely until summer 2026, prompting investors to consider high-quality stocks with yields of 5% or more as attractive options for income and potential growth [1][4][6]. Economic Context - Rising inflation, driven by surging energy prices, is a significant factor diminishing hopes for interest rate cuts [2]. - The Federal Reserve has maintained interest rates between 3.5% and 3.75% for two consecutive meetings, with inflation projected to remain above the 2% target, leading to a revised inflation outlook of 2.7% for 2026 [4]. Investment Strategy - Investors are encouraged to focus on quality stocks that yield 5% or more, as the expectation for rate cuts has shifted, making these stocks more appealing [5][6]. - A screening of high-yield dividend stocks has been conducted to identify those that can withstand market volatility and offer solid upside potential [7]. Stock Recommendations - **Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD)**: Offers a reliable 5.87% dividend, strong free cash flow of approximately $4.2 billion annually, and a moderate debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 3.1x to 3.4x [10][11]. - **Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F)**: Provides a 5.09% dividend and operates through five segments, with a recent Buy rating and a target price of $17 from Bank of America [13][14]. - **Prudential Financial (NYSE: PRU)**: Features a 5.81% dividend yield and a strong balance sheet, making it a safe option for conservative investors [15]. - **VICI Properties (NYSE: VICI)**: A real estate investment trust with a 6.38% dividend yield, owning a diverse portfolio of gaming and entertainment properties, with a significant portion of leases tied to inflation [22][23]. - **Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ)**: Offers a 5.41% dividend and trades at 9.13 times its estimated 2026 earnings, with a strong interest coverage ratio of 4.6x to 5x [28][29].

Key Takeaways Pre-Markets Down Again, Lower for the Week & MonthFed Gov. Chris Waller Offers His Comments on Interest RatesFedEx Up in Early Trading on Strong Q3 Report ThursdayFriday, March 20th, 2026We take a breather from major earnings reports and economic prints coming down the pike this Friday. Month-to-date, we’ve gotten plenty of information with which to guide market direction — not all of it good. Thus, we welcome this time to sit back and assess where we are as of the 2026 Spring Equinox.Pre-mark ...

Key Takeaways Fed signals fewer cuts; oil shock keeps inflation risks elevated and policy cautious.Weak job growth raises risks of deeper cuts later despite current Fed pause.Strong dollar, rising yields favor income ETFs and inverse gold strategies as of now.The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged at 3.5%–3.75% following its two-day policy meeting on Wednesday, in line with market expectations. Alongside the decision, policymakers released their first Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) for 202 ...

US President Donald Trump has demanded the Federal Reserve hold a “special meeting” to cut interest rates immediately, calling the current 3.50% to 3.75% target range a threat to national security. While CME FedWatch data shows a 99% probability of rates holding steady at this week’s Federal Reserve meeting, the political pressure is adding volatility to Bitcoin and risk assets as traders bet on future liquidity injections. (Source – FedWatch, CME Group) Trump’s comments, likening the need for cuts to ...

Key Inflation Gauge Rose In January—As Interest Rate Cut Hopes Dwindlehttps://t.co/lT2uteTr2H https://t.co/0d9fNwf9ub ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses NASDAQ 100 dividend stocks that retirees are considering before potential interest rate cuts, highlighting several companies that offer attractive dividend yields. Group 1: Companies and Their Dividend Yields - PepsiCo (PEP) is a member of the NASDAQ 100 and offers a dividend yield of 3.47%, with net revenue reported at $93.925 billion in 2025, a 2% increase from $91.854 billion in 2024 [1][2]. - Texas Instruments (TXN) provides a dividend yield of 2.81%, with Q1 2025 revenue growing 11% year over year to $4.069 billion and free cash flow surging 82% to $1.715 billion [1][2]. - American Electric Power (AEP) has a dividend yield of 2.85%, with revenue increasing to $5.314 billion in 2025 from $4.696 billion in 2024 [1][2]. - Cisco (CSCO) offers a dividend yield of 2.08% and reported record revenue of $15.3 billion in Q2 fiscal 2026, a 10% year-over-year growth [1][2]. Group 2: Market Context and Implications - With U.S. Treasury bond yields expected to decline, retirees are likely to seek passive income from dividend-yielding stocks in the NASDAQ 100 [1]. - The article emphasizes that NASDAQ stocks can provide substantial yields for retirees, countering the misconception that they lack sufficient dividend payouts [1].

Market Overview - Bitcoin outperformed major U.S. stock indexes, trading at $68,783, up approximately $2,000 since U.S. markets opened, despite earlier falling to $66,300 [1] - The tech-heavy Nasdaq index experienced a decline of 1%, slightly more than the S&P 500, while the Dow Jones dropped by 369 points [3] Bitcoin Price Influencers - Bitcoin's recent surge towards $70,000 is attributed to expectations of higher inflation in the U.S., linked to rising energy prices and potential increases in U.S. military spending [2] - Traders on Myriad predict a 58% chance that Bitcoin will fall to $55,000 before reaching $84,000, indicating overall bearish sentiment [2] Geopolitical Impact - U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that military operations against Iran could last four to five weeks, with the potential for extended engagement, impacting oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz [4] - Following missile strikes from Iran, traders foresee a 45% chance of a ceasefire before April and a 38% chance of the current Iranian regime's fall by October [5] Oil Prices and Cryptocurrency - The price of Brent crude oil rose by 4.5% to $81 per barrel, which is seen as a significant indicator for cryptocurrencies [6] - If Brent oil prices remain above $80, it could solidify the re-inflation narrative, complicating the Federal Reserve's potential rate cut decisions [6] Precious Metals Market - Despite geopolitical uncertainties benefiting some assets, gold prices fell by 3.6% to around $5,119 per ounce, while silver saw a larger decline of approximately 6.2% to around $83 per ounce [7]

Core Viewpoint - The S&P 500 has remained stagnant due to concerns over high valuations, aggressive AI spending, and trade policies, but historical data suggests that an interest rate cut could positively impact the stock market [1]. Group 1: Interest Rate Policies - The Federal Reserve has maintained U.S. interest rates above those of many developed economies, with the current target range set at 3.5% to 3.75%, which is approximately 1 percentage point above the 30-year average [4]. - President Trump has consistently advocated for lower interest rates, suggesting they should be around 1% or lower, and has pressured the Federal Reserve to comply with this demand [5]. - Lowering interest rates could stimulate economic growth and reduce government debt costs, but it may also exacerbate inflation, which is currently above the Fed's 2% target, with CPI inflation at 2.4% and PCE price index inflation at 2.9% as of December [6]. Group 2: Historical Market Performance - Historically, the S&P 500 has achieved a median one-year return of 10% following interest rate cuts, with a median return of 11% when excluding cuts made during recessions [7]. - Increasing the federal funds rate leads to higher borrowing costs, slower economic growth, lower inflation, and higher unemployment, while decreasing the rate has the opposite effects [8].