Nvidia accounts for 8% of the S&P 500 and will report earnings later this week. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesKey Takeaways Tech weakness weighed, but small caps and Dow outperformed strongly Powell’s Jackson Hole speech spotlighted jobs, AI impacts hiring Rate cut odds remain high, markets await key dataIt was a mixed week for stocks with tech shares weighing heavily on the market. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.6%. The S&P 500 gaine ...

The Fed Chair, Jerome Powell, just had his highly anticipated speech at the Federal Reserve's annual symposium at Jackson Hole, and his comments seemed to strongly suggest that interest rates would soon be cut to lowerYour timing is perfect! We’ve just released our latest top investment picks for September 2025, and by joining today, you’ll gain immediate access to these exciting opportunities.We invest thousands of hours and over $100,000 annually into researching the most profitable investment opportuniti ...

Industry Overview - OPEC+ nations' decision to increase oil production raises concerns about an oversupplied market, compounded by hopes for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, leading to poor performance in energy stocks [1] - The bear case for oil may be overly crowded, with potential underestimated demand that could benefit energy stocks in late 2025 and into 2026 [2] Demand Factors - The Federal Reserve's potential interest rate cut of 25 basis points (0.25%) could stimulate industrial activity, travel, and freight, positively impacting oil demand [2] - Residential demand for electricity and heating fuels is sticky and seasonal, with oil-fired generation still relevant in some regions, indicating less elastic consumption than assumed [3] Supply Considerations - OPEC+ nations have not committed to supply increases after September, which could tighten supply and lead to higher oil prices [3] - Geopolitical risks, including potential higher tariffs on countries like India, may persist regardless of the Russia-Ukraine conflict resolution [4] Company Insights: Chevron - Chevron's stock is up 7.7% in 2025, attributed to the completion of its merger with Hess Co., enhancing exposure to Guyana's oil reserves [6] - The company produces between 800,000 and 850,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) in the Permian Basin, focusing on capital efficiency as a growth driver [7] - Analysts have a consensus price target of $164.11 for Chevron, indicating a 5% upside [8] Company Insights: Exxon Mobil - Exxon Mobil, after acquiring Pioneer Natural Resources, is the largest operator in the Permian Basin, generating approximately 1.6 million to 1.8 million boe/d, with plans to reach two million boe/d by 2027 [9] - The stock is down approximately 0.75% in 2025, but analysts project a consensus price of $125.84, offering a 17% upside [10] Company Insights: Schlumberger - Schlumberger is considered a high-beta play in the oil sector, with potential for greater upside if demand exceeds expectations [12] - The company’s stock is down 12.8% in 2025, but analysts forecast a price target of $49.28, representing an increase of over 47% [14]

Homebuilding news takes center stage this morning — in fact, this week has important housing data all through it — with Housing Starts and Building Permits for July pointing in two distinctly different directions. Pre-market futures were already showing some improvement from overnight lows, but have pointed north on the new data.Housing Starts, Building Permits Point to Big DifferencesLast month, Housing Starts came in at multi-month highs to 1.43 million seasonally adjusted, annualized units — well above t ...

I'm the finance executive editor Brian Saz and you're taking a look at a live shot of the opening bells on Wall Street on this Monday morning. Megaish ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange and CTW Cayman, a gaming platform company getting things popping over there at the NASDAQ. Now, there will be no shortage of market moving events this week.Ukraine President Vladimir Zalinski will be back in Washington after President Trump met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin last week. Other Europea ...

Core Viewpoint - Realty Income is poised for a potential recovery in its stock price due to anticipated interest rate cuts, which could enhance its financial performance and attractiveness to investors [1][4][13]. Group 1: Company Overview - Realty Income specializes in single-tenant net-leased properties and has built a substantial portfolio over 56 years, owning or holding interest in over 15,600 properties as of the end of Q2 2025, compared to just above 6,500 properties at its peak in February 2020 [7]. - The company has consistently increased its monthly dividend, including during the pandemic, with a current annual dividend of nearly $3.23 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 5.5%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.2% [8]. Group 2: Financial Performance - In the first half of 2025, Realty Income reported revenue of $2.8 billion, reflecting a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024, while expenses grew by 6%, with interest payments rising by 13% [9]. - The company achieved nearly $447 million in net income attributable to common shareholders in the first two quarters of 2025, marking a 16% year-over-year increase despite higher interest rates [10]. - Realty Income's funds from operations (FFO) for the trailing 12 months exceeded $3.65 billion, resulting in a price-to-FFO ratio of just under 15, which could enhance its attractiveness in a declining interest rate environment [11]. Group 3: Market Outlook - A widely expected interest rate cut in September, with a 95% probability according to futures traders, could serve as a catalyst for Realty Income's stock recovery [4]. - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speculated that the rate cut could be as high as 0.5%, which is more than the previously anticipated 0.25% [5]. - If the forecasted interest rate cut occurs, Realty Income may have increased capacity to refinance debt and pursue property acquisitions, potentially boosting profits and accelerating stock price recovery [14].

ToplineThe Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 rose to new record highs Friday, as the Dow benefited from UnitedHealth Group’s stock pacing its largest single-day gain in nearly five years in the wake of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway disclosing a stake in the beleaguered insurer. Warren Buffett owned UnitedHealth shares before selling his stake in 2010, though his Berkshire Hathaway recently acquired shares.Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.Key FactsThe Dow added nearly 300 ...

Market Overview - The stock market is expected to remain volatile due to high stock prices relative to historical averages and uncertainties surrounding interest rate cuts and tariffs [1] - The Federal Reserve is uncertain about the impact of tariffs on inflation, which may affect the timing and magnitude of potential rate cuts [1] Investment Opportunities - Stocks such as Vipshop Holdings Limited (VIPS), Stride Inc. (LRN), HSBC (HSBC), and Futu Holdings Limited (FUTU) are highlighted as potential investment opportunities due to their growth strategies and resilience in uncertain market conditions [2][9] Stock Characteristics - Beta is used to measure the volatility of a stock compared to the market, with a beta of 1 indicating movement in line with the market, greater than 1 indicating higher volatility, and less than 1 indicating lower volatility [3][4] - A screening criterion for selecting stocks includes a beta between 0 and 0.6, ensuring lower volatility than the market, along with positive price movement over the last month, substantial trading volume, and a price of at least $5 [5][6] Company Insights - **Vipshop Holdings**: Utilizes a unique strategy called "Made for Vipshop," offering exclusive products from over 200 brands, which drives customer loyalty [7] - **Stride Inc.**: Focuses on innovative educational solutions and is well-positioned for long-term success due to increasing demand for school choice and tutoring services [10] - **HSBC**: Investing in growth areas by opening new wealth management centers in key locations and simplifying processes for small and medium-sized enterprises [11] - **Futu Holdings**: A tech-driven company enhancing online investing experiences with upgrades like the Futubull AI, which provides quick and accurate investment-related assistance [12]

Economic Overview - U.S. stocks have experienced a rally due to impressive economic data, leading to optimism among investors regarding potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts [1][8] - Expectations for a rate cut in September increased after inflation data showed a slower-than-expected rise [2][8] Inflation Data - The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.2% month-over-month in July, lower than the consensus estimate of 0.3% [4] - Year-over-year, CPI increased by 2.7% in July, also below the expected 2.8% [5] - Core CPI, excluding food and energy, rose 0.3% in July, aligning with expectations, while year-over-year core CPI increased by 3.1%, slightly above the 3% forecast [5][6] Consumer Discretionary Stocks - Investing in consumer discretionary stocks is recommended due to the favorable economic outlook and anticipated rate cuts [2][11] - Notable consumer discretionary stocks include: - **The Walt Disney Company (DIS)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 17.7% for the current year, with revenues of $91.4 billion in fiscal 2024 [9][10] - **Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 40.9% for the current year [12][13] - **Hasbro, Inc. (HAS)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 19.5% for the current year [14] - **Netflix, Inc. (NFLX)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 31.4% for the current year [15][16] - **Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 19.8% for the current year [17]

Group 1: Market Trends - Small-cap stocks, represented by the Russell 2000, gained over 1% in midday trading, contrasting with the S&P 500, which remained relatively unchanged due to major technology stocks [2][4] - The Russell 2000 has increased more than 4% this week, indicating it is on track for its best week since May [3] - The CNBC Magnificent 7 Index, tracking seven megacap technology companies, lost 0.3% after reaching a 52-week high earlier in the day [1] Group 2: Federal Reserve Expectations - Investors are increasingly confident that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its upcoming meeting on September 16-17, which would particularly benefit small companies reliant on borrowed capital [4][5] - Interest rate futures traders are pricing in a nearly 100% likelihood of a rate cut from the current 4.35% to a range of 4.50% at the September meeting, a significant increase from less than 60% a month ago [5] - A growing number of economic and political voices are advocating for rate cuts, especially following weaker-than-expected job growth and a cooler-than-expected consumer inflation report [6] Group 3: Political Influence - President Trump and his allies have criticized Fed Chair Jerome Powell's rate policy, urging the Federal Open Market Committee to ease monetary policy [8] - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested that the Fed should lower rates by at least 1.5 percentage points, proposing a 50 basis point cut in September [9] Group 4: Performance Comparison - Despite recent gains, small caps have underperformed compared to larger stocks, with the Russell 2000 advancing less than 26% since the introduction of the ChatGPT app in late 2022, while the S&P 500 has climbed 64% during the same period [10]