Key Takeaways Last week, the U.S. markets experienced significant volatility. Major indexes, such as the Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500, gained 1.88% and 0.94%, respectively, whereas the Dow Jones Industrial Average was largely flat. Investors are concerned about the health of the labor market and the impact of President Trump's escalating tariff threats, which could potentially slow down economic growth. However, strong corporate earnings have provided some sense of relief. The Institute for Supply Manag ...

Key Takeaways Investing in stocks based on valuation metrics is a proven strategy for identifying opportunities with strong upside potential. While the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is a popular tool for gauging value, it has its limitations, especially when evaluating companies that are unprofitable or still in their early growth phases. In such cases, the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio becomes particularly valuable. By comparing a company's market capitalization to its revenues, the P/S ratio offers a clearer ...

DENVER, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crestone Air Partners ("Crestone") today announced the formation of Blue Crest Aviation Partners ("Blue Crest"), a new joint venture anchored by funds managed by Blue Owl Capital, Inc. ("Blue Owl"). The platform will seek to acquire mid-life commercial jet aircraft on lease to airlines globally, through a disciplined, income-oriented strategy. Crestone is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air T, Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRT) and benefits from Air T's integrated operating platform— ...

Market Overview - The current market environment reflects the excesses of 2021, with volatility returning in early August, prompting considerations for more defensive positioning [2] - Job data indicates a shaky labor market, with only 73,000 jobs added in July and unemployment rising to 4.2% [3] - The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index reached 2.6% in June, marking the highest reading since February [3] - Market indices have achieved new all-time highs, driven by strong earnings, particularly from AI hyperscalers [3][4] Company Performance - The market is increasingly concentrated, with the "Magnificent Seven" companies dominating the S&P 500, potentially overshadowing over 400 other companies [4] - Companies that reported less-than-stellar Q2 results faced significant declines in their stock prices, indicating high expectations and stretched valuations in the S&P 500 [4] Dividend Aristocrats - Dividend Aristocrats are companies in the S&P 500 with a minimum of 25 years of consecutive dividend increases, providing stability and predictable profits [6][7] - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has a dividend yield of 3.00%, an annual dividend of $5.20, and a 64-year track record of dividend increases, with a payout ratio of 55.61% [9][10] - Cincinnati Financial (CINF) offers a lower dividend yield of 2.32% but has a 65-year history of raising dividends and a payout ratio of 30.18%, indicating strong sustainability [12][13] - T. Rowe Price (TROW) boasts a dividend yield of 4.84% and a 39-year track record of increases, with a manageable payout ratio of 56.76% and a strong cash position [15][16]

Group 1 - Baron is an asset management firm focused on delivering growth equity investment solutions [1] - Founded in 1982, Baron has become known for its long-term, fundamental, active approach to growth investing [1] - Research has remained at the core of Baron's business since its inception as an equity research firm [1]

Company Overview - Trinity Asset Management was founded by Brian Gilmartin in May 1995, focusing on providing attention and service to individual investors and institutions that were underserved by larger firms [1] - Brian Gilmartin has a background as a fixed-income/credit analyst and has experience working with a Chicago broker-dealer and Stein Roe & Farnham before establishing his own firm [1] Educational Background - Brian Gilmartin holds a BSBA in Finance from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, obtained in 1982, and an MBA in Finance from Loyola University, Chicago, completed in January 1985 [1] - He earned the CFA designation in 1994 [1] Professional Experience - Brian Gilmartin has contributed to financial writing for various platforms, including TheStreet.com from 2000 to 2012 and WallStreet AllStars from August 2011 to Spring 2012 [1] - He has also written for Minyanville.com and has been quoted in numerous publications, including the Wall Street Journal [1]

Group 1 - Global investors are shifting away from high-priced corporate bonds, with many asset management firms and top banks taking defensive positions against the corporate debt market [1][2] - The investment-grade bond spread has narrowed to 78 basis points, nearing the 27-year low of 1998, indicating extreme market optimism that contrasts sharply with official economic forecasts [1][2] - There is a significant increase in demand for options to short corporate bond indices, suggesting that investors foresee a reasonable downside in the stock market over the next three months [1][3] Group 2 - Current credit spread levels imply a global economic growth expectation of nearly 5%, which is significantly higher than the IMF's forecast of 3%, causing unease among some investors [2] - The probability of a recession in the U.S. is estimated at 40% according to the IMF, while other major economies also face risks, leading to a low allocation strategy in credit [2] - The U.S. Treasury market is signaling deep concerns about the economic outlook, with bets on potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [2] Group 3 - Historically, the credit market has acted as a leading indicator for broader market movements, with recent trends indicating a potential market reversal [3] - A significant change was noted as the proportion of corporate bonds with narrowing spreads dropped from 80% to 60% within five trading days, marking a critical shift [3] - Macro investors are likely taking directional views or hedging against the upward trend in risk assets, indicating a change in market sentiment [3] Group 4 - High-yield bonds are seen as the most vulnerable segment in the overpriced corporate debt market, with expectations of rising refinancing costs and default rates potentially impacting the stock market [4] - The risk premium for U.S. junk bond issuers has fallen to its lowest level since 2020, at approximately 2.8%, indicating severe compression of market risk premiums [4] - A downturn in the credit market is expected to eventually pressure the stock market as well [4] Group 5 - Not all market participants share a pessimistic view, as the Nasdaq 100 index recently recorded its largest weekly gain in over a month, supported by strong technical factors and better-than-expected earnings [5] - Market strategists note that when there is a divergence between the stock and bond markets, the bond market tends to be the more accurate indicator of economic conditions [5]

Market Overview - The Shanghai Composite Index increased by 75.18 points, or 2.11%, reaching a closing price of 3635.13, with a high of 3645.37 and a low of 3547.16, indicating a volatility of 2.76% and a total trading volume of 3.47 trillion yuan [1] - The ChiNext Index rose by 11.33 points, or 0.49%, closing at 2333.96, with a high of 2372.68 and a low of 2304.48, showing a volatility of 2.94% and a total trading volume of 2.50 trillion yuan [1] Private Equity and Fund Management - In July, 676 private equity firms registered 1298 products, marking an 18% month-on-month increase and the highest number in nearly 27 months [3] - Among the newly registered products, 13 firms launched more than 10 products each, with 11 of the 44 billion-yuan quantitative private equity firms adding a total of 286 new funds [3] - The average return of quantitative private equity products reached 28.54% by the end of July 2025, outperforming the average return of subjective long-only products [3] Financing Trends - The financing heat in small-cap stocks is significantly higher than in large-cap stocks, with the overall financing transaction volume in the A-share market accounting for 21.9% of total trading volume [4] - The financing balance as a percentage of free float market value shows similar trends, with the CSI 1000 and CSI 2000 indices exceeding their 2015 peaks [4]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses dividend-paying stocks as a stable income option for investors amid fluctuating trade policies, highlighting recommendations from top Wall Street analysts [1]. Chevron (CVX) - Chevron reported market-beating earnings for Q2, although earnings declined year-over-year due to lower oil prices [2]. - The company returned $5.5 billion to shareholders in Q2 through share repurchases of $2.6 billion and dividends of $2.9 billion, with a dividend yield of 4.4% [3]. - Morgan Stanley analyst Devin McDermott resumed coverage with a buy rating and a price target of $174, while TipRanks' AI Analyst has an "outperform" rating with a price target of $171 [3]. - The recent Hess acquisition is expected to enhance Chevron's growth and portfolio duration, removing a major overhang [4]. - McDermott noted that Chevron's free cash flow yield for 2026 is projected at 8%, compared to Exxon Mobil's 6% and ConocoPhillips' 7% [5]. Rithm Capital (RITM) - Rithm Capital announced better-than-expected Q2 results, paying a dividend of 25 cents per share, resulting in an annualized dividend yield of 8.2% [7]. - RBC Capital analyst Kenneth Lee raised the price forecast for RITM stock to $14 from $13, maintaining a buy rating [8]. - Rithm's Q2 earnings available for distribution (EAD) were 54 cents per share, exceeding estimates, leading to an increase in EAD estimates for 2025 and 2026 [9]. - The company is focusing on growth and return on equity enhancement, with notable cost benefits from AI initiatives [10]. AT&T (T) - AT&T delivered better-than-expected Q2 earnings, driven by strong wireless equipment revenues, and offers a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of about 4% [12]. - RBC Capital analyst Jonathan Atkin reiterated a buy rating with a price target of $31, while TipRanks' AI Analyst has a neutral rating with a price target of $30 [13]. - The company's revised 2025 guidance reflects cash tax benefits and an improved trajectory in the Wireline business, with free cash flow outlook adjusted to the low-to-mid $16 billion range [15]. - AT&T's free cash flow outlook for 2026 and 2027 was increased by $1 billion, supporting management's focus on capital investments for long-term growth [16].

Group 1 - WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fund ETF (GDE) is highlighted as a potentially effective investment tool if utilized wisely [1] - The initiative aims to provide in-depth analysis of the asset management market dynamics [2] - The focus is on delivering data-driven perspectives to assist investors in making informed decisions in a changing market [2] Group 2 - The author emphasizes the importance of personal opinions and the need for individual research before making investment decisions [4] - There is a clear disclaimer regarding the lack of financial advice and the responsibility for investment decisions [4][5] - The article does not guarantee the accuracy of the data presented [4]