Economic Indicators - U.S. housing starts decreased by 8.5% month-over-month to an annual rate of 1.307 million units in August, missing market estimates of 1.37 million [5] - Building permits also fell by 3.7% to an annualized rate of 1.312 million in August [5] Stock Market Performance - Major U.S. stock indices showed mixed results, with the Dow Jones up 0.57% to 46,018.32, while the S&P 500 fell 0.097% to 6,600.35 and the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.33% to 22,261.33 [6][7] - Futures for major indices were higher, with Dow Jones up 0.75%, S&P 500 up 0.89%, Nasdaq 100 up 1.06%, and Russell 2000 up 1.50% [2] Company Earnings - General Mills Inc. reported fiscal 2026 first-quarter results slightly above Wall Street expectations [4] - Manchester United PLC shares fell over 6% after reporting mixed fourth-quarter financial results [4] - Darden Restaurants Inc. rose 1.03% in premarket trading ahead of its earnings report, with analysts estimating earnings of $2.00 per share on revenue of $3.04 billion [18] - FactSet Research Systems Inc. was up 1.15% as analysts expect earnings of $4.13 per share on revenue of $593.45 million [18] - FedEx Corp. was up 0.12% ahead of its earnings report, with estimates of $3.62 per share on revenue of $21.67 billion [18] Market Sentiment and Projections - Analysts suggest that the S&P 500 could see substantial growth in the second year of the Federal Reserve's monetary easing, with historical returns averaging over 16% [8][10] - The first year of the current rate-cutting cycle has already yielded a return of over 17%, surpassing the historical first-year average of 9.6% [10] - The Federal Reserve's projections indicate a modest decline in the federal funds rate to 3.4% by the end of 2026, suggesting a restrictive policy environment [13]

US stock futures popped on Thursday after the Federal Reserve returned to easing interest rates and signaled further cuts are coming, while a Nvidia (NVDA) lifeline for Intel (INTC) boosted spirits. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) rose 0.3%, paring a more solid gain earlier in premarket. S&P 500 futures (ES=F) moved up 0.6%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) gained 1%, buoyed by Nvidia's (NVDA) plans to take a multibillion-dollar stake in Intel (INTC). Shares in Intel surged almost 30% b ...

US stocks climbed on Thursday after the Federal Reserve returned to easing interest rates and signaled further cuts are coming, with the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) leading gains as Nvidia's (NVDA) lifeline for Intel (INTC) boosted spirits. The Nasdaq jumped nearly 0.9%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose 0.1%, paring a more solid gain earlier in premarket trading. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) added 0.4%. Shares in Intel surged more than 25% in early trading as investors welcomed Nvidia's $5 billion ...

Group 1 - Grab Holdings' stock experienced a nearly 4% decline following a downgrade recommendation from HSBC analyst Piyush Choudhary, contrasting with the S&P 500's minor 0.1% decrease [1][2] - Choudhary changed his recommendation for Grab from buy to hold, while slightly increasing the price target from $6 to $6.20 per share [3] - The analyst expressed concerns about the recent surge in Grab's share price, suggesting that the stock has reached fair-value territory and recommending investors take a break from the rally [4] Group 2 - Despite the downgrade, the analyst raised estimates for Grab's gross merchandise value (GMV) and EBITDA for the years 2025 to 2027, contributing to the price target increase [5] - Grab was not included in a list of the top 10 stocks recommended by The Motley Fool Stock Advisor, which suggests there are potentially better investment opportunities available [6][7]

FedEx Corporation FDX will release earnings for the first quarter, after the closing bell on Thursday, Sept. 18.Analysts expect the Memphis, Tennessee-based company to report quarterly earnings at $3.64 per share. That's up from $3.60 per share in the year-ago period. FedEx projects quarterly revenue of $21.67 billion, compared to $21.58 billion a year earlier, according to data from Benzinga Pro.On June 24, FedEx reported fourth-quarter revenue of $22.2 billion, beating analyst estimates of $21.84 billion, ...

Core Insights - FedEx is set to report its fiscal first quarter results on September 18, providing updated insights into the delivery services market, which has faced increased pressure from tariffs affecting shipping operations and demand [1][4] - The termination of the de minimis trade exemption at the end of August has led to pronounced weakness in cross-border shipping, and Wall Street is looking for FedEx's perspective on the impact of this change [2][4] Financial Performance - FedEx's Q1 sales are estimated to increase by 1% to $21.78 billion compared to $21.58 billion in the same quarter last year, while Q1 EPS is expected to rise by 1% to $3.65 per share from $3.60 [5] - However, the most accurate estimate suggests FedEx could miss earnings expectations, with the Q1 EPS pegged at $3.47, which is 5% below the Zacks Consensus [5][6] Market Outlook - FedEx's total sales are projected to increase by 1% in fiscal year 2026 and by another 4% in fiscal year 2027, reaching $92.91 billion, with annual earnings expected to rise by 1% in FY26 and spike by 13% in FY27 to $20.73 per share [9] - EPS estimates for FY26 and FY27 have trended lower over the last 30 days, indicating potential challenges ahead [9] Stock Performance - FedEx shares have underperformed, down 7% over the last five years, compared to broader indexes that have returned over 100% [3] - Both FedEx and UPS trade at around 12X forward earnings, which is a steep discount compared to the S&P 500's 25.5X [11] - FedEx's stock has rebounded from a one-year low of $194, but short-term risks may still exist [14]

Core Viewpoint - The "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks, which include Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla, are believed to still have significant growth potential despite some investors thinking their best days are behind them [3][21]. Group 1: Company Performance and Valuation - The Magnificent Seven companies are perceived to have compelling valuations and strong historical performance, suggesting they remain attractive investments [5][21]. - These companies have robust balance sheets, allowing them to innovate and compete effectively in the market [6][21]. - The scale of these companies makes them difficult for competitors to challenge, contributing to their sustained success [6][7]. Group 2: Innovation and Adaptation - Continuous reinvention is a hallmark of these companies, as seen with Facebook's transition from desktop to mobile and its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp [7][8]. - The recent approval of the Apple Watch by the FDA to detect hypertension exemplifies ongoing innovation in health technology, which could have significant societal benefits [9][11]. Group 3: Market Sentiment and Stock Movements - Despite market fluctuations and negative news, such as antitrust investigations, stocks like Nvidia have shown resilience, often bouncing back quickly after declines [15][17]. - Insider buying, such as Elon Musk's recent purchase of $1 billion in Tesla stock, reflects confidence in these companies' future prospects [11][12]. - The demand for tech services remains strong, benefiting companies like Microsoft, Meta, Nvidia, and Amazon, indicating a positive outlook for their performance [13][14]. Group 4: Investor Behavior - Many investors exhibit jumpy behavior, often selling stocks during downturns, which can lead to missed opportunities for gains when stocks recover [3][17]. - The perception that the best days of these companies are behind them is a common sentiment among shareholders, but historical trends suggest otherwise [3][21]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The belief is that the best days for the Magnificent Seven are still ahead, driven by strong management, cash reserves, and market dominance [20][21]. - The overall sentiment is that there is still time for new investors to enter these stocks, as they continue to show positive developments [21][26].

Group 1 - The Aerospace Forum aims to identify investment opportunities in the aerospace, defense, and airline sectors, leveraging data analytics for informed decision-making [2] - The industry is characterized by significant growth prospects, with developments that can impact investment theses [2] - The investing group provides access to data analytics monitors, enhancing the analytical capabilities for investors [2] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of data-informed analysis in driving investment ideas within the aerospace and defense sectors [2] - There is a focus on the complexity of the aerospace industry, which requires specialized knowledge for effective analysis [2] - The content highlights the lack of any current stock or derivative positions held by the author, ensuring an unbiased perspective [2]

US stock futures inched up Monday morning as Wall Street turned its attention to a pivotal Federal Reserve meeting later this week. Futures attached to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) , S&P 500 (ES=F), and Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) all rose 0.1%. The muted moves come after the major averages logged a strong week. The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) notched a fresh record, climbing 2% for back-to-back weekly gains. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) advanced 1.6%, its best weekly showing since early August, while the Dow (^DJ ...

US stocks climbed on Monday, as a Chinese probe weighed on Nvidia (NVDA) in the runup to a pivotal Federal Reserve meeting later this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) edged up 0.2%, and the S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose 0.3%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) gained 0.45%. The major US stock indexes are coming off a strong week. The Nasdaq notched a fresh record, climbing 2% for back-to-back weekly gains. The S&P 500 rose 1.6%, its best weekly showing since early August, while the Dow sn ...