Thank you. Hello and welcome to the Morning Filter podcast. I'm Susan Jabinsky with Morning Star.Every Monday before market open, I sit down with Morning Star chief US market strategist Dave Sakara to talk about what investors should have on their radars for the week, some new Morning Star research, and a few stock ideas. All right. Well, grab your coffee because Dave and I have a lot of ground to cover this morning.Now, last Friday's Supreme Court ruling struck down some of the Trump administration's tarif ...

Group 1: Alphabet (Google) - Alphabet received an upgrade from Wells Fargo, moving from equal weight to overweight with a price target raised from $354 to $387, currently trading at approximately $317 [2][3] - The upgrade is based on Alphabet's leadership in customer data, distribution, and compute capacity, particularly emphasizing its plans to double its AI infrastructure capacity from 15 to 35 gigawatts by 2028 [4][5] - This expansion is expected to provide Alphabet with a competitive edge over other cloud providers, allowing it to train better AI models and serve more users [6] Group 2: Workday - Workday has been downgraded by Jeffries from buy to hold, with a new price target set at $150, down from $325, reflecting ongoing risks in the software sector due to AI disruption fears [8][9] - The downgrade is attributed to execution risks linked to changes in executive leadership and a decline in investor confidence, as the company has laid off over 20,000 workers [10][12][13] - Analysts suggest that the upcoming earnings report will be critical, with expectations set low for the company's performance [13] Group 3: Deere - Deere was downgraded by Jeffries from hold to underperform, with a price target raised from $475 to $550, indicating mixed sentiment about the agricultural economy's recovery [14][15] - While some analysts believe earnings will improve enough to justify higher valuations, others express skepticism about the timing of recovery in farmer incomes and crop prices [16]

The U.S. Supreme Court made waves on Friday, ruling that President Trump doesn't have the legal authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Trump pivoted to a different way to at least temporarily implement tariffs worldwide of 10% -- later raised to 15% -- but the market reacted positively to the judicial setback. This is good news for for Nike (NYSE: NKE), Target (NYSE: TGT), and Home Depot (NYSE: HD), along with many other consumer-facing giants that have come un ...

Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce released on Friday showed that the core PCE price index, a key inflation gauge monitored by the Fed, rose +0.4% m/m and +3.0% y/y in December, stronger than expectations of +0.3% m/m and +2.9% y/y. Also, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, in its initial estimate of Q4 GDP growth, said the economy grew at a +1.4% annualized rate, weaker than expectations of +2.8%. In addition, U.S. December personal spending rose +0.4% m/m, in line with expectations, and personal ...

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures declined on February 23, 2026, with S&P 500 futures down approximately 0.5% and Nasdaq 100 futures showing similar trends due to proposed increases in global tariffs from 10% to 15% [1] - The S&P 500 index fell to around 6,873 points, a decline of 0.53% from the previous session, yet remains nearly 15% higher than a year ago, indicating long-term resilience [2] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average is near the historic 50,000 milestone, benefiting from a rotation into "real economy" sectors, while the Nasdaq Composite faced challenges due to uncertainty around tariffs [3] Upcoming Events - Nvidia's quarterly earnings report is anticipated to provide insights into the sustainability of the AI infrastructure buildout, with analysts expecting continued growth in data center revenue [4] - Investors are preparing for high-impact economic data releases, including durable goods orders and new home sales, which will shed light on the manufacturing and housing sectors [5] Corporate Developments - There is a notable rotation into industrial and consumer defensive stocks, with Caterpillar benefiting from demand for power generation equipment for AI data centers, while Walmart and Costco are outperforming due to cost-conscious consumer spending [6] - IDFC First Bank's shares dropped nearly 20% due to reports of fraudulent activities, highlighting risks in the global financial sector, while Adani Ports gained 3.5% after a strategic agreement with Brazil's Vale S.A. for iron ore logistics [7] Technology Sector - The "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks showed mixed results, with Apple and Microsoft experiencing modest gains, while Amazon and Alphabet faced early pressure; Tesla remains a focus as investors consider the impact of new trade barriers on the electric vehicle market [8]

Core Insights - The logistics sector has seen significant engagement from investors, particularly in the ASEAN and US markets, highlighting its growth potential and diversification opportunities [1] Investment Focus - The company has diversified its investments across various sectors including banking, telecommunications, logistics, and hotels, indicating a strategic approach to portfolio management [1] - The entry into the US market in 2020 reflects a growing interest in international investment opportunities, particularly in sectors like banks, hotels, and shipping [1] Market Trends - The popularity of insurance companies in the Philippines since 2014 suggests a shift in investment preferences among local investors, moving towards more diversified financial products [1] - The trend of using platforms like Seeking Alpha for analysis indicates a growing reliance on data-driven investment strategies among investors in both the ASEAN and US markets [1]

With options expiration now behind us, markets could face their own storm. Roughly $15 billion in T-bill settlements are due on February 24, followed by another $22 billion on February 26. In addition, coupon settlements of $37 billion on February 27 and $59 billion on March 2 are scheduled. That totals approximately $130 billion that could be absorbed by the Treasury over the next week. Net Settlement On top of that, cross-currency basis spreads have moved modestly this past week. I tend to view the JPY 5- ...

Group 1: Walmart Overview - Walmart has surpassed $1 trillion in market capitalization, becoming the 10th U.S. company to achieve this milestone [1] - Despite strong performance, Walmart's growth is not sufficient to justify its high forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 45.2, which is nearly double the S&P 500's 23.6 [3] - Expectations indicate that Walmart will underperform the S&P 500 over the next five years [4] Group 2: Competitors Analysis - ExxonMobil is expected to deliver double-digit earnings and cash flow growth through 2030, with a market cap around $620 billion, potentially joining the $1 trillion club by 2030 [7][8] - Visa is highlighted as a superior investment compared to Walmart, with a forward P/E of 24.4 and a strong business model that benefits from both transaction volume and frequency [10][12] - ASML, despite being expensive at 40.2 times forward earnings, offers better growth prospects and has shown resilience in the semiconductor industry with a 31.5% year-to-date gain [13][14]

In the high-stakes world of global macroeconomics, most leaders treat a Supreme Court defeat as a signal to regroup, consult with legal counsel, and perhaps draft a measured response. President Donald Trump, however, prefers the “geometric progression of spite” model. After the U.S. Supreme Court spent its Friday morning dismantling his administration’s previous tariff framework, the President responded with the economic equivalent of a “hold my beer” moment. By Saturday, a proposed 10% global tariff had al ...

Welcome back to Opening Bell. Now, let's now discuss some of the choppiness we've seen in the overall markets. Joining me now is Ken Mahoney, CEO of Mahoney Asset Management.Ken, thanks so much for joining us on this Friday. Now, you described these markets as tired. Walk us through that that thinking.I do think that's so accurate right now, especially without really seeing any major catalyst propelling any upside here for the markets this week. >> I think we're tired too in these 247 news cycles. Keep up w ...