Key Takeaways Markets Rose on Calm Inflation Rate YesterdayStill Off Yearly Highs, Are We Positioned for a Santa Claus Rally?Following Earnings Reports from NKE and FDX Yesterday, WGO, LW and CAG Report This MorningFriday, December 19, 2025Pre-market futures are fighting to stay in the green this morning, tacking toward flat levels for much of the early morning trading. Major indexes closed higher Thursday, partly due to relief on the latest Inflation Rate from that morning’s CPI report, which showed a -40 ...

Core Insights - U.S. stock futures are trading mixed, with several companies expected to report earnings that may attract investor attention [1] Company Summaries - **Conagra Brands Inc. (NYSE:CAG)**: Expected to report quarterly earnings of 44 cents per share on revenue of $2.99 billion. Shares gained 0.3% to $17.85 in after-hours trading [1] - **Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE)**: Reported second-quarter revenue of $12.43 billion, exceeding analyst estimates of $12.22 billion. Earnings were 53 cents per share, beating estimates of 38 cents. However, gross margins declined for the second consecutive quarter, leading to a 10.8% drop in shares to $58.57 in after-hours trading [1] - **Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX)**: Analysts expect quarterly earnings of $1.23 per share on revenue of $1.57 billion. Shares fell 0.5% to $113.69 in after-hours trading [1] - **FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX)**: Reported strong financial results for Q2 of fiscal 2026 and raised FY2026 guidance, now expecting revenue growth of 5% to 6%. The company reaffirmed plans for $1 billion in permanent cost reductions. Shares rose 0.1% to $287.50 in after-hours trading [1] - **Carnival Corp. (NYSE:CCL)**: Expected to post quarterly earnings of 25 cents per share on revenue of $6.37 billion. Shares rose 0.5% to $28.49 in after-hours trading [1]

U.S. markets moved higher on Thursday, led by the Nasdaq, which climbed nearly 1.4% to 23,006.36. The S&P 500 added almost 0.8% to 6,774.76, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.1% to 47,951.85.These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors through the day:Rivian’s stock surged by 15.03%, closing at $20.28, with an intraday high of $20.33 and a low of $18.26. The stock’s 52-week range is between $20.33 and $10.36. Rivian expanded its hands-free assisted drivi ...

Hello and welcome to Market Domination Overtime. Stocks closing higher here after that cooler than expected November CPI print. Our very own Enz Fay joins us with the latest market moves.Nez. Josh. Uh stocks closing higher though off the highs of the session.There seems to be a little bit of selling in those last few minutes of trading. Taking a look at the Dow ended up uh onetenth of a percent. The Nasdaq Composite ending up 1.4% and the S&P 500 ending up about 8/10en of a percent.But there you see some of ...

FedEx raised the low end of its full-year profit and sales outlook, signaling the company’s efforts to slash costs and streamline its delivery networks are bearing fruit as demand improves. https://t.co/mUpLnK8Gwf ...

When gifts are facing shipping delays, DoorDash steps in to keep holiday celebrations on track. With a wide range of gifts across tech, beauty, home and more, DoorDash helps last-minute shoppers get a replacement gift in a few taps. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, DoorDash (NASDAQ: DASH), the leading local commerce platform, unveiled its Holiday Rescue Sweepstakes to be the last-minute gifting solution for shoppers hit by shipping delays. From December 20 through December 21, DoorDash w ...

Core Viewpoint - FedEx Corporation is positioned for potential growth following a Fed rate cut, with expectations for a breakout quarter under new leadership [1] Group 1: Company Overview - FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) provides a range of transportation, shipping, and logistics services, including express and freight delivery, e-commerce solutions, and supply chain management [1] Group 2: Investment Sentiment - Ariel Investments has expressed bullish sentiment towards FedEx, highlighting its status as a global leader in package delivery and its competitive positioning alongside UPS [1] - The company is making progress in improving margins through cost efficiencies despite macroeconomic uncertainties [1] Group 3: Catalysts for Growth - A significant catalyst for FedEx is the planned spin-off of FedEx Freight (LTL) by June 2026, which could unlock substantial value as LTL peers trade at higher valuations [1] - The upcoming anniversary of the United States Postal Service contract termination in October 2025, clarity on tariffs, and a potential cyclical recovery are additional catalysts that could benefit FedEx [1] Group 4: Risks and Opportunities - While risks such as economic slowdown and tariff impacts exist, FedEx is seen as having upside potential through operational improvements and portfolio simplification [1]

Group 1: United Parcel Service (UPS) - UPS is experiencing a 24% decline in stock price this year, trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of less than 15, significantly below the S&P 500 average of 25 [4][5] - The company has maintained a consistent revenue of around $21 billion in the last three quarters, but is focusing on improving profitability by reducing package volume for Amazon [4][5] - Despite current challenges from tariffs and a slowdown in global trade, the low valuation and nearly 7% dividend yield present an attractive investment opportunity [5] Group 2: Novo Nordisk - Novo Nordisk's stock has plummeted by 45% this year due to the resignation of its former CEO and a reduction in sales guidance, leading investors to favor rival Eli Lilly [6] - The stock is trading at a P/E ratio of just 13, which is considered low given the company's strong growth potential, with a 15% sales increase in the first nine months of the year when excluding currency impacts [6] - The company faces competition from compounding pharmacies selling copies of its drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic, which complicates its market position [8] Group 3: General Market Observations - UPS, Novo Nordisk, and Adobe are all trading below the S&P 500's average P/E ratio, indicating potential undervaluation despite their solid and profitable underlying businesses [7] - These companies possess promising long-term growth prospects that the market may not fully recognize [7]

Core Viewpoint - ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in earnings estimates, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Rising earnings estimates for ZTO Express suggest an improvement in the company's underlying business, likely leading to increased stock prices [5][10]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7][9]. - Only the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a "Strong Buy" rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions [10]. Earnings Estimate Revisions for ZTO Express - ZTO Express is expected to earn $1.63 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, with no year-over-year change [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for ZTO Express has increased by 8.8% [8].

Core Viewpoint - United Parcel Service (UPS) is showing potential for a bullish trend as it has recently surpassed a key technical level of support and the 200-day moving average, indicating a positive long-term outlook [1][2]. Technical Analysis - UPS has recently crossed above the 200-day simple moving average, which is a significant indicator of long-term market trends and serves as a support level [2]. - The stock has appreciated by 5.7% over the past four weeks, reflecting a positive price movement [2]. Earnings Estimates - There have been 9 upward revisions in UPS's earnings estimates for the current fiscal year, with no downward revisions, indicating strong investor confidence [3]. - The consensus earnings estimate for UPS has also increased, further supporting the bullish sentiment around the stock [3]. Investment Sentiment - UPS is currently rated as a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting that the stock may continue to experience upward momentum in the near future [2][3].