MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Piper Sandler Companies to Announce Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Host a Conference Call on October 31, 2025. ...

On CNBC's “Halftime Report Final Trades,” Malcolm Ethridge, managing partner at Capital Area Planning Group, picked Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), which is scheduled to release quarterly earnings in a couple of weeks.Microsoft will release earnings results for the first quarter, after the closing bell on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings at $3.66 per share on revenue of $75.36 billion.Don't forget to check out our premarket coverage here.Bill Baruch, founder ...

Market Overview - U.S. stocks experienced significant gains in Q3 2025, with the Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by 11.2%, 7.8%, and 5.2% respectively [1] - The growth was fueled by expectations of further Federal Reserve rate cuts, strong Q2 earnings, and optimism surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) [2] Recommended Growth Stocks - Five growth stocks are recommended for Q4 2025: Micron Technology Inc. (MU), Workday Inc. (WDAY), Exact Sciences Corp. (EXAS), Evercore Inc. (EVR), and Coeur Mining Inc. (CDE) [2] - These stocks exhibit strong revenue and earnings growth potential, with positive earnings estimate revisions in the past 30 days [3] Micron Technology Inc. (MU) - Micron is a leader in the AI infrastructure boom, driven by high demand for its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) solutions and record sales in the data center market [6][9] - The company is capitalizing on the growing adoption of AI servers, which require more memory than traditional servers, boosting demand for DRAM [7] - Micron's expected revenue and earnings growth rates are 42.4% and over 100% respectively for the current year, with a 27% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 30 days [10] Workday Inc. (WDAY) - Workday's diversified product portfolio and cloud-based business model are key growth drivers, with strong customer traction in international markets [11] - Significant investment from Elliott Investment Management is expected to enhance innovation, particularly in AI and machine learning [12] - Workday's expected revenue and earnings growth rates are 12.6% and 21.1% respectively for the current year, with a 0.3% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 30 days [13] Exact Sciences Corp. (EXAS) - Exact Sciences benefits from strong adoption of its Cologuard product, with the recent introduction of Cologuard Plus gaining Medicare coverage [14] - The launch of Oncodetect has advanced MRD testing, with secured Medicare reimbursement opening access for cancer patients [15] - Exact Sciences has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 14.4% and over 100% respectively for the current year, with a 9.1% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 30 days [16] Evercore Inc. (EVR) - Evercore is expanding its advisory client base and diversifying revenue sources, which is expected to support top-line growth [17] - The company has a strong liquidity position, allowing for capital distribution through dividend hikes and share repurchase programs [17] - Evercore's expected revenue and earnings growth rates are 17.4% and 34.4% respectively for the current year, with a 2.1% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 30 days [18] Coeur Mining Inc. (CDE) - Coeur Mining operates as a primary silver and gold producer with mines in the Americas, including properties in Mexico, Bolivia, Nevada, and Alaska [19] - The company has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 88.3% and over 100% respectively for the current year, with a 3.8% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 30 days [20]

Earnings Expectations - Carnival Corp (NYSE: CCL) is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.32 per share on revenue of $8.10 billion [2] - Progress Software Corp (NASDAQ: PRGS) is anticipated to post earnings of $1.30 per share on revenue of $240.11 million [2] - Jefferies Financial Group Inc (NYSE: JEF) is projected to report quarterly earnings of 80 cents per share on revenue of $1.92 billion [2] - Vail Resorts Inc (NYSE: MTN) is expected to report a quarterly loss of $4.75 per share on revenue of $273.91 million [2] Stock Movements - Carnival shares increased by 0.1% to $30.65 in after-hours trading [2] - Progress Software shares rose by 0.4% to $42.20 in after-hours trading [2] - JFB Construction Holdings (NASDAQ: JFB) shares surged by 95.5% to $13.39 following a $44 million private placement announcement [2] - Vail Resorts shares gained 0.6% to $148.58 in after-hours trading [2] - Jefferies Financial shares slightly declined to $66.70 in after-hours trading [2]

Economic Outlook - Economists expect September payrolls to rise by just 39,000, with the unemployment rate remaining steady at 3.9% and average hourly earnings increasing by 0.3% [4] - Job growth has significantly slowed, averaging only 29,000 in the three months through August, while the unemployment rate has risen to 4.3% in August, the highest in nearly four years [5] - The weak jobs market was a key reason for the Fed's recent rate cut, but inflation remains a concern with the core PCE price index at an annual rate of 2.9%, above the 2% target [5] Federal Reserve and Political Dynamics - The odds of two Fed rate cuts this year have decreased to 65% from about 80% as longer-term Treasury yields rose, reflecting Powell's reluctance to ease rates further [6] - President Trump has indicated intentions to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook, raising concerns about central bank independence, as no president has previously removed a Fed governor [7] - A brief filed with the Supreme Court argues against Cook's removal and supports Fed independence, signed by notable former Fed Chairs and Treasury Secretaries [8] Government Shutdown Implications - A potential government shutdown could impact the release of economic data, with a shutdown expected to begin if Congress fails to reach an agreement [9] - Trump has agreed to meet with congressional leaders to discuss funding, with the odds of a shutdown fluctuating between 64% and 83% in prediction markets [10] Corporate Earnings Reports - Nike (NKE) is set to report earnings on Tuesday, with expectations of EPS at $0.27 on revenue of $10.99 billion, focusing on China sales and inventory management [11] - Other companies reporting include Carnival (CCL), Jefferies Financial (JEF), Paychex (PAYX), and Lamb Weston (LW) [11] Mergers and Acquisitions - Electronic Arts (EA) stock surged nearly 15% after reports of a group of investors, including Silver Lake and Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, looking to take the company private, potentially valuing EA at $50 billion [12][13] - The largest leveraged buyout in history could be in play, surpassing previous top deals [13] Corporate Spin-offs - Versant Media Group has filed for a Nasdaq listing as it spins off from Comcast (CMCSA), holding assets from various cable networks and digital platforms [14] - The new entity will maintain a dual-class stock structure, with Class A shares controlling two-thirds of voting power [15] Analyst Coverage Changes - Wedbush has dropped coverage of GameStop (GME), leaving the stock without a Wall Street rating, with a previous target price of $13.50, nearly 50% below current levels [16][17] - GameStop's stock performance has been challenging for traditional analysis, focusing on cash reserves and crypto investments rather than fundamentals [18]

Group 1: Economic Indicators - The upcoming nonfarm payroll report is considered the most significant economic indicator, with potential implications for Federal Reserve rate decisions [5] - Concerns exist regarding overheating in certain sectors of the economy, particularly data centers, while other sectors like autos, homes, and retailers are performing poorly [2] Group 2: Company Earnings Reports - Carnival and Jefferies are set to report quarterly earnings, with Carnival's performance in the cruise industry being highlighted as strong post-COVID, and Jefferies' performance indicating the health of investment houses [2] - Paychex is viewed as a solid metric for the economy's state, with its earnings report expected to provide insights into small and medium-sized businesses [3] - Nike's earnings report is anticipated to be crucial, with expectations for future growth under new CEO Elliot Hill, although uncertainty remains about whether the upcoming report will be a breakout quarter [3] - Conagra's earnings report is awaited, with concerns about its high dividend and the need for a significant positive surprise to reverse its stock's downward trend [4]

Core Viewpoint - The bull market in U.S. stocks is expected to experience only a pause for the remainder of the year, despite the high valuation of the S&P 500 according to Morgan Stanley's Andrew Slimmon [1] Group 1 - The S&P 500 is currently considered to have lofty valuations [1]

Core Viewpoint - Morning Star identifies three overvalued stocks in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio that investors should avoid as of mid-September [2]. Group 1: Overvalued Stocks - The most overvalued stock is Jeffre Financial Group, which constitutes less than 1% of Berkshire's portfolio. Morning Star believes the stock is worth $47, but it trades significantly above this value [3][4]. - Louisiana Pacific is the second stock to avoid, with Berkshire owning about 8% of its shares. Morning Star values this stock at $70, indicating it is overpriced despite being a major player in the North American wood products market [5][6]. - American Express, Berkshire's second-largest holding with over 20% ownership, is also deemed overvalued. Morning Star estimates its worth at $265 per share, despite recognizing its strong economic moat and financial position [7][8].

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - John W. Rogers Jr. of Ariel Appreciation Fund has made significant reductions in his equity holdings, indicating a strategic shift in response to valuation concerns and macroeconomic factors affecting various sectors. Group 1: Notable Reductions - **Northern Trust Corp (NTRS)**: A reduction of 47.22% with 158,349 shares sold, reflecting potential concerns over fee compression and macro headwinds in wealth management [1]. - **JM Smucker Co (SJM)**: A decrease of 35.16% with 68,878 shares cut, possibly due to input cost inflation and changing consumer preferences [2]. - **Charles Schwab Corp (SCHW)**: A reduction of 33.48% with 112,370 shares sold, linked to rate-related margin pressures and lower trading activity post-peak retail trading enthusiasm [3]. - **Kennametal Inc (KMT)**: A decrease of 30.91% with 267,930 shares trimmed, suggesting caution towards slowing manufacturing demand despite operational improvements [4]. - **CBRE Group Inc – A (CBRE)**: A reduction of 18.12% with 25,409 shares cut, reflecting concerns in the commercial real estate sector due to remote work trends and higher financing costs [5]. Group 2: Strategic Implications - The reductions across these holdings suggest a tightening of the portfolio around higher-conviction names, as the company responds to a shifting macro environment and potential valuation concerns [5].

CONCLUDED Stock Market News From Sept. 11, 2025: S&P 500 Hits New High The Dow has passed a key threshold in intraday trading. The blue-chip index is now on track to close above 46,000 for the first time on record. It would also be the first time that the index has reached a 1,000 point milestone in 2025 after closing at 45,000 191 trading days ago. The biggest contributor to this 1,000 point gain for the Dow has been Goldman Sachs, while stock of insurer UnitedHealth Group has subtracted the most points. T ...