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Stocks buck September effect, plus how August's inflation data could impact rate cuts
Youtubeยท 2025-09-26 15:13
Market Overview - The S&P 500 is up more than 2% for the month, bucking typical September seasonality trends [10][11] - Major indices opened with slight gains, with the Dow up about 0.4% and the NASDAQ flat [3][4] - PCE inflation rose 2.7% year-over-year in August, slightly above July's 2.6%, leaving the door open for potential rate cuts in October [10][11] Company Insights: Costco - Costco's stock is down nearly 4% at the open, following a price target cut from JP Morgan to $150 from $160 [5][6] - Year-to-date, Costco is down more than 1%, contrasting with Walmart's over 10% increase [7] - Despite optimism for Costco to beat Wall Street expectations, the stock's performance has struggled to impress investors [5][6] Oil Market - Crude oil prices are modestly higher, up about 0.4%, following OPEC+'s agreement to increase production in November [8] - Year-to-date, crude oil is down nearly 11% [8] Trade and Tariffs - New tariffs effective October 1st include a 100% tariff on some imported drugs and 50% on kitchen cabinets [11][12] - The pharmaceutical sector's reaction to new tariffs is muted, as many companies already have manufacturing plants in the U.S. [24][25] Healthcare Sector - The healthcare sector has underperformed, down 2% over the last year, while technology and communication services have risen over 66% [26] - Wall Street is cautious about the healthcare sector due to pressures from Washington and pricing targets set by the Trump administration [28] Company Insights: Better.com - Better.com has seen a nearly 75% increase in stock price in the last week, attributed to retail investor interest [33] - The company reported a 25% year-over-year increase in funded loan volume, reaching $1.2 billion [46] - Better.com aims to achieve profitability by Q3 2026, leveraging AI to improve efficiency and customer experience [34][47]