Datasets:

---

sabareesh88

/

FNSPID_nasdaq_sorted

like 0

1711841.0

2023-12-16 23:26:00 UTC

Peek Under The Hood: PID Has 10% Upside

PAVMZ

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/peek-under-the-hood%3A-pid-has-10-upside-0

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. For the Invesco International Dividend Achievers ETF (Symbol: PID), we found that the implied analyst target price for the ETF based upon its underlying holdings is $19.93 per unit. With PID trading at a recent price near $18.08 per unit, that means that analysts see 10.21% upside for this ETF looking through to the average analyst targets of the underlying holdings. Three of PID's underlying holdings with notable upside to their analyst target prices are Brookfield Corp (Symbol: BN), Imperial Oil Ltd (Symbol: IMO), and Diageo plc (Symbol: DEO). Although BN has traded at a recent price of $38.43/share, the average analyst target is 18.90% higher at $45.70/share. Similarly, IMO has 16.84% upside from the recent share price of $56.59 if the average analyst target price of $66.12/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting DEO to reach a target price of $167.58/share, which is 15.65% above the recent price of $144.90. Below is a twelve month price history chart comparing the stock performance of BN, IMO, and DEO: Below is a summary table of the current analyst target prices discussed above: NAME SYMBOL RECENT PRICE AVG. ANALYST 12-MO. TARGET % UPSIDE TO TARGET Invesco International Dividend Achievers ETF PID $18.08 $19.93 10.21% Brookfield Corp BN $38.43 $45.70 18.90% Imperial Oil Ltd IMO $56.59 $66.12 16.84% Diageo plc DEO $144.90 $167.58 15.65% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now? Do the analysts have a valid justification for their targets, or are they behind the curve on recent company and industry developments? A high price target relative to a stock's trading price can reflect optimism about the future, but can also be a precursor to target price downgrades if the targets were a relic of the past. These are questions that require further investor research. 10 ETFs With Most Upside To Analyst Targets » Also see: • SHFL Videos • AWK MACD • TPB Average Annual Return The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Although BN has traded at a recent price of $38.43/share, the average analyst target is 18.90% higher at $45.70/share. Invesco International Dividend Achievers ETF PID $18.08 $19.93 10.21% Brookfield Corp BN $38.43 $45.70 18.90% Imperial Oil Ltd IMO $56.59 $66.12 16.84% Diageo plc DEO $144.90 $167.58 15.65% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now? Do the analysts have a valid justification for their targets, or are they behind the curve on recent company and industry developments?

Three of PID's underlying holdings with notable upside to their analyst target prices are Brookfield Corp (Symbol: BN), Imperial Oil Ltd (Symbol: IMO), and Diageo plc (Symbol: DEO). Similarly, IMO has 16.84% upside from the recent share price of $56.59 if the average analyst target price of $66.12/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting DEO to reach a target price of $167.58/share, which is 15.65% above the recent price of $144.90. Invesco International Dividend Achievers ETF PID $18.08 $19.93 10.21% Brookfield Corp BN $38.43 $45.70 18.90% Imperial Oil Ltd IMO $56.59 $66.12 16.84% Diageo plc DEO $144.90 $167.58 15.65% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now?

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. Similarly, IMO has 16.84% upside from the recent share price of $56.59 if the average analyst target price of $66.12/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting DEO to reach a target price of $167.58/share, which is 15.65% above the recent price of $144.90. A high price target relative to a stock's trading price can reflect optimism about the future, but can also be a precursor to target price downgrades if the targets were a relic of the past.

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. With PID trading at a recent price near $18.08 per unit, that means that analysts see 10.21% upside for this ETF looking through to the average analyst targets of the underlying holdings. Invesco International Dividend Achievers ETF PID $18.08 $19.93 10.21% Brookfield Corp BN $38.43 $45.70 18.90% Imperial Oil Ltd IMO $56.59 $66.12 16.84% Diageo plc DEO $144.90 $167.58 15.65% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now?

1901886.0

2023-12-16 23:26:00 UTC

Implied IYK Analyst Target Price: $216

RILYG

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/implied-iyk-analyst-target-price%3A-%24216

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. For the iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF (Symbol: IYK), we found that the implied analyst target price for the ETF based upon its underlying holdings is $216.39 per unit. With IYK trading at a recent price near $189.75 per unit, that means that analysts see 14.04% upside for this ETF looking through to the average analyst targets of the underlying holdings. Three of IYK's underlying holdings with notable upside to their analyst target prices are Archer Daniels Midland Co. (Symbol: ADM), Philip Morris International Inc (Symbol: PM), and Casey's General Stores, Inc. (Symbol: CASY). Although ADM has traded at a recent price of $75.75/share, the average analyst target is 20.25% higher at $91.09/share. Similarly, PM has 18.22% upside from the recent share price of $94.46 if the average analyst target price of $111.67/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting CASY to reach a target price of $306.00/share, which is 14.31% above the recent price of $267.70. Below is a twelve month price history chart comparing the stock performance of ADM, PM, and CASY: Combined, ADM, PM, and CASY represent 9.40% of the iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF. Below is a summary table of the current analyst target prices discussed above: NAME SYMBOL RECENT PRICE AVG. ANALYST 12-MO. TARGET % UPSIDE TO TARGET iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF IYK $189.75 $216.39 14.04% Archer Daniels Midland Co. ADM $75.75 $91.09 20.25% Philip Morris International Inc PM $94.46 $111.67 18.22% Casey's General Stores, Inc. CASY $267.70 $306.00 14.31% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now? Do the analysts have a valid justification for their targets, or are they behind the curve on recent company and industry developments? A high price target relative to a stock's trading price can reflect optimism about the future, but can also be a precursor to target price downgrades if the targets were a relic of the past. These are questions that require further investor research. 10 ETFs With Most Upside To Analyst Targets » Also see: • JYNT Stock Predictions • GWIV Insider Buying • Institutional Holders of HTGZ The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF IYK $189.75 $216.39 14.04% Archer Daniels Midland Co. ADM $75.75 $91.09 20.25% Philip Morris International Inc PM $94.46 $111.67 18.22% Casey's General Stores, Inc. CASY $267.70 $306.00 14.31% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now? Do the analysts have a valid justification for their targets, or are they behind the curve on recent company and industry developments? 10 ETFs With Most Upside To Analyst Targets » Also see: • JYNT Stock Predictions • GWIV Insider Buying • Institutional Holders of HTGZ The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Three of IYK's underlying holdings with notable upside to their analyst target prices are Archer Daniels Midland Co. (Symbol: ADM), Philip Morris International Inc (Symbol: PM), and Casey's General Stores, Inc. (Symbol: CASY). Below is a twelve month price history chart comparing the stock performance of ADM, PM, and CASY: Combined, ADM, PM, and CASY represent 9.40% of the iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF. iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF IYK $189.75 $216.39 14.04% Archer Daniels Midland Co. ADM $75.75 $91.09 20.25% Philip Morris International Inc PM $94.46 $111.67 18.22% Casey's General Stores, Inc. CASY $267.70 $306.00 14.31% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now?

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. Similarly, PM has 18.22% upside from the recent share price of $94.46 if the average analyst target price of $111.67/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting CASY to reach a target price of $306.00/share, which is 14.31% above the recent price of $267.70. A high price target relative to a stock's trading price can reflect optimism about the future, but can also be a precursor to target price downgrades if the targets were a relic of the past.

For the iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF (Symbol: IYK), we found that the implied analyst target price for the ETF based upon its underlying holdings is $216.39 per unit. With IYK trading at a recent price near $189.75 per unit, that means that analysts see 14.04% upside for this ETF looking through to the average analyst targets of the underlying holdings. Below is a twelve month price history chart comparing the stock performance of ADM, PM, and CASY: Combined, ADM, PM, and CASY represent 9.40% of the iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF.

2369791.0

2023-12-16 23:26:00 UTC

2 REIT Stocks You Can Buy Right Now Before They Surge Even Higher

WLDR

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/2-reit-stocks-you-can-buy-right-now-before-they-surge-even-higher

The average real estate investment trust (REIT) is roughly 5% below its 52-week high, using Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSEMKT: VNQ) as a proxy. That's a vast improvement from where it was not too long ago, down over 20%, but investors shouldn't think the investment opportunity in REITs has passed. If you go back more than a year, you start to see that net lease REITs like NNN (NYSE: NNN) and tiny peer Alpine Income Property Trust (NYSE: PINE) still have more ground to make up. REITs got smacked by interest rates The past year was filled with interest rate increases. But the trend didn't start over the past 12 months -- it goes back a little further than that. For example, if you look at the past three years, you'll see that the average REIT is still down a bit more than 20% from its highs over the span. In other words, there's more opportunity here than may at first meet the eye if you step back and consider the broader picture. VNQ data by YCharts Two REITs still worth taking a look at are NNN and Alpine, which remain down around 15% or so from their three-year highs. Before looking at each stock, it will help to understand why rising interest rates were such a problem for their stocks. The first issue is that REITs compete with other income options, like CDs. As rates rose, investors moved cash to virtually risk-free bank CDs because they could get yields as high as 5% without having to take on the inherent risk of owning a stock. There are also operational issues that REITs have to deal with on the interest rate front. Most notably, REITs often issue debt when they buy assets. Thus, rising rates make it more costly to do business. Although property markets eventually adjust to higher rates, it can take a long time for that to happen. Basically, sellers tend to cling to high prices until they have no choice but to sell (usually because of maturing debt that has to be rolled over at higher rates) at whatever price will clear in the market. So there is a real business headwind today for REITs, as well. There are still attractive options That said, stable or falling interest rates would be a positive for REITs. Since that's exactly what the Federal Reserve indicated in its last meeting, investors are quickly jumping back into the sector. But you can still find attractive yields from interesting REITs like NNN and Alpine. Both are net lease REITs, which means they own single-tenant properties for which the tenants are responsible for most property-level operating costs. NNN is one of the oldest companies in the net lease space, with an incredible 34 years' worth of annual dividend increases under its belt. It has a large portfolio of properties at around 3,500 assets, with a focus on necessity tenants. The average remaining lease term is over 10 years, so there's enough leeway there to survive an economic rough patch like a recession. NNN's yield is roughly 5.3%, which is still quite attractive relative to the average REIT's 4.4% and the S&P 500 Index's 1.4%. If you prefer to own industry bellwethers, this REIT could be right up your alley -- and it still has recovery room before it gets back to its recent high water mark. Alpine is a bit more of an acquired taste. With a market cap of around $260 million, it is an industry small fry. In comparison, NNN's market cap is $7.6 billion. So only more aggressive investors will want to look at Alpine. However, the REIT has a 6.3% dividend yield. It has increased its dividend each year since its IPO in late 2019. Although it has a tiny portfolio of just 138 properties, nearly two-thirds of its tenants are investment grade rated. Meanwhile, the funds from operations (FFO) payout ratio is around 75%, which is reasonable and only slightly higher than the industry's larger players, including NNN and its 70% FFO payout ratio. And, at least partly thanks to its small size, Alpine trades at a discount to most of its peers while offering more opportunity for growth, because even small acquisitions can move the needle dramatically. Two REITs that are worth a closer look For conservative investors, NNN is probably the better choice. It is an industry-leading net lease REIT with a great track record and attractive yield. And it still has some room to run before it gets back to its previous highs. Alpine is for more aggressive investors, given its small size. But if you can handle a little more uncertainty, it has proven to be a reliable REIT and comes with an elevated yield. And, like NNN, there's still more room to go before it has recovered from the market hit related to interest rates. Should you invest $1,000 in Nnn REIT right now? Before you buy stock in Nnn REIT, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nnn REIT wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of the S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Reuben Gregg Brewer has positions in Alpine Income Property Trust. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

As rates rose, investors moved cash to virtually risk-free bank CDs because they could get yields as high as 5% without having to take on the inherent risk of owning a stock. NNN is one of the oldest companies in the net lease space, with an incredible 34 years' worth of annual dividend increases under its belt. If you prefer to own industry bellwethers, this REIT could be right up your alley -- and it still has recovery room before it gets back to its recent high water mark.

The average real estate investment trust (REIT) is roughly 5% below its 52-week high, using Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSEMKT: VNQ) as a proxy. If you go back more than a year, you start to see that net lease REITs like NNN (NYSE: NNN) and tiny peer Alpine Income Property Trust (NYSE: PINE) still have more ground to make up. Before you buy stock in Nnn REIT, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nnn REIT wasn't one of them.

If you go back more than a year, you start to see that net lease REITs like NNN (NYSE: NNN) and tiny peer Alpine Income Property Trust (NYSE: PINE) still have more ground to make up. REITs got smacked by interest rates The past year was filled with interest rate increases. Before you buy stock in Nnn REIT, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nnn REIT wasn't one of them.

Before looking at each stock, it will help to understand why rising interest rates were such a problem for their stocks. But you can still find attractive yields from interesting REITs like NNN and Alpine. Before you buy stock in Nnn REIT, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nnn REIT wasn't one of them.

40910.0

2023-12-16 23:27:00 UTC

Ex-Dividend Reminder: REV Group, Vail Resorts and Portland General Electric

ACGLO

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/ex-dividend-reminder%3A-rev-group-vail-resorts-and-portland-general-electric

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 12/22/23, REV Group Inc (Symbol: REVG), Vail Resorts Inc (Symbol: MTN), and Portland General Electric Co. (Symbol: POR) will all trade ex-dividend for their respective upcoming dividends. REV Group Inc will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.05 on 1/12/24, Vail Resorts Inc will pay its quarterly dividend of $2.06 on 1/9/24, and Portland General Electric Co. will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.475 on 1/15/24. As a percentage of REVG's recent stock price of $18.23, this dividend works out to approximately 0.27%, so look for shares of REV Group Inc to trade 0.27% lower — all else being equal — when REVG shares open for trading on 12/22/23. Similarly, investors should look for MTN to open 0.90% lower in price and for POR to open 1.09% lower, all else being equal. When an S&P 1500 component reaches 20 years of dividend increases, it becomes a contender to join the elite "Dividend Aristocrats" index. Portland General Electric Co. (Symbol: POR) is a "future dividend aristocrats contender," with 17+ years of increases. Below are dividend history charts for REVG, MTN, and POR, showing historical dividends prior to the most recent ones declared. REV Group Inc (Symbol: REVG): Vail Resorts Inc (Symbol: MTN): Portland General Electric Co. (Symbol: POR): In general, dividends are not always predictable, following the ups and downs of company profits over time. Therefore, a good first due diligence step in forming an expectation of annual yield going forward, is looking at the history above, for a sense of stability over time. This can help in judging whether the most recent dividends from these companies are likely to continue. If they do continue, the current estimated yields on annualized basis would be 1.10% for REV Group Inc, 3.59% for Vail Resorts Inc, and 4.35% for Portland General Electric Co.. In Wednesday trading, REV Group Inc shares are currently up about 1.3%, Vail Resorts Inc shares are up about 0.2%, and Portland General Electric Co. shares are up about 1.5% on the day. Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen » Also see: • Canada Stock Channel • Funds Holding AGCO • TOK shares outstanding history The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Portland General Electric Co. (Symbol: POR) is a "future dividend aristocrats contender," with 17+ years of increases. Therefore, a good first due diligence step in forming an expectation of annual yield going forward, is looking at the history above, for a sense of stability over time. If they do continue, the current estimated yields on annualized basis would be 1.10% for REV Group Inc, 3.59% for Vail Resorts Inc, and 4.35% for Portland General Electric Co..

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 12/22/23, REV Group Inc (Symbol: REVG), Vail Resorts Inc (Symbol: MTN), and Portland General Electric Co. (Symbol: POR) will all trade ex-dividend for their respective upcoming dividends. REV Group Inc will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.05 on 1/12/24, Vail Resorts Inc will pay its quarterly dividend of $2.06 on 1/9/24, and Portland General Electric Co. will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.475 on 1/15/24. REV Group Inc (Symbol: REVG): Vail Resorts Inc (Symbol: MTN): Portland General Electric Co. (Symbol: POR): In general, dividends are not always predictable, following the ups and downs of company profits over time.

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 12/22/23, REV Group Inc (Symbol: REVG), Vail Resorts Inc (Symbol: MTN), and Portland General Electric Co. (Symbol: POR) will all trade ex-dividend for their respective upcoming dividends. REV Group Inc will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.05 on 1/12/24, Vail Resorts Inc will pay its quarterly dividend of $2.06 on 1/9/24, and Portland General Electric Co. will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.475 on 1/15/24. REV Group Inc (Symbol: REVG): Vail Resorts Inc (Symbol: MTN): Portland General Electric Co. (Symbol: POR): In general, dividends are not always predictable, following the ups and downs of company profits over time.

As a percentage of REVG's recent stock price of $18.23, this dividend works out to approximately 0.27%, so look for shares of REV Group Inc to trade 0.27% lower — all else being equal — when REVG shares open for trading on 12/22/23. REV Group Inc (Symbol: REVG): Vail Resorts Inc (Symbol: MTN): Portland General Electric Co. (Symbol: POR): In general, dividends are not always predictable, following the ups and downs of company profits over time. If they do continue, the current estimated yields on annualized basis would be 1.10% for REV Group Inc, 3.59% for Vail Resorts Inc, and 4.35% for Portland General Electric Co..

99183.0

2023-12-16 23:27:00 UTC

US STOCKS-S&P 500, Dow muted as rate-cut rally sputters; FedEx slides

AGM-A

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/us-stocks-sp-500-dow-muted-as-rate-cut-rally-sputters-fedex-slides

By Johann M Cherian and Shristi Achar A Dec 20 (Reuters) - The benchmark S&P 500 and the blue-chip Dow were nearly flat on Wednesday as investors took a breather from a rally that was sparked by the Federal Reserve's likely pivot to a dovish policy, while FedEx tumbled after issuing a grim outlook. Propping up the tech-heavy Nasdaq .IXIC, AlphabetGOOGL.Oclimbed 3.1% to an over one-and-a-half year high after a report said Google is planning to reorganize a big part of its 30,000-person ad sales unit, citing a person with knowledge of the situation. The three main indexes had advanced over 2% since the Fed's Dec. 13 meet where policymakers projected lower policy rates by the end of 2024, with the Dow notching fresh record highs and the S&P 500 within arm's reach of its highest closing levels since January 2022. Since then, central bank officials have attempted to keep investor euphoria in check, the latest being Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee who said further progress on beating back inflation will be the decisive factor in any central bank decision next year to reduce interest rates. Still, traders expect the Fed to ease credit conditions by over 125 basis points by September next year, with a 79% chance that the first cut of at least 25 basis points could come in as early as March 2024, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool. "(Investors) think that they (Fed) will cut rates more than the Fed is willing to admit that they are likely to cut rates," said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research. Stovall added that with most of the stocks trading above their 50-day moving average, likely indicating over valuation, "the market is due for some near-term digestion of gains." Meanwhile, FedExFDX.N slid 11.0% after the global delivery firm cut its full-year revenue forecast and reported quarterly profit that fell far short of analysts' targets. Volatile macroeconomic conditions, muted retailer restocking and reduced demand from the company's largest Express customer, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), dealt a blow to the company's air delivery business. The results also dragged down shares of rival United Parcel Service UPS.N by 1.4%. At 11:28 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI was up 15.65 points, or 0.04%, at 37,573.57, the S&P 500 .SPX was up 2.53 points, or 0.05%, at 4,770.90, and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC was up 35.22 points, or 0.23%, at 15,038.45. Six of the top 11 S&P 500 sectors were in declines, though the communications services sector .SPLRCL added 1.6%, underpinned by gains in Alphabet. General MillsGIS.Nslipped 2.8% after the Cheerios cereal-maker trimmed its annual sales forecast due to slowing demand for its higher-priced products. The consumer staples sector .SPLRCS housing the stock declined 1.0%. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.83-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.41-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P index recorded 30 new 52-week highs and one new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 167 new highs and 63 new lows. Are we there yet? https://tmsnrt.rs/3RQBoee (Reporting by Johann M Cherian and Shristi Achar A in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel) ((johann.mcherian@thomsonreuters.com; Shristi.AcharA@thomsonreuters.com https://twitter.com/ShristiAchar;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

By Johann M Cherian and Shristi Achar A Dec 20 (Reuters) - The benchmark S&P 500 and the blue-chip Dow were nearly flat on Wednesday as investors took a breather from a rally that was sparked by the Federal Reserve's likely pivot to a dovish policy, while FedEx tumbled after issuing a grim outlook. Propping up the tech-heavy Nasdaq .IXIC, AlphabetGOOGL.Oclimbed 3.1% to an over one-and-a-half year high after a report said Google is planning to reorganize a big part of its 30,000-person ad sales unit, citing a person with knowledge of the situation. The three main indexes had advanced over 2% since the Fed's Dec. 13 meet where policymakers projected lower policy rates by the end of 2024, with the Dow notching fresh record highs and the S&P 500 within arm's reach of its highest closing levels since January 2022.

Since then, central bank officials have attempted to keep investor euphoria in check, the latest being Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee who said further progress on beating back inflation will be the decisive factor in any central bank decision next year to reduce interest rates. The S&P index recorded 30 new 52-week highs and one new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 167 new highs and 63 new lows. https://tmsnrt.rs/3RQBoee (Reporting by Johann M Cherian and Shristi Achar A in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel) ((johann.mcherian@thomsonreuters.com; Shristi.AcharA@thomsonreuters.com https://twitter.com/ShristiAchar;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Propping up the tech-heavy Nasdaq .IXIC, AlphabetGOOGL.Oclimbed 3.1% to an over one-and-a-half year high after a report said Google is planning to reorganize a big part of its 30,000-person ad sales unit, citing a person with knowledge of the situation. Still, traders expect the Fed to ease credit conditions by over 125 basis points by September next year, with a 79% chance that the first cut of at least 25 basis points could come in as early as March 2024, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool. "(Investors) think that they (Fed) will cut rates more than the Fed is willing to admit that they are likely to cut rates," said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research.

"(Investors) think that they (Fed) will cut rates more than the Fed is willing to admit that they are likely to cut rates," said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research. Six of the top 11 S&P 500 sectors were in declines, though the communications services sector .SPLRCL added 1.6%, underpinned by gains in Alphabet. The S&P index recorded 30 new 52-week highs and one new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 167 new highs and 63 new lows.

125880.0

2023-12-16 23:27:00 UTC

Daily Dividend Report: CUZ,FULT,WOR,DCOM,IVR

AKO-A

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/daily-dividend-report%3A-cuzfultwordcomivr

Cousins Properties announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.32 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2023. The fourth quarter dividend will be payable on January 16, 2024 to common shareholders of record on January 4, 2024. Fulton Financial today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of seventeen cents per share on its common stock, payable on January 12, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2024. This is a one cent per share increase from the quarterly cash dividend that the Board declared on September 19, 2023. The Worthington Enterprises Board of Directors today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share. The dividend is payable on March 29, 2024, to shareholders of record on March 15, 2024. Worthington has paid a quarterly dividend since it became a public company in 1968. Dime Community Bancshares announced that its Board of Directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of Common Stock, payable on January 24, 2024 to common stockholders of record as of January 17, 2024. The Company continues its trend of uninterrupted dividends. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023. The dividend will be paid on January 26, 2024 to stockholders of record on December 29, 2023, with an ex-dividend date of December 28, 2023. VIDEO: Daily Dividend Report: CUZ,FULT,WOR,DCOM,IVR The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Cousins Properties announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.32 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2023. The Worthington Enterprises Board of Directors today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023.

Fulton Financial today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of seventeen cents per share on its common stock, payable on January 12, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2024. Dime Community Bancshares announced that its Board of Directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of Common Stock, payable on January 24, 2024 to common stockholders of record as of January 17, 2024. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023.

Fulton Financial today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of seventeen cents per share on its common stock, payable on January 12, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2024. Dime Community Bancshares announced that its Board of Directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of Common Stock, payable on January 24, 2024 to common stockholders of record as of January 17, 2024. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023.

The fourth quarter dividend will be payable on January 16, 2024 to common shareholders of record on January 4, 2024. Fulton Financial today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of seventeen cents per share on its common stock, payable on January 12, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2024. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023.

134063.0

2023-12-16 23:27:00 UTC

3 Overvalued Stocks That Could Plunge if the Market Crashes

AKO-B

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/3-overvalued-stocks-that-could-plunge-if-the-market-crashes

The stock market was due for a rebound in 2023. The inflation crisis that started in 2021 led to a disastrous 2022, where the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) market index fell by 19.4%. And 2023 has delivered a powerful recovery. The S&P 500 is up more than 23% year-to-date, lifted by a stabilizing economy and the raging artificial intelligence (AI) mania. I saw 2022 as a buying opportunity, where lots of high-quality stocks were available at paltry share prices. The tide has turned, and Wall Street is no stranger to overvalued stocks today. Let me show you a couple of stock tickers teetering on the edge of a meteoric plunge. Mind you, they could continue to rise in 2024 and beyond if everything works out as planned. It would be silly to sell any of these skyrocketing market darlings short, and I'm not saying that you need to zero out your holdings. But it's a long way down from these lofty heights, and even a small misstep or accident could result in dramatic haircuts at the drop of a hat. So please be careful with IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Marathon Digital Holdings (NASDAQ: MARA). These stocks have gained 235% or more in 2023 and trade at astronomical valuation ratios. Hold them if you like, buy more if you must, but be prepared for gigantic potholes in the road to long-term gains. The next sharp turn could very well be painful. Here's why I think you're better off waiting for a price correction before slapping that "buy" button. MARA data by YCharts What are these companies doing right? The skyrocketing stocks under my microscope are up for good reasons. Nvidia emerged as an early leader in the high-powered microchips required to create and run modern AI systems such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. IonQ has started to monetize its research in quantum computing, potentially paving the way to tremendous revenue streams as the technology matures. And Marathon's all-in bet on Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) may have looked misguided in the recent crypto winter, but the rising cryptocurrency market is making Marathon look smart again. So I'm looking at three high-quality business operations with serious long-term growth plans. Their recent gains are no flukes. What could go wrong? However, optimistic investors may have boosted their favorite stocks too far, too fast. These stocks are priced for absolute perfection, and anything less may have disastrous consequences for their share prices. Yes, Nvidia is the hardware provider of choice for prospective AI experts in 2023. But it is far from the only game in town. Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) and Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) have cooked up their own ultra-powerful AI accelerators, and I can't guarantee that Nvidia will win every big-ticket contract. If nothing else, the presence of several reasonable alternatives could drive down the mind-boggling price tags across the AI processing market. The current champ, Nvidia's H100 GPU, costs up to $40,000 per chip and the just-released H200 will probably command even higher prices -- unless the competitive situation changes things. Meanwhile, Nvidia's business is booming but the stock has soared even faster. As a result, Nvidia shares trade at 27 times sales and 70 times free cash flows today. That's more than double the average ratios in the last "normal" market, the five years before the pandemic. IonQ promises to disrupt the very concept of high-performance computing. Its quantum processors are not very powerful so far, as its most advanced system comes with only 32 so-called qubits of processing power. Recent research suggests that doubling the qubits may result in systems outperforming digital computers for some highly specialized tasks, but quantum computing also requires error correction and the classical computing world isn't standing still. So it's unclear exactly how long it might take before IonQ and others can replace regular state-of-the-art computers with their alternative technology. Until then, IonQ's business amounts to experimentation and speculation. With $6.1 million of revenue in the recently reported third quarter, the company faced $48 million in operating costs. The slightest of stumbles could bring the IonQ enterprise to its knees. And Marathon loves the refreshed cryptocurrency market, as Bitcoin has posted a 156% price gain year-to-date. The Bitcoin mining expert spent $179 million this week on two fully operational mining sites. Marathon generated 1,187 Bitcoin tokens in November but sold 700 in order to run the business. That's fine as long as Bitcoin prices continue to rise, but what if it doesn't work out that way? The next halvening is coming up in the spring of 2014, requiring twice as much work from Bitcoin miners to produce a new token. This event is expected to boost Bitcoin prices significantly, but nothing is guaranteed. The economics of minting more Bitcoin will break down if the higher production difficulty isn't matched by a similar price increase. Walking down Wall Street on eggshells Again, I'm not saying that disaster is about to strike these three companies. Nvidia could keep its AI acceleration throne, Bitcoin could (and arguably should) post a robust price gain due to the halvening, and IonQ's quantum computers may turn out to be the perfect tool for some mass-market computing need. The stock prices eventually match the underlying economic reality, but thanks to soaring financial results rather than lower share prices. That's one possible outcome. Like I said, I don't recommend selling any of these stocks short today. Just be careful out there, because the potential downsides are also real. In my view, the best way forward is to leave these stocks alone for now, perhaps pocketing some of this year's market-stomping gains if you caught that rocket ride on the way up, and wait for more reasonable stock prices. That could mean buying on the dips or looking out for stronger financial results. Either way, the time isn't right to double down on Nvidia, IonQ, and Marathon today. Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now? Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nvidia wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Anders Bylund has positions in Bitcoin, Intel, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Bitcoin, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Intel and recommends the following options: long January 2023 $57.50 calls on Intel, long January 2025 $45 calls on Intel, and short February 2024 $47 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Nvidia emerged as an early leader in the high-powered microchips required to create and run modern AI systems such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. IonQ has started to monetize its research in quantum computing, potentially paving the way to tremendous revenue streams as the technology matures. The current champ, Nvidia's H100 GPU, costs up to $40,000 per chip and the just-released H200 will probably command even higher prices -- unless the competitive situation changes things.

So please be careful with IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Marathon Digital Holdings (NASDAQ: MARA). The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Bitcoin, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Intel and recommends the following options: long January 2023 $57.50 calls on Intel, long January 2025 $45 calls on Intel, and short February 2024 $47 calls on Intel.

Nvidia could keep its AI acceleration throne, Bitcoin could (and arguably should) post a robust price gain due to the halvening, and IonQ's quantum computers may turn out to be the perfect tool for some mass-market computing need. Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nvidia wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Anders Bylund has positions in Bitcoin, Intel, and Nvidia.

So please be careful with IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Marathon Digital Holdings (NASDAQ: MARA). Nvidia could keep its AI acceleration throne, Bitcoin could (and arguably should) post a robust price gain due to the halvening, and IonQ's quantum computers may turn out to be the perfect tool for some mass-market computing need. Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nvidia wasn't one of them.

247126.0

2023-12-16 23:27:00 UTC

GLOBAL MARKETS-Shares rise after Wednesday's sell-off; dollar and oil fall

ARTLW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/global-markets-shares-rise-after-wednesdays-sell-off-dollar-and-oil-fall

By Sinéad Carew NEW YORK, Dec 21 (Reuters) - MSCI's global stock index rose on Thursday, recouping some losses from the previous session's late-session sell-off, while oil prices fell and the dollar was lower on the eve of a key U.S. inflation reading. Oil prices, which rallied earlier in the week due to concerns about shipping disruption in the Red Sea, fell after Angola announced it is leaving the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). On Wednesday, Wall Street suffered its biggest drop since September, and analysts cited hedging activity associated with trading in short-dated options. "Today's market is trying to recover. This has been the hallmark of the latest phase in the market," said Quincy Krosby, chief global strategist, LPL Financial in Charlotte, NC. "We've seen the fear of missing out has been powerful. We've institutional money managers who have to catch up if they've been behind competitors." If expectations are that "this report could suggest a faster decline in core and super core inflation perhaps you'd want to come in today rather than wait until tomorrow," Krosby said. But Wednesday's sell-off was weighing on traders as they waited for Friday's data. "The markets could be pulling back a little bit and consolidating while they're waiting for more news," said Joe Mazzola, Director of Trading Services Education at Schwab who attributed Wednesday's pull-back in part to the fact that the market had rallied so strongly. "If we can kind of stay within this range where we're at right now, then that bodes well for the end of the week, heading into next week. If we give up yesterday's lows then I'd be really concerned," Mazzola added. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 162.37 points, or 0.44%, to 37,244.37, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 27.29 points, or 0.58%, to 4,725.64 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 121.00 points, or 0.82%, to 14,898.95. The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX lost 0.21% and MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS gained 0.42%. The U.S. dollar eased to a three-day low against a basket of currencies as the previous session's lift for the U.S. currency faded and traders braced for U.S. inflation figures for clues to future Fed policy. The dollar index =USD fell 0.537%, with the euro EUR= up 0.53% to $1.0996. The Japanese yen strengthened 0.92% to 142.27 per dollar, while Sterling GBP= was last trading at $1.2685, up 0.38%. In U.S. Treasuries, benchmark 10-year notes US10YT=RR were up 1.7 basis points to 3.894%, from 3.877% late on Wednesday. The 30-year bond US30YT=RR was last up 2.8 basis points to yield 4.0328%, from 4.005%. The 2-year note US2YT=RR was last was down 2.2 basis points to yield 4.3473%, from 4.369%. Oil futures settled lower as Angola's move raised questions about OPEC's efforts to support prices by limiting global supplies. U.S. crude CLc1 settled down 0.44% at $73.89 per barrel and Brent LCOc1 finished at $79.39, down 0.39% on the day. Gold prices gained after U.S. economic data fueled expectations for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates in March next year. Spot gold XAU= added 0.7% to $2,043.89 an ounce. U.S. gold futures GCc1 gained 0.20% to $2,039.10 an ounce. (Additional reporting by Saqiq Iqbal Ahmed in New York, Marc Jones in London Editing by Jane Merriman, Mark Potter and David Gregorio) ((sinead.carew@thomsonreuters.com; +13322191897;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

By Sinéad Carew NEW YORK, Dec 21 (Reuters) - MSCI's global stock index rose on Thursday, recouping some losses from the previous session's late-session sell-off, while oil prices fell and the dollar was lower on the eve of a key U.S. inflation reading. Oil prices, which rallied earlier in the week due to concerns about shipping disruption in the Red Sea, fell after Angola announced it is leaving the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Oil futures settled lower as Angola's move raised questions about OPEC's efforts to support prices by limiting global supplies.

By Sinéad Carew NEW YORK, Dec 21 (Reuters) - MSCI's global stock index rose on Thursday, recouping some losses from the previous session's late-session sell-off, while oil prices fell and the dollar was lower on the eve of a key U.S. inflation reading. Oil futures settled lower as Angola's move raised questions about OPEC's efforts to support prices by limiting global supplies. Gold prices gained after U.S. economic data fueled expectations for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates in March next year.

By Sinéad Carew NEW YORK, Dec 21 (Reuters) - MSCI's global stock index rose on Thursday, recouping some losses from the previous session's late-session sell-off, while oil prices fell and the dollar was lower on the eve of a key U.S. inflation reading. "The markets could be pulling back a little bit and consolidating while they're waiting for more news," said Joe Mazzola, Director of Trading Services Education at Schwab who attributed Wednesday's pull-back in part to the fact that the market had rallied so strongly. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 162.37 points, or 0.44%, to 37,244.37, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 27.29 points, or 0.58%, to 4,725.64 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 121.00 points, or 0.82%, to 14,898.95.

By Sinéad Carew NEW YORK, Dec 21 (Reuters) - MSCI's global stock index rose on Thursday, recouping some losses from the previous session's late-session sell-off, while oil prices fell and the dollar was lower on the eve of a key U.S. inflation reading. "Today's market is trying to recover. U.S. gold futures GCc1 gained 0.20% to $2,039.10 an ounce.

436074.0

2023-12-16 23:27:00 UTC

Warren Buffett Really Likes 1 ETF. Here's an ETF That's Just as Good and Could Help You Retire as a Millionaire.

BSMR

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/warren-buffett-really-likes-1-etf.-heres-an-etf-thats-just-as-good-and-could-help-you

Warren Buffett is known as one of the greatest stock pickers of all time. Of course, he'd argue that he's actually a business picker instead of a stock picker. The businesses he picks, though, tend to translate to good stocks. The legendary investor doesn't just pick individual stocks -- he also likes some exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Buffett really likes one ETF, in particular. But there's an ETF that's just as good and could help you retire as a millionaire. Image source: The Motley Fool. Buffett's favorite ETF There are only two ETFs in Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) portfolio: the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEMKT: SPY) and the Vanguard 500 Index Fund ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO). Both are index ETFs that track the S&P 500. Which of these two funds is Buffett's favorite? I think the evidence points to the Vanguard 500 Index Fund ETF. For one thing, Berkshire owns a little more of the Vanguard ETF than it does of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust. At the end of the third quarter, the conglomerate's stake in VOO was worth slightly more than $17.5 billion, while its position in SPY was worth under $17.5 million. Also, Buffett seemed to express his opinion in his 2013 letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. In that letter, he wrote that he had instructed in his will that most of the fortune inherited by his family be invested in a low-cost S&P 500 index fund. He added, "I suggest Vanguard's." An alternative that's just as good Why would Buffett prefer the Vanguard fund to another that owned the same stocks? Cost. Vanguard is well known for its low annual expense fees. In that 2013 letter, he emphasized that it's important to "keep your costs minimal." VOO certainly beats SPY on this front. The Vanguard fund's annual expense ratio is only 0.03%, compared to 0.0945% for the SPDR ETF. However, when it comes to cost, there's another alternative that's just as good as VOO. BlackRock's iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: IVV) also tracks the S&P 500. Its expense ratio is also 0.03%. There are only two meaningful differentiators between these two ETFs. One is average trading volume. The average volume for VOO is around 4.8 million shares, while the average volume for IVV is slightly under 5 million shares. The other is assets under management (AUM). VOO's AUM is around $937 billion, compared to IVV's AUM of nearly $397 billion. Neither of these differences should matter to long-term investors, though. You can retire as a millionaire with either ETF Buffett told Berkshire Hathaway shareholders roughly a decade ago that any investor who owns a large, diversified basket of stocks via an S&P index fund is "bound to do well" over time. He was right. It's possible to retire as a millionaire by investing in VOO or IVV. For example, let's assume that you invest $5,350 per year in either ETF for 30 years. If the S&P 500 delivers the same average annual return of 10.7% as it has over the last 30 years, you'd end the period with a little over $1 million. The low expense ratio for VOO and IVV wouldn't matter materially to your total returns. Taxes could be a factor, though. However, investing in a tax-protected account, such as an IRA or a 401(k), would solve that problem. Of course, there's no guarantee that the S&P 500 will deliver the same level of returns going forward as it has in the past. Still, investing regularly in VOO or IVV over a long period is likely to pay off nicely. Should you invest $1,000 in iShares Trust-iShares Core S&P 500 ETF right now? Before you buy stock in iShares Trust-iShares Core S&P 500 ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and iShares Trust-iShares Core S&P 500 ETF wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Keith Speights has positions in Berkshire Hathaway and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The legendary investor doesn't just pick individual stocks -- he also likes some exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In that letter, he wrote that he had instructed in his will that most of the fortune inherited by his family be invested in a low-cost S&P 500 index fund. You can retire as a millionaire with either ETF Buffett told Berkshire Hathaway shareholders roughly a decade ago that any investor who owns a large, diversified basket of stocks via an S&P index fund is "bound to do well" over time.

Buffett's favorite ETF There are only two ETFs in Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) portfolio: the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEMKT: SPY) and the Vanguard 500 Index Fund ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO). The average volume for VOO is around 4.8 million shares, while the average volume for IVV is slightly under 5 million shares. Before you buy stock in iShares Trust-iShares Core S&P 500 ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and iShares Trust-iShares Core S&P 500 ETF wasn't one of them.

Buffett's favorite ETF There are only two ETFs in Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) portfolio: the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEMKT: SPY) and the Vanguard 500 Index Fund ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO). Before you buy stock in iShares Trust-iShares Core S&P 500 ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and iShares Trust-iShares Core S&P 500 ETF wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Keith Speights has positions in Berkshire Hathaway and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF.

You can retire as a millionaire with either ETF Buffett told Berkshire Hathaway shareholders roughly a decade ago that any investor who owns a large, diversified basket of stocks via an S&P index fund is "bound to do well" over time. It's possible to retire as a millionaire by investing in VOO or IVV. If the S&P 500 delivers the same average annual return of 10.7% as it has over the last 30 years, you'd end the period with a little over $1 million.

918158.0

2023-12-16 23:27:00 UTC

Want to Retire a Millionaire? Consider This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock

ESGRO

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/want-to-retire-a-millionaire-consider-this-artificial-intelligence-ai-stock

It's been more than a year since OpenAI launched ChatGPT, and there's still no shortage of hype around artificial intelligence (AI). Big tech companies are racing to deploy their latest foundation models and cloud infrastructure services, and others are scrambling to acquire graphics processing units (GPUs) to scale up to meet demand. Investors have bid up nearly every stock associated with AI, making it harder to find AI stocks worth buying. However, one small-cap company that is rapidly embracing AI has traveled largely under the radar thus far. That's Perion Network (NASDAQ: PERI), an adtech company that connects ad buyers and sellers across all major digital channels. The company is best known for its intelligent hub, which facilitates both ends of the ad transaction, helping to optimize ad buys and seller inventory, and increase advertisers' return on investment. Here's a breakdown of what Perion is doing with AI. From there we can determine how the stock could deliver big returns for you. Could it, for example, turn a $100,000 investment into $1 million over time? Here's a closer look. Image source: Getty Images. Perion and AI As is common in the adtech sector, Perion's technology is built on machine learning algorithms and other forms of AI; the company says it uses advanced AI, neural networks, and machine learning to optimize yield for its users. Advertising is a natural use case for AI as there are millions of data points generated by ad impressions, clicks, and purchases, and AI systems can process those massive volumes of data and make connections in a way that a human never could. Perion's partnership with Microsoft Bing gives it additional exposure to AI as Microsoft has integrated a number of ChatGPT's capabilities into Bing over the past year. The adtech company has also developed new generative AI technologies. For example, it recently launched WAVE (Waveform Audio Voice Engine), a new generative AI audio technology that is able to generate hundreds of thousands of highly targeted audio ads using retail data about products and promotions. With WAVE, retailers don't need to use a human actor to record a radio or podcast spot, and they can rapidly deploy and customize ads according to changing conditions like weather or the time of day, or adapt them to the listener. Supermarket chain giant Albertson's, the first adopter of the new technology, said it was "blown away" by how real the AI voice sounded. WAVE could help Perion win a significant piece of the digital audio ad market, which is valued at close to $7 billion and expected to grow to nearly $10 billion by 2027. How Perion could make you a millionaire Perion is growing rapidly, with revenue up 17% in its most recent quarter to $185.3 million. Its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) rose 29% year over year to $42.7 million. Perion's growth has outpaced that of its industry over the last few years as it has invested in new solutions like SORT, its cookieless tracking solution, and it has grown both organically and through acquisitions. In fact, the company just bought Hivestack, a digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising platform, for $100 million. DOOH refers to digital billboards and other digitally enabled outdoor media such as ads on bus stop shelters or on top of taxis. That market is just beginning to see significant growth, and the Hivestack acquisition will help Perion diversify its offerings. Perion is still small, with a market cap of $1.5 billion, giving it significant growth potential, and the stock is cheap, trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 14. Wall Street seems skeptical that Perion will be able to maintain its recent growth rates, but that gives the stock more upside potential as it benefits from multiple expansion as well as growth. With new AI products like WAVE and a proven acquisition strategy, Perion could evolve into a much bigger company than it is today. For Perion to become a ten-bagger, its market cap would have to grow from $1.5 billion to $15 billion, which seems achievable, considering the growth in digital advertising, emerging markets and ad surfaces, and the company's track record of growing organically and through acquisitions. By comparison, The Trade Desk, which is the most valuable pure-play adtech stock, is currently worth $37 billion and has a P/E ratio around 60, yet its revenue growth has been similar to Perion over the last three years as the chart below shows. PERI Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth) data by YCharts Given the factors above, it seems within reach for Perion's revenue and profits to 5x over the next decade, which would imply a compound annual growth rate of 18%, and for Perion's earnings multiple to double from 14 as it shows its staying power. That would make the stock a ten-bagger in the next decade, turning $100,000 into $1 million. You're better off diversifying your portfolio across multiple stocks than investing $100,000 in a single stock, but if you're looking for an AI stock that can help make you a millionaire and offers growth, innovation, and profits, all at a great price, Perion should be at the top of your list. Should you invest $1,000 in Perion Network right now? Before you buy stock in Perion Network, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Perion Network wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Jeremy Bowman has positions in Perion Network and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Big tech companies are racing to deploy their latest foundation models and cloud infrastructure services, and others are scrambling to acquire graphics processing units (GPUs) to scale up to meet demand. With WAVE, retailers don't need to use a human actor to record a radio or podcast spot, and they can rapidly deploy and customize ads according to changing conditions like weather or the time of day, or adapt them to the listener. By comparison, The Trade Desk, which is the most valuable pure-play adtech stock, is currently worth $37 billion and has a P/E ratio around 60, yet its revenue growth has been similar to Perion over the last three years as the chart below shows.

For example, it recently launched WAVE (Waveform Audio Voice Engine), a new generative AI audio technology that is able to generate hundreds of thousands of highly targeted audio ads using retail data about products and promotions. For Perion to become a ten-bagger, its market cap would have to grow from $1.5 billion to $15 billion, which seems achievable, considering the growth in digital advertising, emerging markets and ad surfaces, and the company's track record of growing organically and through acquisitions. Before you buy stock in Perion Network, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Perion Network wasn't one of them.

Perion and AI As is common in the adtech sector, Perion's technology is built on machine learning algorithms and other forms of AI; the company says it uses advanced AI, neural networks, and machine learning to optimize yield for its users. You're better off diversifying your portfolio across multiple stocks than investing $100,000 in a single stock, but if you're looking for an AI stock that can help make you a millionaire and offers growth, innovation, and profits, all at a great price, Perion should be at the top of your list. Before you buy stock in Perion Network, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Perion Network wasn't one of them.

How Perion could make you a millionaire Perion is growing rapidly, with revenue up 17% in its most recent quarter to $185.3 million. Before you buy stock in Perion Network, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Perion Network wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Jeremy Bowman has positions in Perion Network and The Trade Desk.

1541622.0

2023-12-16 23:27:00 UTC

1 Growth Stock to Buy and Hold in a Market Downturn

NEWTL

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/1-growth-stock-to-buy-and-hold-in-a-market-downturn-12

The market has sharply bounced back this year. After dropping more than 19% in 2022, the S&P 500 rose by about 23% this year. But the equity market doesn't rise in a straight line. There will come a time when equity prices drop precipitously for a variety of reasons. When they do, it's good to have a top stock to buy. Etsy (NASDAQ: ETSY) heads my list. What makes me like Etsy during an overall market downturn? It's time to uncover the company's strengths. Image source: Getty Images. Growing customers Etsy, which operates an online marketplace connecting creative goods makers with buyers, exploded in popularity during the early days of the pandemic. With people stuck at home, they came to Etsy's website in droves. They weren't just browsers, but actually bought goods. Revenue more than doubled in 2020 to $1.7 billion. While 2020 was an unusual period, it does demonstrate the site's appeal during challenging times. And Etsy has grown the number of users on its sites. On the Etsy website, the number of active buyers grew by 4% in the third quarter, to 92 million. Although gross merchandise sales were flat after taking into account foreign currency translations, management attributed that mostly to consumers facing challenges from higher prices. As inflation recedes, I expect that to improve. Cash flow For the first nine months of the year, Etsy grew revenue by 8.4%. The company recorded a $224.3 million profit versus an $803.8 million loss under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), although it's difficult to compare given last year's $1 billion asset impairment charge. But a company's cash flow reveals telling details about a company. That's because this is the actual money flowing into and out of the company. On this basis, Etsy generated operating cash flow of $410.4 million this year, up 4.7% from a year ago. Free cash flow (FCF), which subtracts property and equipment spending from operating cash flow, was $402.7 million. Etsy is able to produce strong FCF since the company doesn't have to invest heavily in things like inventory or storage facilities. This impressive feat comes as management continues to spend on expanding the business. This includes marketing and product development that should help propel growth. Creating a better valuation Etsy's shareholders have had a rough go over the last year. During that time, the stock price has dropped by 36% while the S&P 500 has gained more than 21%. That's likely due to high growth expectations that were set by 2020 and a challenged consumer that hurt spending. But Etsy's site remains an increasingly popular destination. The company's price-to-sales ratio has been cut by roughly half to 4 times. Should the overall market drop, that's likely to result in an even better valuation. For long-term investors, a falling stock market represents a good opportunity to buy strong companies at a better price. While Etsy's customers may face challenges if there's an economic downturn, they'll undoubtedly still visit and purchase items from the site, albeit lower-priced ones. With Etsy's brand recognition, proven ability to attract site traffic, and cash flow generation, investors should seriously consider purchasing the stock when the overall market declines. Should you invest $1,000 in Etsy right now? Before you buy stock in Etsy, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Etsy wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Lawrence Rothman, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Etsy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Growing customers Etsy, which operates an online marketplace connecting creative goods makers with buyers, exploded in popularity during the early days of the pandemic. Although gross merchandise sales were flat after taking into account foreign currency translations, management attributed that mostly to consumers facing challenges from higher prices. With Etsy's brand recognition, proven ability to attract site traffic, and cash flow generation, investors should seriously consider purchasing the stock when the overall market declines.

On this basis, Etsy generated operating cash flow of $410.4 million this year, up 4.7% from a year ago. Before you buy stock in Etsy, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Etsy wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Lawrence Rothman, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

On this basis, Etsy generated operating cash flow of $410.4 million this year, up 4.7% from a year ago. With Etsy's brand recognition, proven ability to attract site traffic, and cash flow generation, investors should seriously consider purchasing the stock when the overall market declines. Before you buy stock in Etsy, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Etsy wasn't one of them.

Cash flow For the first nine months of the year, Etsy grew revenue by 8.4%. On this basis, Etsy generated operating cash flow of $410.4 million this year, up 4.7% from a year ago. Before you buy stock in Etsy, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Etsy wasn't one of them.

1901885.0

2023-12-16 23:27:00 UTC

US FDA declines to approve Checkpoint Therapeutics' skin cancer therapy

RILYG

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/us-fda-declines-to-approve-checkpoint-therapeutics-skin-cancer-therapy

Adds share movement in paragraphs 1 and 2 Dec 18 (Reuters) - Checkpoint Therapeutics CKPT.O said on Monday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had declined to approve its experimental therapy to treat a form of skin cancer following an inspection at a contract manufacturer, sending its shares down nearly 50%. Shares of the Waltham, Massachusetts-based company were down 47.3%, to $1.7 in premarket trade, among the worse performing stocks across U.S. stock exchanges. Checkpoint filed the marketing application for cosibelimab, its lead therapy in development, earlier this year. The company said the FDA did not state any concerns about the data or safety of the therapy in its so-called complete response letter. "We believe we can address the feedback in a resubmission to enable marketing approval in 2024," CEO James Oliviero said in a statement According to the company, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer in the United States, with around 1 million cases every year. The trial data showed the therapy helped reduce or clear cancerous tumors by 47.4%. Checkpoint also said about 40,000 cases become advanced and it estimates around 15,000 people die of the disease annually. (Reporting by Mariam Sunny and Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Pooja Desai) ((Mariam.ESunny@thomsonreuters.com;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Adds share movement in paragraphs 1 and 2 Dec 18 (Reuters) - Checkpoint Therapeutics CKPT.O said on Monday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had declined to approve its experimental therapy to treat a form of skin cancer following an inspection at a contract manufacturer, sending its shares down nearly 50%. The company said the FDA did not state any concerns about the data or safety of the therapy in its so-called complete response letter. "We believe we can address the feedback in a resubmission to enable marketing approval in 2024," CEO James Oliviero said in a statement According to the company, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer in the United States, with around 1 million cases every year.

Adds share movement in paragraphs 1 and 2 Dec 18 (Reuters) - Checkpoint Therapeutics CKPT.O said on Monday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had declined to approve its experimental therapy to treat a form of skin cancer following an inspection at a contract manufacturer, sending its shares down nearly 50%. Shares of the Waltham, Massachusetts-based company were down 47.3%, to $1.7 in premarket trade, among the worse performing stocks across U.S. stock exchanges. "We believe we can address the feedback in a resubmission to enable marketing approval in 2024," CEO James Oliviero said in a statement According to the company, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer in the United States, with around 1 million cases every year.

Adds share movement in paragraphs 1 and 2 Dec 18 (Reuters) - Checkpoint Therapeutics CKPT.O said on Monday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had declined to approve its experimental therapy to treat a form of skin cancer following an inspection at a contract manufacturer, sending its shares down nearly 50%. "We believe we can address the feedback in a resubmission to enable marketing approval in 2024," CEO James Oliviero said in a statement According to the company, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer in the United States, with around 1 million cases every year. (Reporting by Mariam Sunny and Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Pooja Desai) ((Mariam.ESunny@thomsonreuters.com;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Adds share movement in paragraphs 1 and 2 Dec 18 (Reuters) - Checkpoint Therapeutics CKPT.O said on Monday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had declined to approve its experimental therapy to treat a form of skin cancer following an inspection at a contract manufacturer, sending its shares down nearly 50%. Shares of the Waltham, Massachusetts-based company were down 47.3%, to $1.7 in premarket trade, among the worse performing stocks across U.S. stock exchanges. Checkpoint filed the marketing application for cosibelimab, its lead therapy in development, earlier this year.

1902206.0

2023-12-16 23:27:00 UTC

2 REIT Stocks You Can Buy Right Now Before They Surge Even Higher

RILYO

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/2-reit-stocks-you-can-buy-right-now-before-they-surge-even-higher

The average real estate investment trust (REIT) is roughly 5% below its 52-week high, using Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSEMKT: VNQ) as a proxy. That's a vast improvement from where it was not too long ago, down over 20%, but investors shouldn't think the investment opportunity in REITs has passed. If you go back more than a year, you start to see that net lease REITs like NNN (NYSE: NNN) and tiny peer Alpine Income Property Trust (NYSE: PINE) still have more ground to make up. REITs got smacked by interest rates The past year was filled with interest rate increases. But the trend didn't start over the past 12 months -- it goes back a little further than that. For example, if you look at the past three years, you'll see that the average REIT is still down a bit more than 20% from its highs over the span. In other words, there's more opportunity here than may at first meet the eye if you step back and consider the broader picture. VNQ data by YCharts Two REITs still worth taking a look at are NNN and Alpine, which remain down around 15% or so from their three-year highs. Before looking at each stock, it will help to understand why rising interest rates were such a problem for their stocks. The first issue is that REITs compete with other income options, like CDs. As rates rose, investors moved cash to virtually risk-free bank CDs because they could get yields as high as 5% without having to take on the inherent risk of owning a stock. There are also operational issues that REITs have to deal with on the interest rate front. Most notably, REITs often issue debt when they buy assets. Thus, rising rates make it more costly to do business. Although property markets eventually adjust to higher rates, it can take a long time for that to happen. Basically, sellers tend to cling to high prices until they have no choice but to sell (usually because of maturing debt that has to be rolled over at higher rates) at whatever price will clear in the market. So there is a real business headwind today for REITs, as well. There are still attractive options That said, stable or falling interest rates would be a positive for REITs. Since that's exactly what the Federal Reserve indicated in its last meeting, investors are quickly jumping back into the sector. But you can still find attractive yields from interesting REITs like NNN and Alpine. Both are net lease REITs, which means they own single-tenant properties for which the tenants are responsible for most property-level operating costs. NNN is one of the oldest companies in the net lease space, with an incredible 34 years' worth of annual dividend increases under its belt. It has a large portfolio of properties at around 3,500 assets, with a focus on necessity tenants. The average remaining lease term is over 10 years, so there's enough leeway there to survive an economic rough patch like a recession. NNN's yield is roughly 5.3%, which is still quite attractive relative to the average REIT's 4.4% and the S&P 500 Index's 1.4%. If you prefer to own industry bellwethers, this REIT could be right up your alley -- and it still has recovery room before it gets back to its recent high water mark. Alpine is a bit more of an acquired taste. With a market cap of around $260 million, it is an industry small fry. In comparison, NNN's market cap is $7.6 billion. So only more aggressive investors will want to look at Alpine. However, the REIT has a 6.3% dividend yield. It has increased its dividend each year since its IPO in late 2019. Although it has a tiny portfolio of just 138 properties, nearly two-thirds of its tenants are investment grade rated. Meanwhile, the funds from operations (FFO) payout ratio is around 75%, which is reasonable and only slightly higher than the industry's larger players, including NNN and its 70% FFO payout ratio. And, at least partly thanks to its small size, Alpine trades at a discount to most of its peers while offering more opportunity for growth, because even small acquisitions can move the needle dramatically. Two REITs that are worth a closer look For conservative investors, NNN is probably the better choice. It is an industry-leading net lease REIT with a great track record and attractive yield. And it still has some room to run before it gets back to its previous highs. Alpine is for more aggressive investors, given its small size. But if you can handle a little more uncertainty, it has proven to be a reliable REIT and comes with an elevated yield. And, like NNN, there's still more room to go before it has recovered from the market hit related to interest rates. Should you invest $1,000 in Nnn REIT right now? Before you buy stock in Nnn REIT, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nnn REIT wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of the S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Reuben Gregg Brewer has positions in Alpine Income Property Trust. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

As rates rose, investors moved cash to virtually risk-free bank CDs because they could get yields as high as 5% without having to take on the inherent risk of owning a stock. NNN is one of the oldest companies in the net lease space, with an incredible 34 years' worth of annual dividend increases under its belt. If you prefer to own industry bellwethers, this REIT could be right up your alley -- and it still has recovery room before it gets back to its recent high water mark.

The average real estate investment trust (REIT) is roughly 5% below its 52-week high, using Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSEMKT: VNQ) as a proxy. If you go back more than a year, you start to see that net lease REITs like NNN (NYSE: NNN) and tiny peer Alpine Income Property Trust (NYSE: PINE) still have more ground to make up. Before you buy stock in Nnn REIT, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nnn REIT wasn't one of them.

If you go back more than a year, you start to see that net lease REITs like NNN (NYSE: NNN) and tiny peer Alpine Income Property Trust (NYSE: PINE) still have more ground to make up. REITs got smacked by interest rates The past year was filled with interest rate increases. Before you buy stock in Nnn REIT, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nnn REIT wasn't one of them.

Before looking at each stock, it will help to understand why rising interest rates were such a problem for their stocks. But you can still find attractive yields from interesting REITs like NNN and Alpine. Before you buy stock in Nnn REIT, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nnn REIT wasn't one of them.

2369790.0

2023-12-16 23:27:00 UTC

Consumer Sector Update for 12/19/2023: CONN, MAMA, CHDN, XLP, XLY

WLDR

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/consumer-sector-update-for-12-19-2023%3A-conn-mama-chdn-xlp-xly

Consumer stocks were edging higher pre-bell Tuesday with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) gaining 0.1% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) recently advancing by 0.3%. Conn's (CONN) was down more than 1% after it reported a Q3 adjusted net loss of $2.03 per diluted share, compared with $0.78 a year earlier. Two analysts polled by Capital IQ expected a loss of $1.46. Mama's Creations (MAMA) said it has begun an underwritten secondary offering of almost 5.63 million shares. Mama's Creations was over 2% higher in recent premarket activity. Churchill Downs (CHDN) said it has agreed to repurchase 1 million of its shares for $123.75 per share for a total of about $123.8 million in a privately negotiated deal with an affiliate of the Duchossois Group. Churchill Downs was slightly lower pre-bell. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Consumer stocks were edging higher pre-bell Tuesday with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) gaining 0.1% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) recently advancing by 0.3%. Two analysts polled by Capital IQ expected a loss of $1.46. Churchill Downs (CHDN) said it has agreed to repurchase 1 million of its shares for $123.75 per share for a total of about $123.8 million in a privately negotiated deal with an affiliate of the Duchossois Group.

Consumer stocks were edging higher pre-bell Tuesday with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) gaining 0.1% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) recently advancing by 0.3%. Mama's Creations (MAMA) said it has begun an underwritten secondary offering of almost 5.63 million shares. Mama's Creations was over 2% higher in recent premarket activity.

Consumer stocks were edging higher pre-bell Tuesday with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) gaining 0.1% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) recently advancing by 0.3%. Mama's Creations (MAMA) said it has begun an underwritten secondary offering of almost 5.63 million shares. Churchill Downs (CHDN) said it has agreed to repurchase 1 million of its shares for $123.75 per share for a total of about $123.8 million in a privately negotiated deal with an affiliate of the Duchossois Group.

Consumer stocks were edging higher pre-bell Tuesday with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) gaining 0.1% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) recently advancing by 0.3%. Mama's Creations (MAMA) said it has begun an underwritten secondary offering of almost 5.63 million shares. Churchill Downs (CHDN) said it has agreed to repurchase 1 million of its shares for $123.75 per share for a total of about $123.8 million in a privately negotiated deal with an affiliate of the Duchossois Group.

123112.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Agree To Purchase Assurant At $150, Earn 5% Annualized Using Options

AIZ

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/agree-to-purchase-assurant-at-%24150-earn-5-annualized-using-options

Investors eyeing a purchase of Assurant Inc (Symbol: AIZ) shares, but cautious about paying the going market price of $166.59/share, might benefit from considering selling puts among the alternative strategies at their disposal. One interesting put contract in particular, is the June 2024 put at the $150 strike, which has a bid at the time of this writing of $3.80. Collecting that bid as the premium represents a 2.5% return against the $150 commitment, or a 5% annualized rate of return (at Stock Options Channel we call this the YieldBoost). Selling a put does not give an investor access to AIZ's upside potential the way owning shares would, because the put seller only ends up owning shares in the scenario where the contract is exercised. And the person on the other side of the contract would only benefit from exercising at the $150 strike if doing so produced a better outcome than selling at the going market price. (Do options carry counterparty risk? This and six other common options myths debunked). So unless Assurant Inc sees its shares fall 10.7% and the contract is exercised (resulting in a cost basis of $146.20 per share before broker commissions, subtracting the $3.80 from $150), the only upside to the put seller is from collecting that premium for the 5% annualized rate of return. Worth considering, is that the annualized 5% figure actually exceeds the 1.7% annualized dividend paid by Assurant Inc by 3.3%, based on the current share price of $166.59. And yet, if an investor was to buy the stock at the going market price in order to collect the dividend, there is greater downside because the stock would have to lose 10.69% to reach the $150 strike price. Always important when discussing dividends is the fact that, in general, dividend amounts are not always predictable and tend to follow the ups and downs of profitability at each company. In the case of Assurant Inc, looking at the dividend history chart for AIZ below can help in judging whether the most recent dividend is likely to continue, and in turn whether it is a reasonable expectation to expect a 1.7% annualized dividend yield. Below is a chart showing the trailing twelve month trading history for Assurant Inc, and highlighting in green where the $150 strike is located relative to that history: The chart above, and the stock's historical volatility, can be a helpful guide in combination with fundamental analysis to judge whether selling the June 2024 put at the $150 strike for the 5% annualized rate of return represents good reward for the risks. We calculate the trailing twelve month volatility for Assurant Inc (considering the last 251 trading day closing values as well as today's price of $166.59) to be 27%. For other put options contract ideas at the various different available expirations, visit the AIZ Stock Options page of StockOptionsChannel.com. Top YieldBoost Puts of the S&P 500 » Also see: • TPGH shares outstanding history • Funds Holding ENSV • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding VEC The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Investors eyeing a purchase of Assurant Inc (Symbol: AIZ) shares, but cautious about paying the going market price of $166.59/share, might benefit from considering selling puts among the alternative strategies at their disposal. Selling a put does not give an investor access to AIZ's upside potential the way owning shares would, because the put seller only ends up owning shares in the scenario where the contract is exercised. In the case of Assurant Inc, looking at the dividend history chart for AIZ below can help in judging whether the most recent dividend is likely to continue, and in turn whether it is a reasonable expectation to expect a 1.7% annualized dividend yield.

Investors eyeing a purchase of Assurant Inc (Symbol: AIZ) shares, but cautious about paying the going market price of $166.59/share, might benefit from considering selling puts among the alternative strategies at their disposal. Selling a put does not give an investor access to AIZ's upside potential the way owning shares would, because the put seller only ends up owning shares in the scenario where the contract is exercised. In the case of Assurant Inc, looking at the dividend history chart for AIZ below can help in judging whether the most recent dividend is likely to continue, and in turn whether it is a reasonable expectation to expect a 1.7% annualized dividend yield.

Selling a put does not give an investor access to AIZ's upside potential the way owning shares would, because the put seller only ends up owning shares in the scenario where the contract is exercised. Investors eyeing a purchase of Assurant Inc (Symbol: AIZ) shares, but cautious about paying the going market price of $166.59/share, might benefit from considering selling puts among the alternative strategies at their disposal. In the case of Assurant Inc, looking at the dividend history chart for AIZ below can help in judging whether the most recent dividend is likely to continue, and in turn whether it is a reasonable expectation to expect a 1.7% annualized dividend yield.

In the case of Assurant Inc, looking at the dividend history chart for AIZ below can help in judging whether the most recent dividend is likely to continue, and in turn whether it is a reasonable expectation to expect a 1.7% annualized dividend yield. For other put options contract ideas at the various different available expirations, visit the AIZ Stock Options page of StockOptionsChannel.com. Investors eyeing a purchase of Assurant Inc (Symbol: AIZ) shares, but cautious about paying the going market price of $166.59/share, might benefit from considering selling puts among the alternative strategies at their disposal.

125878.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Wednesday Sector Leaders: Paper & Forest Products, Auto Parts

AKO-A

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/wednesday-sector-leaders%3A-paper-forest-products-auto-parts

In trading on Wednesday, paper & forest products shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 2.4%. Leading the group were shares of Glatfelter, up about 9.2% and shares of Mativ up about 4.4% on the day. Also showing relative strength are auto parts shares, up on the day by about 2% as a group, led by Hyliion Holdings, trading up by about 25.9% and Strattec Security, trading higher by about 9.3% on Wednesday. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Leaders: Paper & Forest Products, Auto Parts The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, paper & forest products shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 2.4%. Also showing relative strength are auto parts shares, up on the day by about 2% as a group, led by Hyliion Holdings, trading up by about 25.9% and Strattec Security, trading higher by about 9.3% on Wednesday. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Leaders: Paper & Forest Products, Auto Parts The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, paper & forest products shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 2.4%. Also showing relative strength are auto parts shares, up on the day by about 2% as a group, led by Hyliion Holdings, trading up by about 25.9% and Strattec Security, trading higher by about 9.3% on Wednesday. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Leaders: Paper & Forest Products, Auto Parts The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, paper & forest products shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 2.4%. Also showing relative strength are auto parts shares, up on the day by about 2% as a group, led by Hyliion Holdings, trading up by about 25.9% and Strattec Security, trading higher by about 9.3% on Wednesday. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Leaders: Paper & Forest Products, Auto Parts The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, paper & forest products shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 2.4%. Leading the group were shares of Glatfelter, up about 9.2% and shares of Mativ up about 4.4% on the day. Also showing relative strength are auto parts shares, up on the day by about 2% as a group, led by Hyliion Holdings, trading up by about 25.9% and Strattec Security, trading higher by about 9.3% on Wednesday.

125879.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Wednesday Sector Laggards: Aerospace & Defense, Music & Electronics Stores

AKO-A

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/wednesday-sector-laggards%3A-aerospace-defense-music-electronics-stores

In trading on Wednesday, aerospace & defense shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.6%. Helping drag down the group were shares of Virgin Galactic Holdings, down about 4.7% and shares of AerSale down about 3.1% on the day. Also lagging the market Wednesday are music & electronics stores shares, down on the day by about 0.5% as a group, led down by Conns, trading lower by about 2.1% and Vertiv Holdings, trading lower by about 1.3%. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Laggards: Aerospace & Defense, Music & Electronics Stores The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, aerospace & defense shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.6%. Also lagging the market Wednesday are music & electronics stores shares, down on the day by about 0.5% as a group, led down by Conns, trading lower by about 2.1% and Vertiv Holdings, trading lower by about 1.3%. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Laggards: Aerospace & Defense, Music & Electronics Stores The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, aerospace & defense shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.6%. Also lagging the market Wednesday are music & electronics stores shares, down on the day by about 0.5% as a group, led down by Conns, trading lower by about 2.1% and Vertiv Holdings, trading lower by about 1.3%. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Laggards: Aerospace & Defense, Music & Electronics Stores The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, aerospace & defense shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.6%. Also lagging the market Wednesday are music & electronics stores shares, down on the day by about 0.5% as a group, led down by Conns, trading lower by about 2.1% and Vertiv Holdings, trading lower by about 1.3%. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Laggards: Aerospace & Defense, Music & Electronics Stores The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, aerospace & defense shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.6%. Helping drag down the group were shares of Virgin Galactic Holdings, down about 4.7% and shares of AerSale down about 3.1% on the day. Also lagging the market Wednesday are music & electronics stores shares, down on the day by about 0.5% as a group, led down by Conns, trading lower by about 2.1% and Vertiv Holdings, trading lower by about 1.3%.

247118.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Noteworthy Thursday Option Activity: HUM, MDRX, PYPL

ARTLW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/noteworthy-thursday-option-activity%3A-hum-mdrx-pypl

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Humana Inc. (Symbol: HUM), where a total of 11,360 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 1.1 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 61.9% of HUM's average daily trading volume over the past month of 1.8 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $490 strike put option expiring December 22, 2023, with 1,020 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 102,000 underlying shares of HUM. Below is a chart showing HUM's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $490 strike highlighted in orange: Veradigm Inc (Symbol: MDRX) options are showing a volume of 12,065 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 1.2 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 57.1% of MDRX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.1 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $10 strike put option expiring February 16, 2024, with 3,873 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 387,300 underlying shares of MDRX. Below is a chart showing MDRX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $10 strike highlighted in orange: And PayPal Holdings Inc (Symbol: PYPL) options are showing a volume of 101,167 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 10.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 56.8% of PYPL's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 17.8 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $66 strike call option expiring January 05, 2024, with 4,415 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 441,500 underlying shares of PYPL. Below is a chart showing PYPL's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $66 strike highlighted in orange: For the various different available expirations for HUM options, MDRX options, or PYPL options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com. Today's Most Active Call & Put Options of the S&P 500 » Also see: • AACI Average Annual Return • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding DEPO • Institutional Holders of BVSN The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Especially high volume was seen for the $490 strike put option expiring December 22, 2023, with 1,020 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 102,000 underlying shares of HUM. Particularly high volume was seen for the $10 strike put option expiring February 16, 2024, with 3,873 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 387,300 underlying shares of MDRX. Especially high volume was seen for the $66 strike call option expiring January 05, 2024, with 4,415 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 441,500 underlying shares of PYPL.

That number of contracts represents approximately 1.2 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 57.1% of MDRX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.1 million shares. Below is a chart showing MDRX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $10 strike highlighted in orange: And PayPal Holdings Inc (Symbol: PYPL) options are showing a volume of 101,167 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 10.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 56.8% of PYPL's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 17.8 million shares.

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Humana Inc. (Symbol: HUM), where a total of 11,360 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 1.1 million underlying shares. That number of contracts represents approximately 1.2 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 57.1% of MDRX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.1 million shares. That number of contracts represents approximately 10.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 56.8% of PYPL's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 17.8 million shares.

That number of contracts represents approximately 1.2 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 57.1% of MDRX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.1 million shares. That number of contracts represents approximately 10.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 56.8% of PYPL's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 17.8 million shares. Below is a chart showing PYPL's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $66 strike highlighted in orange: For the various different available expirations for HUM options, MDRX options, or PYPL options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.

247119.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Noteworthy Thursday Option Activity: MMM, CHEF, ALL

ARTLW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/noteworthy-thursday-option-activity%3A-mmm-chef-all

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in 3M Co (Symbol: MMM), where a total of 17,676 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 1.8 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 44.3% of MMM's average daily trading volume over the past month of 4.0 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $106 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 6,311 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 631,100 underlying shares of MMM. Below is a chart showing MMM's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $106 strike highlighted in orange: Chefs' Warehouse Inc (Symbol: CHEF) saw options trading volume of 2,155 contracts, representing approximately 215,500 underlying shares or approximately 44% of CHEF's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 489,450 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $35 strike call option expiring April 19, 2024, with 1,000 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 100,000 underlying shares of CHEF. Below is a chart showing CHEF's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $35 strike highlighted in orange: And Allstate Corp (Symbol: ALL) options are showing a volume of 6,488 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 648,800 underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 42.4% of ALL's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.5 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $160 strike call option expiring April 19, 2024, with 2,712 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 271,200 underlying shares of ALL. Below is a chart showing ALL's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $160 strike highlighted in orange: For the various different available expirations for MMM options, CHEF options, or ALL options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com. Today's Most Active Call & Put Options of the S&P 500 » Also see: • Energy Stock Dividends • TIGR shares outstanding history • BMXC Options Chain The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Particularly high volume was seen for the $106 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 6,311 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 631,100 underlying shares of MMM. Particularly high volume was seen for the $35 strike call option expiring April 19, 2024, with 1,000 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 100,000 underlying shares of CHEF. Especially high volume was seen for the $160 strike call option expiring April 19, 2024, with 2,712 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 271,200 underlying shares of ALL.

Below is a chart showing MMM's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $106 strike highlighted in orange: Chefs' Warehouse Inc (Symbol: CHEF) saw options trading volume of 2,155 contracts, representing approximately 215,500 underlying shares or approximately 44% of CHEF's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 489,450 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $35 strike call option expiring April 19, 2024, with 1,000 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 100,000 underlying shares of CHEF. Below is a chart showing CHEF's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $35 strike highlighted in orange: And Allstate Corp (Symbol: ALL) options are showing a volume of 6,488 contracts thus far today.

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in 3M Co (Symbol: MMM), where a total of 17,676 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 1.8 million underlying shares. Below is a chart showing MMM's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $106 strike highlighted in orange: Chefs' Warehouse Inc (Symbol: CHEF) saw options trading volume of 2,155 contracts, representing approximately 215,500 underlying shares or approximately 44% of CHEF's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 489,450 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $35 strike call option expiring April 19, 2024, with 1,000 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 100,000 underlying shares of CHEF.

Particularly high volume was seen for the $106 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 6,311 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 631,100 underlying shares of MMM. Below is a chart showing MMM's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $106 strike highlighted in orange: Chefs' Warehouse Inc (Symbol: CHEF) saw options trading volume of 2,155 contracts, representing approximately 215,500 underlying shares or approximately 44% of CHEF's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 489,450 shares. Below is a chart showing ALL's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $160 strike highlighted in orange: For the various different available expirations for MMM options, CHEF options, or ALL options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.

247120.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Notable Thursday Option Activity: BX, ASLE, SQ

ARTLW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/notable-thursday-option-activity%3A-bx-asle-sq

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Blackstone Inc (Symbol: BX), where a total volume of 22,516 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 2.3 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 55% of BX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 4.1 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $120 strike put option expiring January 19, 2024, with 1,948 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 194,800 underlying shares of BX. Below is a chart showing BX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $120 strike highlighted in orange: AerSale Corp (Symbol: ASLE) saw options trading volume of 2,652 contracts, representing approximately 265,200 underlying shares or approximately 54.6% of ASLE's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 486,105 shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $12.50 strike call option expiring February 16, 2024, with 1,160 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 116,000 underlying shares of ASLE. Below is a chart showing ASLE's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $12.50 strike highlighted in orange: And Block Inc (Symbol: SQ) options are showing a volume of 61,035 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 6.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 52.9% of SQ's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 11.5 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $85 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 3,323 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 332,300 underlying shares of SQ. Below is a chart showing SQ's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $85 strike highlighted in orange: For the various different available expirations for BX options, ASLE options, or SQ options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com. Today's Most Active Call & Put Options of the S&P 500 » Also see: • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding GMM • SAIA Average Annual Return • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding ACH The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Especially high volume was seen for the $120 strike put option expiring January 19, 2024, with 1,948 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 194,800 underlying shares of BX. Especially high volume was seen for the $12.50 strike call option expiring February 16, 2024, with 1,160 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 116,000 underlying shares of ASLE. Especially high volume was seen for the $85 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 3,323 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 332,300 underlying shares of SQ.

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Blackstone Inc (Symbol: BX), where a total volume of 22,516 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 2.3 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). Below is a chart showing BX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $120 strike highlighted in orange: AerSale Corp (Symbol: ASLE) saw options trading volume of 2,652 contracts, representing approximately 265,200 underlying shares or approximately 54.6% of ASLE's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 486,105 shares. Below is a chart showing ASLE's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $12.50 strike highlighted in orange: And Block Inc (Symbol: SQ) options are showing a volume of 61,035 contracts thus far today.

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Blackstone Inc (Symbol: BX), where a total volume of 22,516 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 2.3 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). Below is a chart showing BX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $120 strike highlighted in orange: AerSale Corp (Symbol: ASLE) saw options trading volume of 2,652 contracts, representing approximately 265,200 underlying shares or approximately 54.6% of ASLE's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 486,105 shares. That number of contracts represents approximately 6.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 52.9% of SQ's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 11.5 million shares.

Below is a chart showing BX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $120 strike highlighted in orange: AerSale Corp (Symbol: ASLE) saw options trading volume of 2,652 contracts, representing approximately 265,200 underlying shares or approximately 54.6% of ASLE's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 486,105 shares. That number of contracts represents approximately 6.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 52.9% of SQ's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 11.5 million shares. Below is a chart showing SQ's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $85 strike highlighted in orange: For the various different available expirations for BX options, ASLE options, or SQ options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.

247121.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Noteworthy Thursday Option Activity: NEXT, ROKU, LULU

ARTLW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/noteworthy-thursday-option-activity%3A-next-roku-lulu

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in NextDecade Corp (Symbol: NEXT), where a total of 11,854 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 1.2 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 77.7% of NEXT's average daily trading volume over the past month of 1.5 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $6 strike call option expiring April 19, 2024, with 5,375 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 537,500 underlying shares of NEXT. Below is a chart showing NEXT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $6 strike highlighted in orange: Roku Inc (Symbol: ROKU) saw options trading volume of 48,822 contracts, representing approximately 4.9 million underlying shares or approximately 77% of ROKU's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 6.3 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $90 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 3,907 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 390,700 underlying shares of ROKU. Below is a chart showing ROKU's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $90 strike highlighted in orange: And lululemon athletica inc (Symbol: LULU) options are showing a volume of 14,701 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 1.5 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 71.1% of LULU's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.1 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $500 strike put option expiring December 22, 2023, with 687 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 68,700 underlying shares of LULU. Below is a chart showing LULU's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $500 strike highlighted in orange: For the various different available expirations for NEXT options, ROKU options, or LULU options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com. Today's Most Active Call & Put Options of the S&P 500 » Also see: • MXE market cap history • TYME market cap history • PHM DMA The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Especially high volume was seen for the $6 strike call option expiring April 19, 2024, with 5,375 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 537,500 underlying shares of NEXT. Particularly high volume was seen for the $90 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 3,907 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 390,700 underlying shares of ROKU. Particularly high volume was seen for the $500 strike put option expiring December 22, 2023, with 687 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 68,700 underlying shares of LULU.

Below is a chart showing NEXT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $6 strike highlighted in orange: Roku Inc (Symbol: ROKU) saw options trading volume of 48,822 contracts, representing approximately 4.9 million underlying shares or approximately 77% of ROKU's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 6.3 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $90 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 3,907 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 390,700 underlying shares of ROKU. Particularly high volume was seen for the $500 strike put option expiring December 22, 2023, with 687 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 68,700 underlying shares of LULU.

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in NextDecade Corp (Symbol: NEXT), where a total of 11,854 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 1.2 million underlying shares. Below is a chart showing NEXT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $6 strike highlighted in orange: Roku Inc (Symbol: ROKU) saw options trading volume of 48,822 contracts, representing approximately 4.9 million underlying shares or approximately 77% of ROKU's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 6.3 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $90 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 3,907 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 390,700 underlying shares of ROKU.

Below is a chart showing NEXT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $6 strike highlighted in orange: Roku Inc (Symbol: ROKU) saw options trading volume of 48,822 contracts, representing approximately 4.9 million underlying shares or approximately 77% of ROKU's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 6.3 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $90 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 3,907 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 390,700 underlying shares of ROKU. Particularly high volume was seen for the $500 strike put option expiring December 22, 2023, with 687 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 68,700 underlying shares of LULU.

247122.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Noteworthy Thursday Option Activity: STNG, ENTG, BLMN

ARTLW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/noteworthy-thursday-option-activity%3A-stng-entg-blmn

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Scorpio Tankers Inc (Symbol: STNG), where a total volume of 12,886 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 1.3 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 138.8% of STNG's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 928,145 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $65 strike call option expiring January 19, 2024, with 1,276 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 127,600 underlying shares of STNG. Below is a chart showing STNG's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $65 strike highlighted in orange: Entegris Inc (Symbol: ENTG) saw options trading volume of 13,911 contracts, representing approximately 1.4 million underlying shares or approximately 106% of ENTG's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.3 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $85 strike put option expiring February 16, 2024, with 6,700 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 670,000 underlying shares of ENTG. Below is a chart showing ENTG's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $85 strike highlighted in orange: And Bloomin' Brands Inc (Symbol: BLMN) saw options trading volume of 13,180 contracts, representing approximately 1.3 million underlying shares or approximately 102.6% of BLMN's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.3 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $25 strike put option expiring January 19, 2024, with 5,026 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 502,600 underlying shares of BLMN. Below is a chart showing BLMN's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $25 strike highlighted in orange: For the various different available expirations for STNG options, ENTG options, or BLMN options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com. Today's Most Active Call & Put Options of the S&P 500 » Also see: • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding AAA • ANGH shares outstanding history • Funds Holding GMGI The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Particularly high volume was seen for the $65 strike call option expiring January 19, 2024, with 1,276 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 127,600 underlying shares of STNG. Particularly high volume was seen for the $85 strike put option expiring February 16, 2024, with 6,700 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 670,000 underlying shares of ENTG. Particularly high volume was seen for the $25 strike put option expiring January 19, 2024, with 5,026 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 502,600 underlying shares of BLMN.

Particularly high volume was seen for the $65 strike call option expiring January 19, 2024, with 1,276 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 127,600 underlying shares of STNG. Below is a chart showing STNG's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $65 strike highlighted in orange: Entegris Inc (Symbol: ENTG) saw options trading volume of 13,911 contracts, representing approximately 1.4 million underlying shares or approximately 106% of ENTG's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.3 million shares. Below is a chart showing ENTG's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $85 strike highlighted in orange: And Bloomin' Brands Inc (Symbol: BLMN) saw options trading volume of 13,180 contracts, representing approximately 1.3 million underlying shares or approximately 102.6% of BLMN's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.3 million shares.

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Scorpio Tankers Inc (Symbol: STNG), where a total volume of 12,886 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 1.3 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). Below is a chart showing STNG's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $65 strike highlighted in orange: Entegris Inc (Symbol: ENTG) saw options trading volume of 13,911 contracts, representing approximately 1.4 million underlying shares or approximately 106% of ENTG's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.3 million shares. Below is a chart showing ENTG's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $85 strike highlighted in orange: And Bloomin' Brands Inc (Symbol: BLMN) saw options trading volume of 13,180 contracts, representing approximately 1.3 million underlying shares or approximately 102.6% of BLMN's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.3 million shares.

Below is a chart showing STNG's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $65 strike highlighted in orange: Entegris Inc (Symbol: ENTG) saw options trading volume of 13,911 contracts, representing approximately 1.4 million underlying shares or approximately 106% of ENTG's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.3 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $85 strike put option expiring February 16, 2024, with 6,700 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 670,000 underlying shares of ENTG. Below is a chart showing ENTG's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $85 strike highlighted in orange: And Bloomin' Brands Inc (Symbol: BLMN) saw options trading volume of 13,180 contracts, representing approximately 1.3 million underlying shares or approximately 102.6% of BLMN's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.3 million shares.

247123.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Noteworthy Thursday Option Activity: OZK, KMX, COIN

ARTLW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/noteworthy-thursday-option-activity%3A-ozk-kmx-coin

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Bank OZK (Symbol: OZK), where a total of 19,410 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 1.9 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 154.5% of OZK's average daily trading volume over the past month of 1.3 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $45 strike put option expiring February 16, 2024, with 5,006 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 500,600 underlying shares of OZK. Below is a chart showing OZK's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $45 strike highlighted in orange: Carmax Inc. (Symbol: KMX) saw options trading volume of 32,703 contracts, representing approximately 3.3 million underlying shares or approximately 151.6% of KMX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.2 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $83 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 1,506 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 150,600 underlying shares of KMX. Below is a chart showing KMX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $83 strike highlighted in orange: And Coinbase Global Inc (Symbol: COIN) options are showing a volume of 194,958 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 19.5 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 146.3% of COIN's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 13.3 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $140 strike call option expiring January 19, 2024, with 11,797 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.2 million underlying shares of COIN. Below is a chart showing COIN's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $140 strike highlighted in orange: For the various different available expirations for OZK options, KMX options, or COIN options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com. Today's Most Active Call & Put Options of the S&P 500 » Also see: • UPW Split History • AUGX Stock Predictions • GEK Historical Stock Prices The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Particularly high volume was seen for the $45 strike put option expiring February 16, 2024, with 5,006 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 500,600 underlying shares of OZK. Especially high volume was seen for the $83 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 1,506 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 150,600 underlying shares of KMX. Especially high volume was seen for the $140 strike call option expiring January 19, 2024, with 11,797 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.2 million underlying shares of COIN.

Below is a chart showing OZK's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $45 strike highlighted in orange: Carmax Inc. (Symbol: KMX) saw options trading volume of 32,703 contracts, representing approximately 3.3 million underlying shares or approximately 151.6% of KMX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.2 million shares. Below is a chart showing KMX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $83 strike highlighted in orange: And Coinbase Global Inc (Symbol: COIN) options are showing a volume of 194,958 contracts thus far today. Especially high volume was seen for the $140 strike call option expiring January 19, 2024, with 11,797 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.2 million underlying shares of COIN.

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Bank OZK (Symbol: OZK), where a total of 19,410 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 1.9 million underlying shares. Below is a chart showing OZK's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $45 strike highlighted in orange: Carmax Inc. (Symbol: KMX) saw options trading volume of 32,703 contracts, representing approximately 3.3 million underlying shares or approximately 151.6% of KMX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.2 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $140 strike call option expiring January 19, 2024, with 11,797 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.2 million underlying shares of COIN.

Particularly high volume was seen for the $45 strike put option expiring February 16, 2024, with 5,006 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 500,600 underlying shares of OZK. Below is a chart showing OZK's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $45 strike highlighted in orange: Carmax Inc. (Symbol: KMX) saw options trading volume of 32,703 contracts, representing approximately 3.3 million underlying shares or approximately 151.6% of KMX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.2 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $140 strike call option expiring January 19, 2024, with 11,797 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.2 million underlying shares of COIN.

247124.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Noteworthy Thursday Option Activity: MP, SWBI, SPOT

ARTLW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/noteworthy-thursday-option-activity%3A-mp-swbi-spot

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in MP Materials Corp (Symbol: MP), where a total volume of 27,728 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 2.8 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 99.5% of MP's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.8 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $20 strike call option expiring January 19, 2024, with 15,633 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.6 million underlying shares of MP. Below is a chart showing MP's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $20 strike highlighted in orange: Smith & Wesson Brands Inc (Symbol: SWBI) options are showing a volume of 6,313 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 631,300 underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 92.9% of SWBI's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 679,680 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $15 strike call option expiring June 21, 2024, with 1,250 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 125,000 underlying shares of SWBI. Below is a chart showing SWBI's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $15 strike highlighted in orange: And Spotify Technology SA (Symbol: SPOT) saw options trading volume of 14,966 contracts, representing approximately 1.5 million underlying shares or approximately 80% of SPOT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.9 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $200 strike call option expiring February 02, 2024, with 1,978 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 197,800 underlying shares of SPOT. Below is a chart showing SPOT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $200 strike highlighted in orange: For the various different available expirations for MP options, SWBI options, or SPOT options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com. Today's Most Active Call & Put Options of the S&P 500 » Also see: • ACEL Stock Predictions • SWET Insider Buying • Institutional Holders of WWR The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Particularly high volume was seen for the $20 strike call option expiring January 19, 2024, with 15,633 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.6 million underlying shares of MP. Particularly high volume was seen for the $15 strike call option expiring June 21, 2024, with 1,250 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 125,000 underlying shares of SWBI. Especially high volume was seen for the $200 strike call option expiring February 02, 2024, with 1,978 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 197,800 underlying shares of SPOT.

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in MP Materials Corp (Symbol: MP), where a total volume of 27,728 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 2.8 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). Particularly high volume was seen for the $20 strike call option expiring January 19, 2024, with 15,633 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.6 million underlying shares of MP. Below is a chart showing SWBI's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $15 strike highlighted in orange: And Spotify Technology SA (Symbol: SPOT) saw options trading volume of 14,966 contracts, representing approximately 1.5 million underlying shares or approximately 80% of SPOT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.9 million shares.

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in MP Materials Corp (Symbol: MP), where a total volume of 27,728 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 2.8 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). Particularly high volume was seen for the $20 strike call option expiring January 19, 2024, with 15,633 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.6 million underlying shares of MP. Below is a chart showing SWBI's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $15 strike highlighted in orange: And Spotify Technology SA (Symbol: SPOT) saw options trading volume of 14,966 contracts, representing approximately 1.5 million underlying shares or approximately 80% of SPOT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.9 million shares.

Particularly high volume was seen for the $20 strike call option expiring January 19, 2024, with 15,633 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.6 million underlying shares of MP. Below is a chart showing SWBI's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $15 strike highlighted in orange: And Spotify Technology SA (Symbol: SPOT) saw options trading volume of 14,966 contracts, representing approximately 1.5 million underlying shares or approximately 80% of SPOT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.9 million shares. Below is a chart showing SPOT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $200 strike highlighted in orange: For the various different available expirations for MP options, SWBI options, or SPOT options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.

247125.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Notable Thursday Option Activity: BAC, MDB, WMT

ARTLW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/notable-thursday-option-activity%3A-bac-mdb-wmt

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Bank of America Corp (Symbol: BAC), where a total volume of 221,962 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 22.2 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 47.5% of BAC's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 46.7 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $23 strike put option expiring January 19, 2024, with 30,213 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 3.0 million underlying shares of BAC. Below is a chart showing BAC's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $23 strike highlighted in orange: MongoDB Inc (Symbol: MDB) options are showing a volume of 11,013 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 1.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 45.9% of MDB's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.4 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $450 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 393 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 39,300 underlying shares of MDB. Below is a chart showing MDB's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $450 strike highlighted in orange: And Walmart Inc (Symbol: WMT) options are showing a volume of 42,905 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 4.3 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 44.3% of WMT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 9.7 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $155 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 4,550 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 455,000 underlying shares of WMT. Below is a chart showing WMT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $155 strike highlighted in orange: For the various different available expirations for BAC options, MDB options, or WMT options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com. Today's Most Active Call & Put Options of the S&P 500 » Also see: • Stocks Being Sold By Hedge Funds • VRAY Options Chain • BW Average Annual Return The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Particularly high volume was seen for the $23 strike put option expiring January 19, 2024, with 30,213 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 3.0 million underlying shares of BAC. Particularly high volume was seen for the $450 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 393 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 39,300 underlying shares of MDB. Especially high volume was seen for the $155 strike call option expiring December 22, 2023, with 4,550 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 455,000 underlying shares of WMT.

Below is a chart showing BAC's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $23 strike highlighted in orange: MongoDB Inc (Symbol: MDB) options are showing a volume of 11,013 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 1.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 45.9% of MDB's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.4 million shares. That number of contracts represents approximately 4.3 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 44.3% of WMT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 9.7 million shares.

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Bank of America Corp (Symbol: BAC), where a total volume of 221,962 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 22.2 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number of contracts represents approximately 1.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 45.9% of MDB's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.4 million shares. That number of contracts represents approximately 4.3 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 44.3% of WMT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 9.7 million shares.

Particularly high volume was seen for the $23 strike put option expiring January 19, 2024, with 30,213 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 3.0 million underlying shares of BAC. That number of contracts represents approximately 4.3 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 44.3% of WMT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 9.7 million shares. Below is a chart showing WMT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $155 strike highlighted in orange: For the various different available expirations for BAC options, MDB options, or WMT options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.

1109873.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Daily Dividend Report: CUZ,FULT,WOR,DCOM,IVR

GECCM

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/daily-dividend-report%3A-cuzfultwordcomivr

Cousins Properties announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.32 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2023. The fourth quarter dividend will be payable on January 16, 2024 to common shareholders of record on January 4, 2024. Fulton Financial today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of seventeen cents per share on its common stock, payable on January 12, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2024. This is a one cent per share increase from the quarterly cash dividend that the Board declared on September 19, 2023. The Worthington Enterprises Board of Directors today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share. The dividend is payable on March 29, 2024, to shareholders of record on March 15, 2024. Worthington has paid a quarterly dividend since it became a public company in 1968. Dime Community Bancshares announced that its Board of Directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of Common Stock, payable on January 24, 2024 to common stockholders of record as of January 17, 2024. The Company continues its trend of uninterrupted dividends. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023. The dividend will be paid on January 26, 2024 to stockholders of record on December 29, 2023, with an ex-dividend date of December 28, 2023. VIDEO: Daily Dividend Report: CUZ,FULT,WOR,DCOM,IVR The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Cousins Properties announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.32 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2023. This is a one cent per share increase from the quarterly cash dividend that the Board declared on September 19, 2023. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023.

Fulton Financial today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of seventeen cents per share on its common stock, payable on January 12, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2024. Dime Community Bancshares announced that its Board of Directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of Common Stock, payable on January 24, 2024 to common stockholders of record as of January 17, 2024. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023.

Fulton Financial today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of seventeen cents per share on its common stock, payable on January 12, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2024. Dime Community Bancshares announced that its Board of Directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of Common Stock, payable on January 24, 2024 to common stockholders of record as of January 17, 2024. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023.

The fourth quarter dividend will be payable on January 16, 2024 to common shareholders of record on January 4, 2024. Fulton Financial today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of seventeen cents per share on its common stock, payable on January 12, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2024. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023.

1251484.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

DGRW, XAUG: Big ETF Outflows

HCXY

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/dgrw-xaug%3A-big-etf-outflows

Looking at units outstanding versus one week prior within the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, the biggest outflow was seen in the WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund, where 21,900,000 units were destroyed, or a 12.0% decrease week over week. Among the largest underlying components of DGRW, in morning trading today Microsoft is up about 0.3%, and Apple is up by about 0.1%. And on a percentage change basis, the ETF with the biggest outflow was the FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - August, which lost 400,000 of its units, representing a 38.1% decline in outstanding units compared to the week prior. Among the largest underlying components of XAUG, in morning trading today Proshares Ultra Semiconductors is up about 1.2%. VIDEO: DGRW, XAUG: Big ETF Outflows The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Among the largest underlying components of DGRW, in morning trading today Microsoft is up about 0.3%, and Apple is up by about 0.1%. And on a percentage change basis, the ETF with the biggest outflow was the FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - August, which lost 400,000 of its units, representing a 38.1% decline in outstanding units compared to the week prior. Among the largest underlying components of XAUG, in morning trading today Proshares Ultra Semiconductors is up about 1.2%.

Among the largest underlying components of DGRW, in morning trading today Microsoft is up about 0.3%, and Apple is up by about 0.1%. Among the largest underlying components of XAUG, in morning trading today Proshares Ultra Semiconductors is up about 1.2%. VIDEO: DGRW, XAUG: Big ETF Outflows The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Looking at units outstanding versus one week prior within the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, the biggest outflow was seen in the WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund, where 21,900,000 units were destroyed, or a 12.0% decrease week over week. And on a percentage change basis, the ETF with the biggest outflow was the FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - August, which lost 400,000 of its units, representing a 38.1% decline in outstanding units compared to the week prior. Among the largest underlying components of XAUG, in morning trading today Proshares Ultra Semiconductors is up about 1.2%.

Looking at units outstanding versus one week prior within the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, the biggest outflow was seen in the WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund, where 21,900,000 units were destroyed, or a 12.0% decrease week over week. Among the largest underlying components of DGRW, in morning trading today Microsoft is up about 0.3%, and Apple is up by about 0.1%. And on a percentage change basis, the ETF with the biggest outflow was the FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - August, which lost 400,000 of its units, representing a 38.1% decline in outstanding units compared to the week prior.

1251485.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

IWM, IWMY: Big ETF Inflows

HCXY

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/iwm-iwmy%3A-big-etf-inflows

Comparing units outstanding versus one week ago at the coverage universe of ETFs at ETF Channel, the biggest inflow was seen in the iShares Russell 2000 ETF, which added 19,600,000 units, or a 6.5% increase week over week. Among the largest underlying components of IWM, in morning trading today Super Micro Computer is off about 3.5%, and Simpson Manufacturing is up by about 1.7%. And on a percentage change basis, the ETF with the biggest increase in inflows was the IWMY ETF, which added 700,000 units, for a 39.4% increase in outstanding units. VIDEO: IWM, IWMY: Big ETF Inflows The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Among the largest underlying components of IWM, in morning trading today Super Micro Computer is off about 3.5%, and Simpson Manufacturing is up by about 1.7%. And on a percentage change basis, the ETF with the biggest increase in inflows was the IWMY ETF, which added 700,000 units, for a 39.4% increase in outstanding units. VIDEO: IWM, IWMY: Big ETF Inflows The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Comparing units outstanding versus one week ago at the coverage universe of ETFs at ETF Channel, the biggest inflow was seen in the iShares Russell 2000 ETF, which added 19,600,000 units, or a 6.5% increase week over week. And on a percentage change basis, the ETF with the biggest increase in inflows was the IWMY ETF, which added 700,000 units, for a 39.4% increase in outstanding units. VIDEO: IWM, IWMY: Big ETF Inflows The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Comparing units outstanding versus one week ago at the coverage universe of ETFs at ETF Channel, the biggest inflow was seen in the iShares Russell 2000 ETF, which added 19,600,000 units, or a 6.5% increase week over week. And on a percentage change basis, the ETF with the biggest increase in inflows was the IWMY ETF, which added 700,000 units, for a 39.4% increase in outstanding units. VIDEO: IWM, IWMY: Big ETF Inflows The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Comparing units outstanding versus one week ago at the coverage universe of ETFs at ETF Channel, the biggest inflow was seen in the iShares Russell 2000 ETF, which added 19,600,000 units, or a 6.5% increase week over week. Among the largest underlying components of IWM, in morning trading today Super Micro Computer is off about 3.5%, and Simpson Manufacturing is up by about 1.7%. And on a percentage change basis, the ETF with the biggest increase in inflows was the IWMY ETF, which added 700,000 units, for a 39.4% increase in outstanding units.

1251486.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

3 Stocks That Could Make You Rich in 2024 and Beyond

HCXY

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/3-stocks-that-could-make-you-rich-in-2024-and-beyond

In this video, I will go over my top three stocks to buy for 2024. I believe each of these companies will perform well over the long term and has free cash flow that could provide investors with a margin of safety in case a recession hits. *Stock prices used were from the trading day of Dec. 21, 2023. The video was published on Dec. 22, 2023. Should you invest $1,000 in PayPal right now? Before you buy stock in PayPal, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and PayPal wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Neil Rozenbaum has positions in Amazon, PayPal, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, PayPal, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short December 2023 $67.50 puts on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Neil is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

I believe each of these companies will perform well over the long term and has free cash flow that could provide investors with a margin of safety in case a recession hits. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel.

Before you buy stock in PayPal, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and PayPal wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, PayPal, and Tesla.

Before you buy stock in PayPal, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and PayPal wasn't one of them. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors.

Before you buy stock in PayPal, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and PayPal wasn't one of them. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, PayPal, and Tesla.

1541621.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

3 Stock-Split Stocks With 51% to 128% Upside in 2024, According to Select Wall Street Analysts

NEWTL

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/3-stock-split-stocks-with-51-to-128-upside-in-2024-according-to-select-wall-street

Investing on Wall Street can sometimes feel like a roller-coaster ride. Over the past four years, the stock market's three major indexes have vacillated between bear and bull markets with each passing year. Although volatility is inherent on Wall Street, wild swings often encourage investors to seek out the safety of companies that offer a history of outperformance. For the past decade, the FAANG stocks are a good example of a group of companies that have excelled. But over the past two years and change, it's businesses enacting splits that have garnered the attention of investors. Image source: Getty Images. A stock-split is an event that allows a publicly traded company to alter its share price and outstanding share count by the same magnitude, without having any impact on its market cap or daily operations. A forward-stock split is used to make shares of a company more nominally affordable for everyday investors, while a reverse-stock split increases a company's share price to ensure it meets the minimum listing requirements of a major stock exchange. Most investors -- and this includes Wall Street professionals -- are honed in on forward-stock splits. Since July 2021, nine high-profile outperformers have conducted forward splits: Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA): 4-for-1 split Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN): 20-for-1 split DexCom (NASDAQ: DXCM): 4-for-1 split Shopify (NYSE: SHOP): 10-for-1 split Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL)(NASDAQ: GOOG): 20-for-1 split Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA): 3-for-1 split Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW): 3-for-1 split Monster Beverage (NASDAQ: MNST): 2-for-1 split Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO): 2-for-1 split Among these nine stock-split stocks are three highfliers that a select group of Wall Street analysts believe offer upside of as much as 128% upside in 2024. Nvidia: Implied upside of 128% The stock-split stock with the greatest upside potential in the new year, according to one Wall Street analyst, is semiconductor company Nvidia. Analyst Hans Mosesmann of Rosenblatt Securities has a lofty $1,100 price target on shares of Nvidia. Based on its closing price of $483.50 on Dec. 14, this represents a potential gain to shareholders of 128% in 2024. Mosesmann's optimism for the top-performing megacap stock of 2023 has to do with its role as the infrastructure backbone of the artificial intelligence (AI) movement. Nvidia's A100 and H100 graphics processing units (GPUs) account for between 80% and 90% of the share of GPUs currently deployed in high-compute data centers. With chip fabrication company Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing looking to potentially double its chip of wafer on substrate capacity over the next year, the expectation is that Nvidia's ability to meet strong demand for its A100 and H100 chips will improve. More units to sell should increase Nvidia's sales and profits next year. However, there's another side to this story. More specifically, Nvidia's doubling sales in its current fiscal year is almost exclusively the result of exceptional pricing power caused by AI-GPU scarcity. As it increases its own production, and new competitors enter the arena -- Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) and Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) -- there's a good likelihood that Nvidia's pricing power and gross margin will take a hit. AMD introduced its MI300X GPU for AI-accelerated data centers in June, but expects to ramp up production in 2024. Meanwhile, Intel intends to bring its Falcon Shores GPU to market in 2025, which will be a direct competitor to Nvidia. Things may be as good as they're going to get for Nvidia. The last thing to note about next-big-thing investments is that they have a strong tendency to form early stage bubbles. Investors have overestimated the demand or uptake of every major trend for the past three decades, and I doubt AI is going to be the exception. This makes reaching Mosesmann's $1,100 price target for Nvidia highly unlikely. Amazon: Implied upside of 56% A second stock-split stock with incredible upside in 2024, based on the price target of at least one bullish Wall Street analyst, is e-commerce giant Amazon. According to analyst Alex Haissl of Redburn Atlantic, Amazon's stock can hit $230 per share. If Haissl proves accurate, shareholders would enjoy upside of 56% in the new year. The biggest knock against Amazon is that its top revenue segment is cyclical. It generates most of its sales from its world-leading online marketplace. If economic growth slows or a recession takes shape domestically or abroad, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Amazon's online revenue decline. But here's the thing about Amazon: Its e-commerce segment isn't all that important to its cash flow generation or profitability. Rather, a trio of ancillary segments are what will power the company forward. No segment is more critical to Amazon's success than Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS accounted for 31% of global cloud infrastructure services spend, as of the September-ended quarter. Not only is enterprise cloud spending still in its early innings, but cloud-service margins run circles around razor-thin online retail sales margins. Despite accounting for around a sixth of Amazon's net sales, AWS is responsible for the bulk of the company's operating income. Subscription services is another key division for Amazon. Back in April 2021, then-CEO Jeff Bezos noted that more than 200 million people had signed up for a Prime subscription. These subscriptions keep users loyal to Amazon's ecosystem of products and services, as well as generate predictable cash flow. The third ancillary segment of interest is advertising services. With Amazon attracting more than 2 billion unique visitors to its website each month, it's no surprise that advertisers will pay a premium to get their message in front of potentially motivated shoppers. Amazon remains historically cheap relative to its future cash flow potential. Deliveries of the Cybertruck began in late November. Image source: Tesla. Tesla: Implied upside of 51% The third stock-split stock offering mouthwatering upside in 2024, based on the prognostication of one Wall Street analyst, is electric-vehicle (EV) maker Tesla. Analyst Adam Jonas at Morgan Stanley, who has a history of placing lofty price targets on Tesla's stock, expects shares to reach $380. Should Jonas's forecast be reached, Tesla's shares would appreciate by 51% in the new year. The most front-and-center catalyst for Tesla is the ongoing rollout of its Cybertruck. Deliveries of the company's fifth production model (3, S, X, and Y being the other four) began at the end of November. What'll be of interest is whether refundable cash deposits for Cybertruck, which previously topped 1 million, according to CEO Elon Musk, translate into actual orders. Additionally, Tesla is the only pure-play EV maker that's generating a recurring profit on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). While legacy automakers are profitable as a whole, their EV divisions are bleeding red. Tesla's first-mover advantages, coupled with its recuring GAAP profits, have made it a popular stock to own. But like Nvidia, Tesla has a number of challenges that lie ahead, which have the potential to lead to a breakdown. For starters, the company initiated a price war with its competitors earlier this year, which is wreaking havoc on its margins. Tesla has slashed the sales price on its four production models (i.e., not counting Cybertruck), leading to a more-than-halving of its operating margin over the trailing-12-month period (17.2% to 7.6%). According to Musk, his company's pricing strategy is dictated by demand. With Tesla reducing the sales price of its production models on more than a half-dozen occasions, it signals that both demand is down and inventory levels are rising. Another issue for Tesla is its CEO. Aside from drawing the ire of securities regulators on a couple of occasions, Musk has a habit of overpromising and underdelivering when it comes to new vehicles and innovations. Tesla's market cap has a number of promised innovations baked in, but many of these promises have, thus far, gone unfulfilled. Lastly, Tesla's valuation is already otherworldly. Whereas most automakers trade at price-to-earnings ratios of 6 to 8, Tesla's forward-year earnings multiple is 71. Reaching Jonas's price target in 2024 looks virtually impossible. Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now? Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nvidia wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Sean Williams has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, and Intel. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Monster Beverage, Nvidia, Palo Alto Networks, Shopify, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends DexCom, Intel, and Novo Nordisk and recommends the following options: long January 2023 $57.50 calls on Intel, long January 2025 $45 calls on Intel, and short February 2024 $47 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

More specifically, Nvidia's doubling sales in its current fiscal year is almost exclusively the result of exceptional pricing power caused by AI-GPU scarcity. With Amazon attracting more than 2 billion unique visitors to its website each month, it's no surprise that advertisers will pay a premium to get their message in front of potentially motivated shoppers. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Monster Beverage, Nvidia, Palo Alto Networks, Shopify, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tesla.

Since July 2021, nine high-profile outperformers have conducted forward splits: Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA): 4-for-1 split Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN): 20-for-1 split DexCom (NASDAQ: DXCM): 4-for-1 split Shopify (NYSE: SHOP): 10-for-1 split Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL)(NASDAQ: GOOG): 20-for-1 split Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA): 3-for-1 split Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW): 3-for-1 split Monster Beverage (NASDAQ: MNST): 2-for-1 split Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO): 2-for-1 split Among these nine stock-split stocks are three highfliers that a select group of Wall Street analysts believe offer upside of as much as 128% upside in 2024. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Monster Beverage, Nvidia, Palo Alto Networks, Shopify, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends DexCom, Intel, and Novo Nordisk and recommends the following options: long January 2023 $57.50 calls on Intel, long January 2025 $45 calls on Intel, and short February 2024 $47 calls on Intel.

Since July 2021, nine high-profile outperformers have conducted forward splits: Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA): 4-for-1 split Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN): 20-for-1 split DexCom (NASDAQ: DXCM): 4-for-1 split Shopify (NYSE: SHOP): 10-for-1 split Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL)(NASDAQ: GOOG): 20-for-1 split Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA): 3-for-1 split Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW): 3-for-1 split Monster Beverage (NASDAQ: MNST): 2-for-1 split Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO): 2-for-1 split Among these nine stock-split stocks are three highfliers that a select group of Wall Street analysts believe offer upside of as much as 128% upside in 2024. Nvidia: Implied upside of 128% The stock-split stock with the greatest upside potential in the new year, according to one Wall Street analyst, is semiconductor company Nvidia. Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nvidia wasn't one of them.

Nvidia: Implied upside of 128% The stock-split stock with the greatest upside potential in the new year, according to one Wall Street analyst, is semiconductor company Nvidia. Amazon: Implied upside of 56% A second stock-split stock with incredible upside in 2024, based on the price target of at least one bullish Wall Street analyst, is e-commerce giant Amazon. Tesla has slashed the sales price on its four production models (i.e., not counting Cybertruck), leading to a more-than-halving of its operating margin over the trailing-12-month period (17.2% to 7.6%).

1797807.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Monday Sector Leaders: Energy, Consumer Products

PMAY

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/monday-sector-leaders%3A-energy-consumer-products-0

Looking at the sectors faring best as of midday Monday, shares of Energy companies are outperforming other sectors, higher by 1.2%. Within the sector, Valero Energy Corp (Symbol: VLO) and Diamondback Energy, Inc. (Symbol: FANG) are two large stocks leading the way, showing a gain of 2.4% and 2.1%, respectively. Among energy ETFs, one ETF following the sector is the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLE), which is up 0.2% on the day, and up 2.69% year-to-date. Valero Energy Corp, meanwhile, is up 13.12% year-to-date, and Diamondback Energy, Inc. is up 25.06% year-to-date. Combined, VLO and FANG make up approximately 5.6% of the underlying holdings of XLE. The next best performing sector is the Consumer Products sector, up 0.5%. Among large Consumer Products stocks, Hasbro, Inc. (Symbol: HAS) and Johnson Controls International plc (Symbol: JCI) are the most notable, showing a gain of 3.6% and 2.9%, respectively. One ETF closely tracking Consumer Products stocks is the iShares U.S. Consumer Goods ETF (IYK), which is up 1.1% in midday trading, and down 3.07% on a year-to-date basis. Hasbro, Inc., meanwhile, is down 11.20% year-to-date, and Johnson Controls International plc, is down 14.40% year-to-date. Comparing these stocks and ETFs on a trailing twelve month basis, below is a relative stock price performance chart, with each of the symbols shown in a different color as labeled in the legend at the bottom: Here's a snapshot of how the S&P 500 components within the various sectors are faring in afternoon trading on Monday. As you can see, six sectors are up on the day, while two sectors are down. SECTOR % CHANGE Energy +1.2% Consumer Products +0.5% Services +0.3% Technology & Communications +0.2% Industrial +0.2% Healthcare +0.1% Materials 0.0% Utilities -0.1% Financial -0.1% 10 ETFs With Stocks That Insiders Are Buying » Also see: • IGN shares outstanding history • Funds Holding FGRO • CSX DMA The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Combined, VLO and FANG make up approximately 5.6% of the underlying holdings of XLE. Comparing these stocks and ETFs on a trailing twelve month basis, below is a relative stock price performance chart, with each of the symbols shown in a different color as labeled in the legend at the bottom: Here's a snapshot of how the S&P 500 components within the various sectors are faring in afternoon trading on Monday. Energy +1.2% Consumer Products +0.5% Services +0.3% Technology & Communications +0.2% Industrial +0.2% Healthcare +0.1% Materials 0.0% Utilities -0.1% Financial -0.1% 10 ETFs With Stocks That Insiders Are Buying » Also see: • IGN shares outstanding history • Funds Holding FGRO

Within the sector, Valero Energy Corp (Symbol: VLO) and Diamondback Energy, Inc. (Symbol: FANG) are two large stocks leading the way, showing a gain of 2.4% and 2.1%, respectively. Among energy ETFs, one ETF following the sector is the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLE), which is up 0.2% on the day, and up 2.69% year-to-date. Among large Consumer Products stocks, Hasbro, Inc. (Symbol: HAS) and Johnson Controls International plc (Symbol: JCI) are the most notable, showing a gain of 3.6% and 2.9%, respectively.

Within the sector, Valero Energy Corp (Symbol: VLO) and Diamondback Energy, Inc. (Symbol: FANG) are two large stocks leading the way, showing a gain of 2.4% and 2.1%, respectively. Among energy ETFs, one ETF following the sector is the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLE), which is up 0.2% on the day, and up 2.69% year-to-date. Comparing these stocks and ETFs on a trailing twelve month basis, below is a relative stock price performance chart, with each of the symbols shown in a different color as labeled in the legend at the bottom: Here's a snapshot of how the S&P 500 components within the various sectors are faring in afternoon trading on Monday.

Within the sector, Valero Energy Corp (Symbol: VLO) and Diamondback Energy, Inc. (Symbol: FANG) are two large stocks leading the way, showing a gain of 2.4% and 2.1%, respectively. Among energy ETFs, one ETF following the sector is the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLE), which is up 0.2% on the day, and up 2.69% year-to-date. The next best performing sector is the Consumer Products sector, up 0.5%.

1797808.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Monday Sector Laggards: Utilities, Financial

PMAY

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/monday-sector-laggards%3A-utilities-financial-3

In afternoon trading on Monday, Utilities stocks are the worst performing sector, showing a 0.1% loss. Within the sector, Exelon Corp (Symbol: EXC) and PG&E Corp (Symbol: PCG) are two of the day's laggards, showing a loss of 3.3% and 2.2%, respectively. Among utilities ETFs, one ETF following the sector is the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLU), which is down 0.9% on the day, and down 7.90% year-to-date. Exelon Corp, meanwhile, is down 17.15% year-to-date, and PG&E Corp is up 10.75% year-to-date. Combined, EXC and PCG make up approximately 7.6% of the underlying holdings of XLU. The next worst performing sector is the Financial sector, showing a 0.1% loss. Among large Financial stocks, M & T Bank Corp (Symbol: MTB) and Blackrock Inc (Symbol: BLK) are the most notable, showing a loss of 2.6% and 2.4%, respectively. One ETF closely tracking Financial stocks is the Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF), which is down 0.2% in midday trading, and up 9.95% on a year-to-date basis. M & T Bank Corp, meanwhile, is down 0.55% year-to-date, and Blackrock Inc is up 15.04% year-to-date. Combined, MTB and BLK make up approximately 2.7% of the underlying holdings of XLF. Comparing these stocks and ETFs on a trailing twelve month basis, below is a relative stock price performance chart, with each of the symbols shown in a different color as labeled in the legend at the bottom: Here's a snapshot of how the S&P 500 components within the various sectors are faring in afternoon trading on Monday. As you can see, six sectors are up on the day, while two sectors are down. SECTOR % CHANGE Energy +1.2% Consumer Products +0.5% Services +0.3% Technology & Communications +0.2% Industrial +0.2% Healthcare +0.1% Materials 0.0% Utilities -0.1% Financial -0.1% 25 Dividend Giants Widely Held By ETFs » Also see: • Funds Holding NEWM • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding TAXI • Funds Holding BARK The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In afternoon trading on Monday, Utilities stocks are the worst performing sector, showing a 0.1% loss. Comparing these stocks and ETFs on a trailing twelve month basis, below is a relative stock price performance chart, with each of the symbols shown in a different color as labeled in the legend at the bottom: Here's a snapshot of how the S&P 500 components within the various sectors are faring in afternoon trading on Monday. Energy +1.2% Consumer Products +0.5% Services +0.3% Technology & Communications +0.2% Industrial +0.2% Healthcare +0.1% Materials 0.0% Utilities -0.1% Financial -0.1% 25 Dividend Giants Widely Held By ETFs » Also see: • Funds Holding NEWM • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding TAXI • Funds Holding BARK The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In afternoon trading on Monday, Utilities stocks are the worst performing sector, showing a 0.1% loss. Within the sector, Exelon Corp (Symbol: EXC) and PG&E Corp (Symbol: PCG) are two of the day's laggards, showing a loss of 3.3% and 2.2%, respectively. Among utilities ETFs, one ETF following the sector is the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLU), which is down 0.9% on the day, and down 7.90% year-to-date.

Within the sector, Exelon Corp (Symbol: EXC) and PG&E Corp (Symbol: PCG) are two of the day's laggards, showing a loss of 3.3% and 2.2%, respectively. Among utilities ETFs, one ETF following the sector is the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLU), which is down 0.9% on the day, and down 7.90% year-to-date. One ETF closely tracking Financial stocks is the Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF), which is down 0.2% in midday trading, and up 9.95% on a year-to-date basis.

Within the sector, Exelon Corp (Symbol: EXC) and PG&E Corp (Symbol: PCG) are two of the day's laggards, showing a loss of 3.3% and 2.2%, respectively. Among utilities ETFs, one ETF following the sector is the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLU), which is down 0.9% on the day, and down 7.90% year-to-date. Among large Financial stocks, M & T Bank Corp (Symbol: MTB) and Blackrock Inc (Symbol: BLK) are the most notable, showing a loss of 2.6% and 2.4%, respectively.

1901884.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

2 Stocks I'm Going to Buy Before 2024

RILYG

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/2-stocks-im-going-to-buy-before-2024

We're approaching the end of 2023, and the last few months have been very good for the stock market as a whole. However, Fool.com contributors Matt Frankel, CFP®, and Tyler Crowe still see massive opportunities in certain areas of the market and share two of them in this video. *Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of Dec. 14, 2023. The video was published on Dec. 15, 2023. Should you invest $1,000 in Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF right now? Before you buy stock in Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Matthew Frankel, CFP® has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Tyler Crowe has positions in Investors Title and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Investors Title and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Matthew Frankel is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

However, Fool.com contributors Matt Frankel, CFP®, and Tyler Crowe still see massive opportunities in certain areas of the market and share two of them in this video. Tyler Crowe has positions in Investors Title and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Investors Title and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF.

Before you buy stock in Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF wasn't one of them. Tyler Crowe has positions in Investors Title and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Investors Title and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF.

Before you buy stock in Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Matthew Frankel, CFP® has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Investors Title and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF.

However, Fool.com contributors Matt Frankel, CFP®, and Tyler Crowe still see massive opportunities in certain areas of the market and share two of them in this video. Before you buy stock in Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF wasn't one of them. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

1902205.0

2023-12-16 23:28:00 UTC

Consumer Sector Update for 12/19/2023: CONN, MAMA, CHDN, XLP, XLY

RILYO

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/consumer-sector-update-for-12-19-2023%3A-conn-mama-chdn-xlp-xly

Consumer stocks were edging higher pre-bell Tuesday with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) gaining 0.1% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) recently advancing by 0.3%. Conn's (CONN) was down more than 1% after it reported a Q3 adjusted net loss of $2.03 per diluted share, compared with $0.78 a year earlier. Two analysts polled by Capital IQ expected a loss of $1.46. Mama's Creations (MAMA) said it has begun an underwritten secondary offering of almost 5.63 million shares. Mama's Creations was over 2% higher in recent premarket activity. Churchill Downs (CHDN) said it has agreed to repurchase 1 million of its shares for $123.75 per share for a total of about $123.8 million in a privately negotiated deal with an affiliate of the Duchossois Group. Churchill Downs was slightly lower pre-bell. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Consumer stocks were edging higher pre-bell Tuesday with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) gaining 0.1% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) recently advancing by 0.3%. Mama's Creations was over 2% higher in recent premarket activity. Churchill Downs (CHDN) said it has agreed to repurchase 1 million of its shares for $123.75 per share for a total of about $123.8 million in a privately negotiated deal with an affiliate of the Duchossois Group.

Consumer stocks were edging higher pre-bell Tuesday with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) gaining 0.1% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) recently advancing by 0.3%. Mama's Creations (MAMA) said it has begun an underwritten secondary offering of almost 5.63 million shares. Mama's Creations was over 2% higher in recent premarket activity.

Consumer stocks were edging higher pre-bell Tuesday with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) gaining 0.1% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) recently advancing by 0.3%. Mama's Creations (MAMA) said it has begun an underwritten secondary offering of almost 5.63 million shares. Churchill Downs (CHDN) said it has agreed to repurchase 1 million of its shares for $123.75 per share for a total of about $123.8 million in a privately negotiated deal with an affiliate of the Duchossois Group.

Consumer stocks were edging higher pre-bell Tuesday with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) gaining 0.1% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) recently advancing by 0.3%. Mama's Creations (MAMA) said it has begun an underwritten secondary offering of almost 5.63 million shares. Churchill Downs (CHDN) said it has agreed to repurchase 1 million of its shares for $123.75 per share for a total of about $123.8 million in a privately negotiated deal with an affiliate of the Duchossois Group.

125877.0

2023-12-16 23:29:00 UTC

Wednesday's ETF Movers: EES, EMGF

AKO-A

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/wednesdays-etf-movers%3A-ees-emgf

In trading on Wednesday, the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Fund ETF is outperforming other ETFs, up about 1.2% on the day. Components of that ETF showing particular strength include shares of System1, up about 28.5% and shares of Oportun Financial, up about 13.9% on the day. And underperforming other ETFs today is the iShares Emerging Markets Equity Factor ETF, down about 5.3% in Wednesday afternoon trading. Among components of that ETF with the weakest showing on Wednesday were shares of Lufax Holding, lower by about 3.3%, and shares of KE Holdings, lower by about 2.1% on the day. VIDEO: Wednesday's ETF Movers: EES, EMGF The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

And underperforming other ETFs today is the iShares Emerging Markets Equity Factor ETF, down about 5.3% in Wednesday afternoon trading. Among components of that ETF with the weakest showing on Wednesday were shares of Lufax Holding, lower by about 3.3%, and shares of KE Holdings, lower by about 2.1% on the day. VIDEO: Wednesday's ETF Movers: EES, EMGF The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Components of that ETF showing particular strength include shares of System1, up about 28.5% and shares of Oportun Financial, up about 13.9% on the day. Among components of that ETF with the weakest showing on Wednesday were shares of Lufax Holding, lower by about 3.3%, and shares of KE Holdings, lower by about 2.1% on the day. VIDEO: Wednesday's ETF Movers: EES, EMGF The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Fund ETF is outperforming other ETFs, up about 1.2% on the day. And underperforming other ETFs today is the iShares Emerging Markets Equity Factor ETF, down about 5.3% in Wednesday afternoon trading. Among components of that ETF with the weakest showing on Wednesday were shares of Lufax Holding, lower by about 3.3%, and shares of KE Holdings, lower by about 2.1% on the day.

In trading on Wednesday, the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Fund ETF is outperforming other ETFs, up about 1.2% on the day. Components of that ETF showing particular strength include shares of System1, up about 28.5% and shares of Oportun Financial, up about 13.9% on the day. And underperforming other ETFs today is the iShares Emerging Markets Equity Factor ETF, down about 5.3% in Wednesday afternoon trading.

247117.0

2023-12-16 23:29:00 UTC

GM, Ford vehicles to lose US EV tax credits Jan. 1

ARTLW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/gm-ford-vehicles-to-lose-us-ev-tax-credits-jan.-1

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - General Motors GM.N said Thursday it expects its Cadillac Lyriq and Chevrolet Blazer EV will temporarily lose eligibility for a U.S. electric vehicle tax credit starting Jan. 1. GM said on Jan. 1 only its Chevrolet Bolt EV will be eligible for the consumer EV tax credit. Ford Motor said its E-Transit will lose the $3,750 tax credit on Jan. 1, as will the Mach-E and Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring plug-in hybrid, but its F-150 EV Lighting will keep the $7,500 credit and the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring will retain a $3,750 credit. GM said the two vehicles are losing the credit because of two minor components, and added it has pulled ahead sourcing plans for qualifying components in early 2024. GM said it expects the Lyriq and Blazer EV will regain eligibility in early 2024. GM said it also expects EVs Chevrolet Equinox EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV and Cadillac OPTIQ produced "after the sourcing change will be eligible for the full incentive." The U.S. Treasury issued guidelines this month detailing new battery sourcing restrictions that take effect Jan. 1 and aimed at weaning the U.S. electric vehicle supply chain away from China. GM said, "Treasury proposed strict rules disqualifying all EVs with certain foreign battery content including low-value components, which effectively means most EVs will not be eligible beginning on January 1." Tesla's TSLA.O Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive and Long Range vehicles will also lose federal tax credits starting Jan. 1, the automaker said last week. (Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis) ((David.Shepardson@thomsonreuters.com; 2028988324;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - General Motors GM.N said Thursday it expects its Cadillac Lyriq and Chevrolet Blazer EV will temporarily lose eligibility for a U.S. electric vehicle tax credit starting Jan. 1. The U.S. Treasury issued guidelines this month detailing new battery sourcing restrictions that take effect Jan. 1 and aimed at weaning the U.S. electric vehicle supply chain away from China. Tesla's TSLA.O Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive and Long Range vehicles will also lose federal tax credits starting Jan. 1, the automaker said last week.

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - General Motors GM.N said Thursday it expects its Cadillac Lyriq and Chevrolet Blazer EV will temporarily lose eligibility for a U.S. electric vehicle tax credit starting Jan. 1. GM said it expects the Lyriq and Blazer EV will regain eligibility in early 2024. GM said it also expects EVs Chevrolet Equinox EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV and Cadillac OPTIQ produced "after the sourcing change will be eligible for the full incentive."

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - General Motors GM.N said Thursday it expects its Cadillac Lyriq and Chevrolet Blazer EV will temporarily lose eligibility for a U.S. electric vehicle tax credit starting Jan. 1. Ford Motor said its E-Transit will lose the $3,750 tax credit on Jan. 1, as will the Mach-E and Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring plug-in hybrid, but its F-150 EV Lighting will keep the $7,500 credit and the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring will retain a $3,750 credit. GM said it also expects EVs Chevrolet Equinox EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV and Cadillac OPTIQ produced "after the sourcing change will be eligible for the full incentive."

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - General Motors GM.N said Thursday it expects its Cadillac Lyriq and Chevrolet Blazer EV will temporarily lose eligibility for a U.S. electric vehicle tax credit starting Jan. 1. GM said it expects the Lyriq and Blazer EV will regain eligibility in early 2024. GM said, "Treasury proposed strict rules disqualifying all EVs with certain foreign battery content including low-value components, which effectively means most EVs will not be eligible beginning on January 1."

335238.0

2023-12-16 23:29:00 UTC

3 Beaten-Down Dow Stocks to Buy Before They Pop

BHFAL

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/3-beaten-down-dow-stocks-to-buy-before-they-pop-0

A new year is approaching, and that means investors are about to start hearing a lot more about dogs. That's because of the popular investing strategy called "the Dogs of the Dow," which focuses on buying the 10 Dow Jones Industrial Average components that have the highest yields. Because share prices and dividend yields generally move in opposite directions (absent a large change to a company's payout), the blue-chip stocks with the highest yields will likely have performed poorly in the past calendar year and could be trading at attractive valuations. But we don't have to wait until the official end of 2023 to search for values in the Dow, whether they count as "dogs" or not. We can already see some good reasons to buy Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), and Nike (NYSE: NKE) for 2024 and beyond. Let's find out a bit more about these three beaten-down Dow stocks. 1. Procter & Gamble Procter & Gamble's 5% year-to-date stock price decline through mid-December was weak enough to make it the seventh-worst-performing stock on the Dow in 2023. That's as compared to the index's 12% rally over the same time. That sell-off was not enough to earn P&G a spot on the Dogs of the Dow list -- its yield is just 2.6%. However, it still seems overdone given the consumer staples giant's strong operating and financial momentum. Organic sales were up 7% in its fiscal 2024 Q1 (which ended Sept. 30), putting P&G on track to hit the high end of management's fiscal year growth outlook. Revenue should rise by about 5% this fiscal year after expanding by 7% in fiscal 2023. On the downside, P&G is struggling to boost organic sales volumes, and so it has had to rely entirely on rising prices to boost overall revenue. Yet a return to growth on this metric, along with the stock's 2.6% dividend yield, would power solid returns from here for patient investors. 2. Coca-Cola Coke's stock slump in 2023 just doesn't make sense. The beverage titan is winning market share, boosting sales, and generating sparkling profits. Yet the stock has dropped 7% through mid-December, making it the fifth-worst performer on the index. Investors shouldn't waste time trying to find a good reason for Coke's share price decline, but instead should consider capitalizing on it. You can own this Dividend King for less than 6 times annual sales, down from a 2023 high valuation of closer to 7 times sales. Coke has only been valued this cheaply a handful of times over the past decade. The stock's yield at its current share price is over 3% today, putting Coke in the top 10 on the Dow by that metric. There are plenty of resources behind that dividend payment. Coke's profit margin is a blazing 30% of sales or roughly double Pepsico's rate. 3. Nike Nike's position in the footwear industry has made it an unpopular choice among investors in 2023. Shares have gained just 4% this year, which makes it the 12th worst performer on the index. That weak outing makes sense because its retail niche has been shrinking and is becoming more price-competitive. Retailers like Foot Locker have seen their profit margins dive due to aggressive price cuts by rivals. Yet Nike's exposure to this problem is limited. It has done a great job slashing inventory in recent quarters, easing pricing pressure on the business. And Nike's focus on innovation provides another lift. Pre-tax earnings last quarter slipped only slightly, falling to 13% from 15% in the prior-year period. Investors can find faster-growing, more profitable stocks in this niche. Lululemon Athletica is a prime example. But with Nike, you get a lower valuation, plus a modest dividend that yields 1.2% and that is likely to rise for many years to come. Should you invest $1,000 in Nike right now? Before you buy stock in Nike, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nike wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Demitri Kalogeropoulos has positions in Nike. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Lululemon Athletica and Nike. The Motley Fool recommends Foot Locker and recommends the following options: long January 2024 $47.50 calls on Coca-Cola and long January 2025 $47.50 calls on Nike. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Investors shouldn't waste time trying to find a good reason for Coke's share price decline, but instead should consider capitalizing on it. The stock's yield at its current share price is over 3% today, putting Coke in the top 10 on the Dow by that metric. Retailers like Foot Locker have seen their profit margins dive due to aggressive price cuts by rivals.

We can already see some good reasons to buy Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), and Nike (NYSE: NKE) for 2024 and beyond. Procter & Gamble Procter & Gamble's 5% year-to-date stock price decline through mid-December was weak enough to make it the seventh-worst-performing stock on the Dow in 2023. The Motley Fool recommends Foot Locker and recommends the following options: long January 2024 $47.50 calls on Coca-Cola and long January 2025 $47.50 calls on Nike.

Because share prices and dividend yields generally move in opposite directions (absent a large change to a company's payout), the blue-chip stocks with the highest yields will likely have performed poorly in the past calendar year and could be trading at attractive valuations. Procter & Gamble Procter & Gamble's 5% year-to-date stock price decline through mid-December was weak enough to make it the seventh-worst-performing stock on the Dow in 2023. Before you buy stock in Nike, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nike wasn't one of them.

Investors shouldn't waste time trying to find a good reason for Coke's share price decline, but instead should consider capitalizing on it. Should you invest $1,000 in Nike right now? Before you buy stock in Nike, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nike wasn't one of them.

1109871.0

2023-12-16 23:29:00 UTC

Wednesday Sector Leaders: Paper & Forest Products, Auto Parts

GECCM

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/wednesday-sector-leaders%3A-paper-forest-products-auto-parts

In trading on Wednesday, paper & forest products shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 2.4%. Leading the group were shares of Glatfelter, up about 9.2% and shares of Mativ up about 4.4% on the day. Also showing relative strength are auto parts shares, up on the day by about 2% as a group, led by Hyliion Holdings, trading up by about 25.9% and Strattec Security, trading higher by about 9.3% on Wednesday. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Leaders: Paper & Forest Products, Auto Parts The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, paper & forest products shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 2.4%. Also showing relative strength are auto parts shares, up on the day by about 2% as a group, led by Hyliion Holdings, trading up by about 25.9% and Strattec Security, trading higher by about 9.3% on Wednesday. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Leaders: Paper & Forest Products, Auto Parts The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, paper & forest products shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 2.4%. Also showing relative strength are auto parts shares, up on the day by about 2% as a group, led by Hyliion Holdings, trading up by about 25.9% and Strattec Security, trading higher by about 9.3% on Wednesday. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Leaders: Paper & Forest Products, Auto Parts The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, paper & forest products shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 2.4%. Also showing relative strength are auto parts shares, up on the day by about 2% as a group, led by Hyliion Holdings, trading up by about 25.9% and Strattec Security, trading higher by about 9.3% on Wednesday. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Leaders: Paper & Forest Products, Auto Parts The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, paper & forest products shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 2.4%. Leading the group were shares of Glatfelter, up about 9.2% and shares of Mativ up about 4.4% on the day. Also showing relative strength are auto parts shares, up on the day by about 2% as a group, led by Hyliion Holdings, trading up by about 25.9% and Strattec Security, trading higher by about 9.3% on Wednesday.

1109872.0

2023-12-16 23:29:00 UTC

Wednesday Sector Laggards: Aerospace & Defense, Music & Electronics Stores

GECCM

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/wednesday-sector-laggards%3A-aerospace-defense-music-electronics-stores

In trading on Wednesday, aerospace & defense shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.6%. Helping drag down the group were shares of Virgin Galactic Holdings, down about 4.7% and shares of AerSale down about 3.1% on the day. Also lagging the market Wednesday are music & electronics stores shares, down on the day by about 0.5% as a group, led down by Conns, trading lower by about 2.1% and Vertiv Holdings, trading lower by about 1.3%. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Laggards: Aerospace & Defense, Music & Electronics Stores The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, aerospace & defense shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.6%. Also lagging the market Wednesday are music & electronics stores shares, down on the day by about 0.5% as a group, led down by Conns, trading lower by about 2.1% and Vertiv Holdings, trading lower by about 1.3%. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Laggards: Aerospace & Defense, Music & Electronics Stores The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, aerospace & defense shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.6%. Also lagging the market Wednesday are music & electronics stores shares, down on the day by about 0.5% as a group, led down by Conns, trading lower by about 2.1% and Vertiv Holdings, trading lower by about 1.3%. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Laggards: Aerospace & Defense, Music & Electronics Stores The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, aerospace & defense shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.6%. Also lagging the market Wednesday are music & electronics stores shares, down on the day by about 0.5% as a group, led down by Conns, trading lower by about 2.1% and Vertiv Holdings, trading lower by about 1.3%. VIDEO: Wednesday Sector Laggards: Aerospace & Defense, Music & Electronics Stores The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, aerospace & defense shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.6%. Helping drag down the group were shares of Virgin Galactic Holdings, down about 4.7% and shares of AerSale down about 3.1% on the day. Also lagging the market Wednesday are music & electronics stores shares, down on the day by about 0.5% as a group, led down by Conns, trading lower by about 2.1% and Vertiv Holdings, trading lower by about 1.3%.

1902419.0

2023-12-16 23:29:00 UTC

Financial Sector Update for 12/19/2023: FDS, UBS, XLF, FAS, FAZ

RILYZ

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/financial-sector-update-for-12-19-2023%3A-fds-ubs-xlf-fas-faz

Financial stocks were gaining pre-bell Tuesday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was 0.3% higher recently. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. FactSet Research Systems (FDS) was down more than 4% after saying it now expects fiscal 2024 adjusted earnings of between $15.60 and $16 per diluted share, down from $15.65 to $16.15 per share anticipated previously. Cevian Capital said it has taken a 1.3% stake in UBS (UBS) for around 1.2 billion euros ($1.31 billion). UBS was gaining over 3% in value in recent premarket activity. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Financial stocks were gaining pre-bell Tuesday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was 0.3% higher recently. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. FactSet Research Systems (FDS) was down more than 4% after saying it now expects fiscal 2024 adjusted earnings of between $15.60 and $16 per diluted share, down from $15.65 to $16.15 per share anticipated previously.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. Cevian Capital said it has taken a 1.3% stake in UBS (UBS) for around 1.2 billion euros ($1.31 billion). UBS was gaining over 3% in value in recent premarket activity.

Financial stocks were gaining pre-bell Tuesday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was 0.3% higher recently. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. Cevian Capital said it has taken a 1.3% stake in UBS (UBS) for around 1.2 billion euros ($1.31 billion).

Financial stocks were gaining pre-bell Tuesday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was 0.3% higher recently. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. UBS was gaining over 3% in value in recent premarket activity.

2169161.0

2023-12-16 23:29:00 UTC

Three Australian buyouts worth $2.35 billion emerge in end-of-year deal rush

UCBIO

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/three-australian-buyouts-worth-%242.35-billion-emerge-in-end-of-year-deal-rush

By Scott Murdoch SYDNEY, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Australian building products group Adbri Ltd ABC.AX and pension firm Link Group LNK.AX were among three takeover targets facing bids worth A$3.5 billion ($2.34 billion) made on Monday in a year-end rush of deals involving listed companies. The spree comes as Australia's stock market experiences a late surge, with the main S&P/ASX200 Index .AXJO having gained 5.6% so far this quarter as investors predict interest rates have peaked. Total corporate buyout activity in Australia fell 23% in 2023 to be worth $99.48 billion, according to LSEG data. However, inbound mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity from overseas buyers jumped 58% to $40.9 billion, thanks largely to Newmont Corp NEM.N buying gold miner Newcrest for $19.7 billion. Adbri shares jumped 31% after it said it was in exclusive talks with international building materials group CRH CRH.N and major shareholder Barro Group for a A$2.1 billion takeover offer. The two firms have offered A$3.20 per share for Adbri which is a 41% premium to the company's closing price on Friday. Barro, a family-owned private Australian group, owns 43% of Adbri, and CRH, which is London and U.S. listed, has a 4.6% interest in the takeover target through a cash-settled derivative, they said in a statement. Adbri's independent board committee has recommended the takeover and the two buyers will now undertake exclusive due diligence ahead of lodging a binding bid. Link shares jumped 27.65% Monday after it said it had received a A$1.2 billion bid from Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group8306.T, Japan's largest banking group. Mitsubishi said it held a 6.4% stake in Link and the takeover target's board recommended the bid in the absence of a superior offer emerging for the company. Meanwhile, dental group Pacific Smiles PSQ.AX said a A$223 million unsolicited bid from private equity firm Genesis Capital was "opportunistically timed". It said its board would consider the offer before making a recommendation to shareholders. Pacific Smiles shares rose nearly 16% on the takeover offer. ($1 = 1.4928 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Scott Murdoch; Editing by Sonali Paul) ((Scott.Murdoch@thomsonreuters.com)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The spree comes as Australia's stock market experiences a late surge, with the main S&P/ASX200 Index .AXJO having gained 5.6% so far this quarter as investors predict interest rates have peaked. Barro, a family-owned private Australian group, owns 43% of Adbri, and CRH, which is London and U.S. listed, has a 4.6% interest in the takeover target through a cash-settled derivative, they said in a statement. Adbri's independent board committee has recommended the takeover and the two buyers will now undertake exclusive due diligence ahead of lodging a binding bid.

By Scott Murdoch SYDNEY, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Australian building products group Adbri Ltd ABC.AX and pension firm Link Group LNK.AX were among three takeover targets facing bids worth A$3.5 billion ($2.34 billion) made on Monday in a year-end rush of deals involving listed companies. Adbri shares jumped 31% after it said it was in exclusive talks with international building materials group CRH CRH.N and major shareholder Barro Group for a A$2.1 billion takeover offer. Link shares jumped 27.65% Monday after it said it had received a A$1.2 billion bid from Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group8306.T, Japan's largest banking group.

By Scott Murdoch SYDNEY, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Australian building products group Adbri Ltd ABC.AX and pension firm Link Group LNK.AX were among three takeover targets facing bids worth A$3.5 billion ($2.34 billion) made on Monday in a year-end rush of deals involving listed companies. Adbri shares jumped 31% after it said it was in exclusive talks with international building materials group CRH CRH.N and major shareholder Barro Group for a A$2.1 billion takeover offer. Mitsubishi said it held a 6.4% stake in Link and the takeover target's board recommended the bid in the absence of a superior offer emerging for the company.

By Scott Murdoch SYDNEY, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Australian building products group Adbri Ltd ABC.AX and pension firm Link Group LNK.AX were among three takeover targets facing bids worth A$3.5 billion ($2.34 billion) made on Monday in a year-end rush of deals involving listed companies. Adbri shares jumped 31% after it said it was in exclusive talks with international building materials group CRH CRH.N and major shareholder Barro Group for a A$2.1 billion takeover offer. Pacific Smiles shares rose nearly 16% on the takeover offer.

234589.0

2023-12-16 23:30:00 UTC

Energy Sector Update for 12/21/2023: E, WEC, XLE, USO, UNG

ARGD

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/energy-sector-update-for-12-21-2023%3A-e-wec-xle-uso-ung

Energy stocks were declining premarket Thursday as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) was inactive recently. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 0.8% lower and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was up 3.6%. Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 1.8% at $72.88 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil lost 1.8% to $78.26 per barrel. Natural gas futures were 2.3% higher at $2.506 per 1 million British Thermal Units. Eni (E) was up more than 1.1% after saying Energy Infrastructure Partners will invest in its Plenitude renewables unit via a capital increase of up to 700 million euros ($769 million). WEC Energy (WEC) said it is planning to raise quarterly dividend by 7% to $0.835 per share in Q1. WEC Energy was advancing 0.6% pre-bell. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 1.8% at $72.88 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil lost 1.8% to $78.26 per barrel. Natural gas futures were 2.3% higher at $2.506 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 0.8% lower and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was up 3.6%. Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 1.8% at $72.88 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. WEC Energy (WEC) said it is planning to raise quarterly dividend by 7% to $0.835 per share in Q1.

Energy stocks were declining premarket Thursday as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) was inactive recently. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 0.8% lower and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was up 3.6%. Eni (E) was up more than 1.1% after saying Energy Infrastructure Partners will invest in its Plenitude renewables unit via a capital increase of up to 700 million euros ($769 million).

Energy stocks were declining premarket Thursday as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) was inactive recently. Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 1.8% at $72.88 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas futures were 2.3% higher at $2.506 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

247116.0

2023-12-16 23:30:00 UTC

Federal Realty Investment Trust's Series C Preferred Share Shares Cross 5.5% Yield Mark

ARTLW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/federal-realty-investment-trusts-series-c-preferred-share-shares-cross-5.5-yield-mark

In trading on Thursday, shares of Federal Realty Investment Trust's 5.000% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share (Symbol: FRT.PRC) were yielding above the 5.5% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.25), with shares changing hands as low as $22.71 on the day. This compares to an average yield of 7.98% in the "Real Estate" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. As of last close, FRT.PRC was trading at a 8.40% discount to its liquidation preference amount, versus the average discount of 14.42% in the "Real Estate" category. The chart below shows the one year performance of FRT.PRC shares, versus FRT: Below is a dividend history chart for FRT.PRC, showing historical dividend payments on Federal Realty Investment Trust's 5.000% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share : In Thursday trading, Federal Realty Investment Trust's 5.000% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share (Symbol: FRT.PRC) is currently off about 0.2% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: FRT) are up about 0.3%. Also see: • Cheap Growth Stocks • Funds Holding USOD • WOW market cap history The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Thursday, shares of Federal Realty Investment Trust's 5.000% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share (Symbol: FRT.PRC) were yielding above the 5.5% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.25), with shares changing hands as low as $22.71 on the day. The chart below shows the one year performance of FRT.PRC shares, versus FRT: Below is a dividend history chart for FRT.PRC, showing historical dividend payments on Federal Realty Investment Trust's 5.000% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share : In Thursday trading, Federal Realty Investment Trust's 5.000% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share (Symbol: FRT.PRC) is currently off about 0.2% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: FRT) are up about 0.3%. Also see: • Cheap Growth Stocks • Funds Holding USOD • WOW market cap history The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Thursday, shares of Federal Realty Investment Trust's 5.000% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share (Symbol: FRT.PRC) were yielding above the 5.5% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.25), with shares changing hands as low as $22.71 on the day. This compares to an average yield of 7.98% in the "Real Estate" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. The chart below shows the one year performance of FRT.PRC shares, versus FRT: Below is a dividend history chart for FRT.PRC, showing historical dividend payments on Federal Realty Investment Trust's 5.000% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share : In Thursday trading, Federal Realty Investment Trust's 5.000% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share (Symbol: FRT.PRC) is currently off about 0.2% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: FRT) are up about 0.3%.

In trading on Thursday, shares of Federal Realty Investment Trust's 5.000% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share (Symbol: FRT.PRC) were yielding above the 5.5% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.25), with shares changing hands as low as $22.71 on the day. This compares to an average yield of 7.98% in the "Real Estate" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. The chart below shows the one year performance of FRT.PRC shares, versus FRT: Below is a dividend history chart for FRT.PRC, showing historical dividend payments on Federal Realty Investment Trust's 5.000% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share : In Thursday trading, Federal Realty Investment Trust's 5.000% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share (Symbol: FRT.PRC) is currently off about 0.2% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: FRT) are up about 0.3%.

In trading on Thursday, shares of Federal Realty Investment Trust's 5.000% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share (Symbol: FRT.PRC) were yielding above the 5.5% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.25), with shares changing hands as low as $22.71 on the day. This compares to an average yield of 7.98% in the "Real Estate" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. As of last close, FRT.PRC was trading at a 8.40% discount to its liquidation preference amount, versus the average discount of 14.42% in the "Real Estate" category.

642168.0

2023-12-16 23:30:00 UTC

US STOCKS-Wall Street tumbles to sharply lower close as abrupt sell-off snaps rally

CRD-A

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/us-stocks-wall-street-tumbles-to-sharply-lower-close-as-abrupt-sell-off-snaps-rally

By Stephen Culp NEW YORK, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed lower on Wednesday after an abrupt mid-afternoon nosedive ended Wall Street's impressive rally, which had been driven by falling interest rates and the Federal Reserve's dovish turn. All three major U.S. stock indexes veered lower late in the session to end 1.3% to 1.5% below Tuesday's close. Stocks were "near all time highs, they hit resistance," said Jay Hatfield, portfolio manager at InfraCap in New York, noting the downturn was "surprisingly vociferous, things went from hot to cold real fast." "It’s surprising how aggressive the sell-off is, but it makes sense considering how far we’ve come," Hatfield added. FedEx FDX.N shares tumbled 12.1% after the package delivery company missed quarterly profit estimates and cut its full-year revenue forecastas it battles United Parcel Service UPS.N in what is shaping up to be a weak holiday season. UPS dropped 2.9%. Some traders said the market selloff could have been aggravated by large purchases of near-term put options on the S&P 500, including put contracts that would guard against a drop below the 4,755 level on the index by the end of the session. Put options convey the right to sell shares at a fixed price in the future and at times options-linked hedging activity can heighten volatility. In extended trade, Micron Technology MU.O jumped 4.4% after the memory chipmaker forecast quarterly revenue above estimates. During the session, the S&P 500 got within 0.5% of its all-time closing high. Reaching a new closing high would have confirmed the benchmark index had been in a bull market since closing at the bear market floor in October 2022. The index is now more than 2.0% below its record closing high. "We've had this aggressive rally in December and investor sentiment is high, it went from bearish to bullish in almost record time," said Thomas Martin, Senior Portfolio Manager at GLOBALT in Atlanta. "So the markets are asking 'now what?'" Last week, the Federal Reserve signaled it had reached the end of its tightening cycle and opened the door to rate cuts in 2024. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee late Tuesday reiterated that the rate at which inflation cools to the Fed's annual 2% target will drive policy on rate reduction. Financial markets were pricing in a 71.1% likelihood of that first cut arriving as soon as March, according to CME's FedWatch tool. On the economic front, bigger than expected jump in U.S. consumer confidence and a surprise increase in existing home sales helped turn the major indexes green. The Commerce Department is expected to wrap up the week with its third and final take on third-quarter GDP on Thursday, to be followed on Friday by its wide-ranging Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report, which will cover income growth, consumer spending and, crucially, inflation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 475.92 points, or 1.27%, to 37,082, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 70.02 points, or 1.47%, to 4,698.35 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 225.28 points, or 1.5%, to 14,777.94. All 11 major sectors in the S&P 500 closed in the red, with consumer staples .SPLRCS suffering the steepest percentage decline after packaged food company General MillsGIS.N cut its sales forecast. Alphabet gained 1.2% after the company announced it was restructuring Google's ad sales unit. Management consulting firm Aon AON.Ntumbled 6.0% following its announcement that it would buy privately held insurance broker NFP in a $13.4 billion deal. Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 2.64-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 2.26-to-1 ratio favored decliners. The S&P 500 posted 36 new 52-week highs and 1 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 210 new highs and 89 new lows. Volume on U.S. exchanges was 12.84 billion shares, compared with the 12.15 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days. Are we there yet? https://tmsnrt.rs/3RQBoee (Reporting by Stephen Culp; Additional reporting by Saqib Ahmed in New York, Johann M Cherian and Shristi Achar A in Bengaluru, and by Noel Randewich in Oakland, Calif.; Editing by David Gregorio) ((stephen.culp@thomsonreuters.com; 646-223-6076;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

By Stephen Culp NEW YORK, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed lower on Wednesday after an abrupt mid-afternoon nosedive ended Wall Street's impressive rally, which had been driven by falling interest rates and the Federal Reserve's dovish turn. FedEx FDX.N shares tumbled 12.1% after the package delivery company missed quarterly profit estimates and cut its full-year revenue forecastas it battles United Parcel Service UPS.N in what is shaping up to be a weak holiday season. The Commerce Department is expected to wrap up the week with its third and final take on third-quarter GDP on Thursday, to be followed on Friday by its wide-ranging Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report, which will cover income growth, consumer spending and, crucially, inflation.

By Stephen Culp NEW YORK, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed lower on Wednesday after an abrupt mid-afternoon nosedive ended Wall Street's impressive rally, which had been driven by falling interest rates and the Federal Reserve's dovish turn. All three major U.S. stock indexes veered lower late in the session to end 1.3% to 1.5% below Tuesday's close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 475.92 points, or 1.27%, to 37,082, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 70.02 points, or 1.47%, to 4,698.35 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 225.28 points, or 1.5%, to 14,777.94.

By Stephen Culp NEW YORK, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed lower on Wednesday after an abrupt mid-afternoon nosedive ended Wall Street's impressive rally, which had been driven by falling interest rates and the Federal Reserve's dovish turn. Some traders said the market selloff could have been aggravated by large purchases of near-term put options on the S&P 500, including put contracts that would guard against a drop below the 4,755 level on the index by the end of the session. Reaching a new closing high would have confirmed the benchmark index had been in a bull market since closing at the bear market floor in October 2022.

All three major U.S. stock indexes veered lower late in the session to end 1.3% to 1.5% below Tuesday's close. Some traders said the market selloff could have been aggravated by large purchases of near-term put options on the S&P 500, including put contracts that would guard against a drop below the 4,755 level on the index by the end of the session. All 11 major sectors in the S&P 500 closed in the red, with consumer staples .SPLRCS suffering the steepest percentage decline after packaged food company General MillsGIS.N cut its sales forecast.

642169.0

2023-12-16 23:30:00 UTC

Wall Street tumbles to sharply lower close as abrupt sell-off snaps rally

CRD-A

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/wall-street-tumbles-to-sharply-lower-close-as-abrupt-sell-off-snaps-rally

By Stephen Culp NEW YORK, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed lower on Wednesday after an abrupt mid-afternoon nosedive ended Wall Street's impressive rally, which had been driven by falling interest rates and the Federal Reserve's dovish turn. All three major U.S. stock indexes veered lower late in the session to end 1.3% to 1.5% below Tuesday's close. Stocks were "near all time highs, they hit resistance," said Jay Hatfield, portfolio manager at InfraCap in New York, noting the downturn was "surprisingly vociferous, things went from hot to cold real fast." "It’s surprising how aggressive the sell-off is, but it makes sense considering how far we’ve come," Hatfield added. FedEx FDX.N shares tumbled 12.1% after the package delivery company missed quarterly profit estimates and cut its full-year revenue forecastas it battles United Parcel Service UPS.N in what is shaping up to be a weak holiday season. UPS dropped 2.9%. Some traders said the market selloff could have been aggravated by large purchases of near-term put options on the S&P 500, including put contracts that would guard against a drop below the 4,755 level on the index by the end of the session. Put options convey the right to sell shares at a fixed price in the future and at times options-linked hedging activity can heighten volatility. In extended trade, Micron Technology MU.O jumped 4.4% after the memory chipmaker forecast quarterly revenue above estimates. During the session, the S&P 500 got within 0.5% of its all-time closing high. Reaching a new closing high would have confirmed the benchmark index had been in a bull market since closing at the bear market floor in October 2022. The index is now more than 2.0% below its record closing high. "We've had this aggressive rally in December and investor sentiment is high, it went from bearish to bullish in almost record time," said Thomas Martin, Senior Portfolio Manager at GLOBALT in Atlanta. "So the markets are asking 'now what?'" Last week, the Federal Reserve signaled it had reached the end of its tightening cycle and opened the door to rate cuts in 2024. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee late Tuesday reiterated that the rate at which inflation cools to the Fed's annual 2% target will drive policy on rate reduction. Financial markets were pricing in a 71.1% likelihood of that first cut arriving as soon as March, according to CME's FedWatch tool. On the economic front, bigger than expected jump in U.S. consumer confidence and a surprise increase in existing home sales helped turn the major indexes green. The Commerce Department is expected to wrap up the week with its third and final take on third-quarter GDP on Thursday, to be followed on Friday by its wide-ranging Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report, which will cover income growth, consumer spending and, crucially, inflation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 475.92 points, or 1.27%, to 37,082, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 70.02 points, or 1.47%, to 4,698.35 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 225.28 points, or 1.5%, to 14,777.94. All 11 major sectors in the S&P 500 closed in the red, with consumer staples .SPLRCS suffering the steepest percentage decline after packaged food company General MillsGIS.N cut its sales forecast. Alphabet gained 1.2% after the company announced it was restructuring Google's ad sales unit. Management consulting firm Aon AON.Ntumbled 6.0% following its announcement that it would buy privately held insurance broker NFP in a $13.4 billion deal. Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 2.64-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 2.26-to-1 ratio favored decliners. The S&P 500 posted 36 new 52-week highs and 1 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 210 new highs and 89 new lows. Volume on U.S. exchanges was 12.84 billion shares, compared with the 12.15 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days. Are we there yet? https://tmsnrt.rs/3RQBoee (Reporting by Stephen Culp; Additional reporting by Saqib Ahmed in New York, Johann M Cherian and Shristi Achar A in Bengaluru, and by Noel Randewich in Oakland, Calif.; Editing by David Gregorio) ((stephen.culp@thomsonreuters.com; 646-223-6076;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

By Stephen Culp NEW YORK, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed lower on Wednesday after an abrupt mid-afternoon nosedive ended Wall Street's impressive rally, which had been driven by falling interest rates and the Federal Reserve's dovish turn. FedEx FDX.N shares tumbled 12.1% after the package delivery company missed quarterly profit estimates and cut its full-year revenue forecastas it battles United Parcel Service UPS.N in what is shaping up to be a weak holiday season. The Commerce Department is expected to wrap up the week with its third and final take on third-quarter GDP on Thursday, to be followed on Friday by its wide-ranging Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report, which will cover income growth, consumer spending and, crucially, inflation.

By Stephen Culp NEW YORK, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed lower on Wednesday after an abrupt mid-afternoon nosedive ended Wall Street's impressive rally, which had been driven by falling interest rates and the Federal Reserve's dovish turn. All three major U.S. stock indexes veered lower late in the session to end 1.3% to 1.5% below Tuesday's close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 475.92 points, or 1.27%, to 37,082, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 70.02 points, or 1.47%, to 4,698.35 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 225.28 points, or 1.5%, to 14,777.94.

By Stephen Culp NEW YORK, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed lower on Wednesday after an abrupt mid-afternoon nosedive ended Wall Street's impressive rally, which had been driven by falling interest rates and the Federal Reserve's dovish turn. Some traders said the market selloff could have been aggravated by large purchases of near-term put options on the S&P 500, including put contracts that would guard against a drop below the 4,755 level on the index by the end of the session. Reaching a new closing high would have confirmed the benchmark index had been in a bull market since closing at the bear market floor in October 2022.

All three major U.S. stock indexes veered lower late in the session to end 1.3% to 1.5% below Tuesday's close. Some traders said the market selloff could have been aggravated by large purchases of near-term put options on the S&P 500, including put contracts that would guard against a drop below the 4,755 level on the index by the end of the session. All 11 major sectors in the S&P 500 closed in the red, with consumer staples .SPLRCS suffering the steepest percentage decline after packaged food company General MillsGIS.N cut its sales forecast.

1053031.0

2023-12-16 23:30:00 UTC

What Is the Best Large-Cap Growth ETF to Buy Right Now?

FSMB

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/what-is-the-best-large-cap-growth-etf-to-buy-right-now

Large-cap growth stocks have been soaring this year, driven by the strong demand for artificial intelligence and cutting-edge weight loss drugs. Consequently, several exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that focus on these themes have delivered impressive returns this year. Perhaps most importantly, though, this trend is likely to continue in the coming years as AI becomes more pervasive and more next-generation weight loss medicines hit the market. How can investors choose the best large-cap growth ETF to take advantage of this trend? To answer this question, I compared three of the most popular funds in this category. Keep reading to find out more. Image source: Getty Images. Large-cap growth ETFs: A comparison One of the best ways to invest in large-cap growth stocks is through ETFs that track this segment of the market. Among the most popular ETFs in this category are the iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: IVW), the Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: SCHG), and the Vanguard Growth Index Fund (NYSEMKT: VUG). These funds are all designed to replicate the performance of a benchmark index of large-cap growth stocks. They also have low fees, consistently strong returns over the prior 10 years, and exposure to key growth themes like AI and obesity care. The table below outlines each fund's key metrics and compares them to the Vanguard 500 Index Fund (NYSEMKT: VOO), which tracks the S&P 500. ETF BENCHMARK EXPENSE RATIO (%) YIELD (%) ALPHA BETA 10-YEAR TOTAL RETURN (%) IVW S&P 500 Growth 0.18 0.96 (3.39) 1.11 253.1 SCHG Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index 0.04 0.43% (0.76) 1.16 310.4 VUG CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index 0.04 0.56 (2.60) 1.18 280.4 VOO S&P 500 0.03 1.47 (0.04) 1.00 218.5 Alpha and betas refer to the ETF's performance relative to the S&P 500 over the past 36 months. Total returns assume the dividend was reinvested and taxes were deferred over the theoretical holding period. All of these large-cap growth ETFs handily outperformed the benchmark S&P 500 over the past 10 years. However, one of them stands out from the rest in terms of performance and cost efficiency. The SCHG, offered by Charles Schwab, has delivered the highest total returns among the trio, and it matches the Vanguard Growth Index Fund on the expense ratio front. For investors who prioritize liquidity, though, the IVW might be a better choice, as it has the highest average daily volume of the three ETFs at around 1.97 million shares traded over the past three months. This feature makes it more suitable for active trading strategies. That being said, the other two funds are also highly liquid, making them suitable for most lay investors, especially those with a long-term outlook. Winner Although all three of these large-cap growth ETFs may be worth buying as part of a diversified portfolio, the Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF is arguably the best choice if you can only buy one of these supercharged funds. It offers extremely low fees and superior returns compared with its immediate peers in the same category. Should you invest $1,000 in Charles Schwab right now? Before you buy stock in Charles Schwab, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Charles Schwab wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Charles Schwab is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. George Budwell has positions in Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard Index Funds-Vanguard Growth ETF and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool recommends Charles Schwab and recommends the following options: short December 2023 $52.50 puts on Charles Schwab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Large-cap growth stocks have been soaring this year, driven by the strong demand for artificial intelligence and cutting-edge weight loss drugs. The SCHG, offered by Charles Schwab, has delivered the highest total returns among the trio, and it matches the Vanguard Growth Index Fund on the expense ratio front. For investors who prioritize liquidity, though, the IVW might be a better choice, as it has the highest average daily volume of the three ETFs at around 1.97 million shares traded over the past three months.

Among the most popular ETFs in this category are the iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: IVW), the Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: SCHG), and the Vanguard Growth Index Fund (NYSEMKT: VUG). Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index 0.04 0.43% (0.76) 1.16 310.4 Before you buy stock in Charles Schwab, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Charles Schwab wasn't one of them.

Large-cap growth ETFs: A comparison One of the best ways to invest in large-cap growth stocks is through ETFs that track this segment of the market. Among the most popular ETFs in this category are the iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: IVW), the Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: SCHG), and the Vanguard Growth Index Fund (NYSEMKT: VUG). Winner Although all three of these large-cap growth ETFs may be worth buying as part of a diversified portfolio, the Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF is arguably the best choice if you can only buy one of these supercharged funds.

Among the most popular ETFs in this category are the iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: IVW), the Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: SCHG), and the Vanguard Growth Index Fund (NYSEMKT: VUG). S&P 500 Growth 0.18 0.96 (3.39) 1.11 253.1 The SCHG, offered by Charles Schwab, has delivered the highest total returns among the trio, and it matches the Vanguard Growth Index Fund on the expense ratio front.

1365780.0

2023-12-16 23:30:00 UTC

GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia stocks wobble to weekly loss ahead of inflation data

KERNW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/global-markets-asia-stocks-wobble-to-weekly-loss-ahead-of-inflation-data

By Tom Westbrook SINGAPORE, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Chinese internet stocks slumped on regulatory news on Friday to drag Asian stocks down for the final full trading week of the year, while the dollar wobbled ahead of U.S. inflation data that's expected to validate bets on rate cuts in 2024. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS gave up gains to trade 0.3% lower after China issued draft rules that would impose spending limits on gamers. For the week the index is down 0.6%. Netease 9999.HK stock was down 29% at one point and Tencent 0700.HK shares more than 12%, pulling the Hang Seng .HIS 1.2% lower. "It's not necessarily the regulation itself - it's the policy risk that's too high," said Steven Leung, executive director of institutional sales at broker UOB Kay Hian in Hong Kong. "People had thought this kind of risk should have been over and had started to look at fundamentals again. It hurts confidence a lot." Banking shares helped Japan's Nikkei .N225 rise 0.2%. The euro EUR=EBS poked above $1.10. Outside Asia, markets have been in a festive mood for weeks as inflation data around the world has showed a slowdown and the Federal Reserve signalled it was done raising interest rates. Two-year U.S. Treasury yields US2YT=RR are down almost 38 basis points in a week and a half and fell 2 bps overnight when third-quarter U.S. core PCE inflation was revised down to 2%. The data has markets girding for a downside surprise on the last key number before Christmas, November's personal consumption expenditure index USPCEM=ECI, due at 1330 GMT with consensus expectations for a monthly increase of 0.2%. "Analysts are confident it shouldn't be higher than 0.2%," said National Australia Bank's head of currency strategy Ray Attrill in Sydney. "Could we get 0.1%? It'd probably take a 0.1% to see and extension of the moves we have seen." Overnight U.S. stocks bounced back from a sudden slide at the end of Wednesday's session and the S&P 500 .SPX rose 1%. The index is within 2% of its record high. S&P 500 futures EScl dipped 0.1% in Asia and NikeNKE.N shares slid almost 12% in after-hours trade after the company cut its sales forecast, blaming cautious consumers. European futures STXEc1 were flat. Oil is set for a weekly gain on nervousness about the security of Red Sea shipping, but prices fell overnight after Angola said it would quit OPEC, raising questions about the producer group's efforts to limit global supply. O/R Brent crude futures LCOc1 were up 58 cents to $79.97 a barrel in Asia trade on Friday, for a weekly gain of 4.5%. TALE OF TWO HAVENS In currency trade the dollar has come under pressure from markets' expectation of more than 150 bps of rate cuts in 2024. At $1.1002 the euro is up 1% this week, even though a similar amount of cuts are priced in for Europe next year. The common currency is also up about 1% against sterling EURGBP=, which fell sharply this week after a surprise dive in inflation. Sterling was set for its biggest weekly drop on the euro and against the Aussie dollar for three months. It last bought $1.2686 GBP=D3 and traded at 86.71 pence per euro. The dollar index is down 0.7% this week to 101.85. For the year it is down 2.4%. Among G10 currencies the best performer of the year was the Swiss franc CHF=EBS, up nearly 8% on the dollar, while the yen's JPY=EBS 7.8% drop made it the worst. NAB's Attrill noted the mirror moves of the two so-called "safe haven" currencies underscored the overwhelming influence of the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) monetary policy. It has stuck with negative interest rates while the rest of the world has hiked. The dollar rose marginally to 142.43 yen on Friday. Gold XAU= is set to end the week and the year ahead, with a 12% gain so far this year to $2,049 an ounce. Bitcoin BTC=BTSP is up 160% this year to $44,114. World FX rates YTD http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh Global asset performance http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn Asian stock markets https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4 (Editing by Sam Holmes) ((tom.westbrook@tr.com; +65 6973 8284;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS gave up gains to trade 0.3% lower after China issued draft rules that would impose spending limits on gamers. The data has markets girding for a downside surprise on the last key number before Christmas, November's personal consumption expenditure index USPCEM=ECI, due at 1330 GMT with consensus expectations for a monthly increase of 0.2%. Oil is set for a weekly gain on nervousness about the security of Red Sea shipping, but prices fell overnight after Angola said it would quit OPEC, raising questions about the producer group's efforts to limit global supply.

By Tom Westbrook SINGAPORE, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Chinese internet stocks slumped on regulatory news on Friday to drag Asian stocks down for the final full trading week of the year, while the dollar wobbled ahead of U.S. inflation data that's expected to validate bets on rate cuts in 2024. O/R Brent crude futures LCOc1 were up 58 cents to $79.97 a barrel in Asia trade on Friday, for a weekly gain of 4.5%. World FX rates YTD http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh Global asset performance http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn Asian stock markets https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4 (Editing by Sam Holmes) ((tom.westbrook@tr.com; +65 6973 8284;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

By Tom Westbrook SINGAPORE, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Chinese internet stocks slumped on regulatory news on Friday to drag Asian stocks down for the final full trading week of the year, while the dollar wobbled ahead of U.S. inflation data that's expected to validate bets on rate cuts in 2024. Outside Asia, markets have been in a festive mood for weeks as inflation data around the world has showed a slowdown and the Federal Reserve signalled it was done raising interest rates. Gold XAU= is set to end the week and the year ahead, with a 12% gain so far this year to $2,049 an ounce.

Sterling was set for its biggest weekly drop on the euro and against the Aussie dollar for three months. The dollar index is down 0.7% this week to 101.85. Gold XAU= is set to end the week and the year ahead, with a 12% gain so far this year to $2,049 an ounce.

1365781.0

2023-12-16 23:30:00 UTC

2 No-Brainer Stocks to Buy With $200 Right Now

KERNW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/2-no-brainer-stocks-to-buy-with-%24200-right-now-3

Investing early in your career can pay huge dividends later in life. Besides reinforcing the savings habit, regularly buying shares of well-selected stocks can leverage the power of compounding to turn small investments into a big nest egg over time. While flashy growth stocks attract much-deserved attention, relatively unexciting real estate investment trusts (REITs) also deserve a spot in a nicely balanced portfolio. REITs are income-producing properties whose operators are obliged to pay 90% of their taxable income to shareholders. Two to consider are retail landlord Agree Realty (NYSE: ADC) and digital infrastructure giant American Tower (NYSE: AMT). They are very different companies that have built similar performance records since their initial public offerings (IPOs) in 1994 and 1998, respectively. Data source: YCharts A quarter century of outperformance Even if you have only $200 to invest now and don't add another cent, that ante can still add up substantially over the years. The chart above shows the 25-year growth of a $100 investment in each of these REITs as well as one of the most closely followed indexes, the S&P 500. This is in terms of total return and thus assumes the reinvestment of dividends. This outperformance is not an anomaly. While income stocks like this are generally considered less volatile than growth stocks, and thus presumably have both less upside and downside, they can offer just as much potential reward over the long run. For example, a Hartford Funds analysis of total returns for S&P 500 stocks from 1973 to 2022 found that dividend payers provided an average annual return of 9.18% compared with 3.95% for non-dividend payers. American Tower's digital dominance Boston-based American Tower has grown with the mobile communications industry over the past 25 years and now boasts about 225,000 towers and other sites, including data centers, in 25 countries on six continents. That business should continue to flourish. Demand for space for traditional mobile towers, small cell towers, and data centers continues to grow to support the 5G rollout -- and now includes the explosive adoption of cloud-based artificial intelligence applications from thousands of American Tower's current and future customers. Agree Realty's recession-resistant retail portfolio Detroit-based Agree Realty focuses exclusively on owning buildings and land occupied by largely investment-grade tenants that sign long-term leases to house recession-resistant businesses such as grocery, home improvement, dollar, and drug stores. This classic retail REIT has been leveraging its outstanding credit rating and site-selection skills to continue steadily expanding a portfolio that now includes about 2,100 properties in 49 states. Grocery and home improvement stores lead the way with 9.7% and 8.6% of the current rent roll, respectively. Built for the long haul, one small investment at a time American Tower and Agree are both niche investments, in a sense. But they are broad, essential niches and these two operators have long proven they have the chops to build on records of success. They also pay decently. American Tower yields about 3.2% and has raised its dividend for 12 straight years. Agree has raised its dividend five times since it began paying monthly instead of quarterly in January 2021 and now yields about 4.8%. By contrast, the S&P 500's current yield is about 1.5%. While there's no guarantee that their past performance will lead to similar gains in the future, there's plenty of reason to be confident that a $100 stake in each of these REITs now will prove to have been a good idea much later on -- especially if it leads to more such investments on a regular basis over the long haul. And that's how wealth is most reliably built. Should you invest $1,000 in American Tower right now? Before you buy stock in American Tower, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and American Tower wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Marc Rapport has positions in Agree Realty and American Tower. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends American Tower. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $180 calls on American Tower and short January 2026 $185 calls on American Tower. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Besides reinforcing the savings habit, regularly buying shares of well-selected stocks can leverage the power of compounding to turn small investments into a big nest egg over time. While flashy growth stocks attract much-deserved attention, relatively unexciting real estate investment trusts (REITs) also deserve a spot in a nicely balanced portfolio. This classic retail REIT has been leveraging its outstanding credit rating and site-selection skills to continue steadily expanding a portfolio that now includes about 2,100 properties in 49 states.

Built for the long haul, one small investment at a time American Tower and Agree are both niche investments, in a sense. Before you buy stock in American Tower, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and American Tower wasn't one of them. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $180 calls on American Tower and short January 2026 $185 calls on American Tower.

American Tower's digital dominance Boston-based American Tower has grown with the mobile communications industry over the past 25 years and now boasts about 225,000 towers and other sites, including data centers, in 25 countries on six continents. Before you buy stock in American Tower, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and American Tower wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Marc Rapport has positions in Agree Realty and American Tower.

Built for the long haul, one small investment at a time American Tower and Agree are both niche investments, in a sense. Should you invest $1,000 in American Tower right now? Before you buy stock in American Tower, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and American Tower wasn't one of them.

1404839.0

2023-12-16 23:30:00 UTC

Wall St rises after soft inflation data; Nike slides

KRTX

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/wall-st-rises-after-soft-inflation-data-nike-slides

By Johann M Cherian and Shristi Achar A Dec 22 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes gained on Friday after a key inflation reading came in softer than expected, boosting recent investor optimism that the Federal Reserve could lower borrowing costs next year. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, considered to be the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, climbed 2.6% in November on an annual basis, compared with expectations of a 2.8% rise, per economists polled by Reuters. "3.2% represents a victory for a Fed that remains keenly focused on restoring price stability without damaging a still healthy labor market, in essence balancing its two mandates," said Quincy Krosby, chief global strategist for LPL Financial. Analysts also said light trading volumes ahead of the Christmas break could also impact moves during the day. Traders see an 85.5% chance of at least a 25 basis point (bps) rate cut in March next year, and expect borrowing costs to be lower by 125 bps in September 2024, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. The S&P 500 .SPX and the Nasdaq .IXIC finished over 1% higher on Thursday after data signaled third-quarter U.S. economic growth was not as robust as originally stated, bringing the benchmark index within a whisker of its record closing high. All three indexes are poised for their eighth-straight week in the green, with the S&P 500 set for its longest weekly winning streak since 2017, and the Nasdaq and the Dow .DJI since 2019. The rally gained momentum last week after the central bank acknowledged that inflation was nearing the target rate, bringing interest rate cuts "into view". Meanwhile, Dow component NikeNKE.N plunged 11.0% after the sports-wear maker trimmed its annual sales forecast blaming cautious consumer spending. Shares of other sports-wear firms like Lululemon Athletica LULU.O, Foot locker FL.N and Dick's Sporting Goods DKS.N dipped between 1.0% and 5.2%. At 12:01 p.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI was up 47.51 points, or 0.13%, at 37,451.86, the S&P 500 .SPX was up 14.31 points, or 0.30%, at 4,761.06, and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC was up 48.19 points, or 0.32%, at 15,012.05. Ten of 11 S&P 500's sectors gained, led by a 0.9% advance in utilities .SPLRCU, which is the worst performer this year, down over 10% year-to-date. "When you look at the leadership and what's been doing the best in this latest advance, it's a lot of the heavily beaten down parts of the market this year," said Kevin Gordon, senior investment strategist at Charles Schwab. Among other movers, Occidental PetroleumOXY.Nadded 1.0% after Warren Buffett-led Berkshire Hathaway BRKa.N raised its stake in the oil firm, bringing it closer to 28%. Karuna TherapeuticsKRTX.O soared 46.8% after Bristol Myers Squib BMY.N agreed to buy the schizophrenia drugmaker for $14 billion in cash. Markets will remain closed on Dec. 25 on account of the Christmas holiday. The S&P index recorded 37 new 52-week highs and no new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 151 new highs and 46 new lows. Inflation gauges https://tmsnrt.rs/3TGGxah (Reporting by Johann M Cherian and Shristi Achar A in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel) ((johann.mcherian@thomsonreuters.com; Shristi.AcharA@thomsonreuters.com https://twitter.com/ShristiAchar;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Karuna TherapeuticsKRTX.O soared 46.8% after Bristol Myers Squib BMY.N agreed to buy the schizophrenia drugmaker for $14 billion in cash. By Johann M Cherian and Shristi Achar A Dec 22 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes gained on Friday after a key inflation reading came in softer than expected, boosting recent investor optimism that the Federal Reserve could lower borrowing costs next year. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, considered to be the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, climbed 2.6% in November on an annual basis, compared with expectations of a 2.8% rise, per economists polled by Reuters.

Karuna TherapeuticsKRTX.O soared 46.8% after Bristol Myers Squib BMY.N agreed to buy the schizophrenia drugmaker for $14 billion in cash. Traders see an 85.5% chance of at least a 25 basis point (bps) rate cut in March next year, and expect borrowing costs to be lower by 125 bps in September 2024, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. The S&P index recorded 37 new 52-week highs and no new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 151 new highs and 46 new lows.

Karuna TherapeuticsKRTX.O soared 46.8% after Bristol Myers Squib BMY.N agreed to buy the schizophrenia drugmaker for $14 billion in cash. By Johann M Cherian and Shristi Achar A Dec 22 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes gained on Friday after a key inflation reading came in softer than expected, boosting recent investor optimism that the Federal Reserve could lower borrowing costs next year. The S&P 500 .SPX and the Nasdaq .IXIC finished over 1% higher on Thursday after data signaled third-quarter U.S. economic growth was not as robust as originally stated, bringing the benchmark index within a whisker of its record closing high.

Karuna TherapeuticsKRTX.O soared 46.8% after Bristol Myers Squib BMY.N agreed to buy the schizophrenia drugmaker for $14 billion in cash. By Johann M Cherian and Shristi Achar A Dec 22 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes gained on Friday after a key inflation reading came in softer than expected, boosting recent investor optimism that the Federal Reserve could lower borrowing costs next year. Traders see an 85.5% chance of at least a 25 basis point (bps) rate cut in March next year, and expect borrowing costs to be lower by 125 bps in September 2024, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

1538489.0

2023-12-16 23:30:00 UTC

Gilead Sciences, Compugen Ink Up To $848 Mln Deal For Pre-clinical Antibody Program

NEWTI

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/gilead-sciences-compugen-ink-up-to-%24848-mln-deal-for-pre-clinical-antibody-program

(RTTNews) - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) announced Tuesday an agreement with Holon, Israel-based cancer immunotherapy company Compugen Ltd. (CGEN) to exclusively license its potential first-in-class, pre-clinical antibody program against IL-18 binding protein, including the COM503 drug candidate. Compugen utilizes its broadly applicable predictive computational discovery capabilities to identify new drug targets and biological pathways for developing novel cancer immunotherapies. COM503 is a potential first-in-class, high affinity antibody which blocks the interaction between IL-18 binding protein and IL-18, thereby releasing natural IL-18 in the tumor microenvironment and inhibiting cancer growth. Under the terms of the agreement, Compugen will be responsible for the ongoing pre-clinical development and the future Phase 1 study of COM503. Thereafter, Gilead will have the sole right to develop and commercialize COM503. Gilead will make Compugen an upfront payment of $60 million and $30 million in a near term milestone payment subject to IND clearance of COM503 expected in 2024. Compugen will also be eligible to receive up to an additional $758 million in future development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, with a total deal value of $848 million. Compugen will also be eligible to receive single-digit to low double-digit tiered royalties on worldwide net sales. This transaction with Compugen is expected to reduce Gilead's GAAP and non-GAAP 2023 EPS by approximately $0.03 - $0.05. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

(RTTNews) - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) announced Tuesday an agreement with Holon, Israel-based cancer immunotherapy company Compugen Ltd. (CGEN) to exclusively license its potential first-in-class, pre-clinical antibody program against IL-18 binding protein, including the COM503 drug candidate. Compugen utilizes its broadly applicable predictive computational discovery capabilities to identify new drug targets and biological pathways for developing novel cancer immunotherapies. COM503 is a potential first-in-class, high affinity antibody which blocks the interaction between IL-18 binding protein and IL-18, thereby releasing natural IL-18 in the tumor microenvironment and inhibiting cancer growth.

(RTTNews) - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) announced Tuesday an agreement with Holon, Israel-based cancer immunotherapy company Compugen Ltd. (CGEN) to exclusively license its potential first-in-class, pre-clinical antibody program against IL-18 binding protein, including the COM503 drug candidate. Gilead will make Compugen an upfront payment of $60 million and $30 million in a near term milestone payment subject to IND clearance of COM503 expected in 2024. Compugen will also be eligible to receive up to an additional $758 million in future development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, with a total deal value of $848 million.

(RTTNews) - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) announced Tuesday an agreement with Holon, Israel-based cancer immunotherapy company Compugen Ltd. (CGEN) to exclusively license its potential first-in-class, pre-clinical antibody program against IL-18 binding protein, including the COM503 drug candidate. Gilead will make Compugen an upfront payment of $60 million and $30 million in a near term milestone payment subject to IND clearance of COM503 expected in 2024. Compugen will also be eligible to receive up to an additional $758 million in future development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, with a total deal value of $848 million.

(RTTNews) - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) announced Tuesday an agreement with Holon, Israel-based cancer immunotherapy company Compugen Ltd. (CGEN) to exclusively license its potential first-in-class, pre-clinical antibody program against IL-18 binding protein, including the COM503 drug candidate. Compugen utilizes its broadly applicable predictive computational discovery capabilities to identify new drug targets and biological pathways for developing novel cancer immunotherapies. Compugen will also be eligible to receive up to an additional $758 million in future development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, with a total deal value of $848 million.

1538490.0

2023-12-16 23:30:00 UTC

Got $1,000? Buy These 3 Magnificent Dividend Stocks to Boost Your Income in 2024.

NEWTI

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/got-%241000-buy-these-3-magnificent-dividend-stocks-to-boost-your-income-in-2024.

Investing in high-quality dividend stocks is a great way to generate passive income. The best ones can turn idle cash into an attractive and steadily rising income stream. Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEPC)(NYSE: BEP), Realty Income (NYSE: O), and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) have been magnificent dividend stocks over the years by steadily increasing their high-yielding payouts. That should continue in 2024 (and beyond), making them ideal income stocks to buy right now. Lots of power to continue growing its payout Brookfield Renewable currently offers a 4.7% dividend yield. That's several times above the S&P 500's 1.5% dividend yield. It could turn $1,000 into $47 of annual dividend income at that rate compared to $15 from an S&P 500 index fund. The renewable energy giant has done an excellent job growing its high-yielding dividend over the years. For the past dozen years, it has increased its payout by at least 5% annually. That upward trend should continue. Brookfield aims to increase its payout by 5% to 9% per year over the long term. It has plenty of power to achieve that plan. Brookfield's funds from operations (FFO) are on track to rise by more than 10% per share this year. The company is benefiting from strong organic growth drivers (inflation-linked power rate increases and development projects) and needle-moving acquisitions. It has closed three deals over the past few months, which gives it lots of momentum heading into 2024. The company believes its growth drivers position it to deliver double-digit FFO per share growth through at least 2028. That puts it in a strong position to continue increasing its high-yielding payout in the coming years. Built-in growth for 2024 Realty Income has been a magnificent dividend stock. The real estate investment trust (REIT) has increased its payment 123 times since its public market listing in 1994, including five times this year. The company's payout currently yields 5.4%, which could turn a $1,000 investment into $54 of annual dividend income. The REIT is in an excellent position to continue growing its payout in 2024. It got a head start on next year's growth by recently agreeing to acquire fellow REIT Spirit Realty in a $9.3 billion deal that should close in early 2024. The company expects the acquisition to increase its adjusted FFO by more than 2.5% per share next year. That's more than half its targeted annual growth rate of 4% to 5% per share. Realty Income anticipates that the combined company will generate over $800 million in post-dividend free cash flow. That will give it the funds to acquire even more income-producing real estate. The combination of those reinvested cash flows, its elite balance sheet, and the Spirit Realty deal should be enough to enable the REIT to deliver 4% to 5% adjusted FFO per share growth next year without raising any additional equity. The REIT should have no shortage of growth opportunities. It has steadily expanded into new areas, enhancing its ability to grow. It has added data centers, consumer-centric medical, gaming, vertical farming, credit investment, Italy, and Ireland to its investment verticals over the past year. That has extended its already long growth runway. Collecting more cash in 2024 Verizon currently yields 7.1%, which is one of the highest levels among S&P 500 members. The telecom giant recently increased its already sizable payout by another 1.9%, marking its 17th straight year of dividend growth. The company is in an excellent position to continue growing its dividend. It has invested heavily in building out its faster 5G network, which is helping to accelerate wireless service revenue growth. Meanwhile, it passed the peak for capital spending earlier this year, which will free up $5 billion of annual cash flow. On top of that, the company is working to trim a couple more billion dollars from its cost structure. These drivers will increase its already massive free cash flow, giving it more money to pay dividends and strengthen its balance sheet. Verizon's falling debt levels will help cut interest expenses, freeing up even more cash to enhance shareholder value. Start 2024 off right with these income-producing machines Brookfield Infrastructure, Realty Income, and Verizon offer investors high-yielding payouts that they've steadily increased. They're in excellent positions to continue growing their payouts in 2024 and beyond, and that makes them great dividend stocks to buy to boost your income in the coming year. Should you invest $1,000 in Brookfield Renewable right now? Before you buy stock in Brookfield Renewable, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Brookfield Renewable wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Matthew DiLallo has positions in Brookfield Renewable, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Realty Income, and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Brookfield Renewable and Realty Income. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Renewable Partners and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The company is benefiting from strong organic growth drivers (inflation-linked power rate increases and development projects) and needle-moving acquisitions. It got a head start on next year's growth by recently agreeing to acquire fellow REIT Spirit Realty in a $9.3 billion deal that should close in early 2024. The combination of those reinvested cash flows, its elite balance sheet, and the Spirit Realty deal should be enough to enable the REIT to deliver 4% to 5% adjusted FFO per share growth next year without raising any additional equity.

Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEPC)(NYSE: BEP), Realty Income (NYSE: O), and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) have been magnificent dividend stocks over the years by steadily increasing their high-yielding payouts. Start 2024 off right with these income-producing machines Brookfield Infrastructure, Realty Income, and Verizon offer investors high-yielding payouts that they've steadily increased. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Matthew DiLallo has positions in Brookfield Renewable, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Realty Income, and Verizon Communications.

Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEPC)(NYSE: BEP), Realty Income (NYSE: O), and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) have been magnificent dividend stocks over the years by steadily increasing their high-yielding payouts. Before you buy stock in Brookfield Renewable, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Brookfield Renewable wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Matthew DiLallo has positions in Brookfield Renewable, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Realty Income, and Verizon Communications.

Lots of power to continue growing its payout Brookfield Renewable currently offers a 4.7% dividend yield. The company's payout currently yields 5.4%, which could turn a $1,000 investment into $54 of annual dividend income. Should you invest $1,000 in Brookfield Renewable right now?

1711840.0

2023-12-16 23:30:00 UTC

Got $1,000? Buy These 3 Magnificent Dividend Stocks to Boost Your Income in 2024.

PAVMZ

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/got-%241000-buy-these-3-magnificent-dividend-stocks-to-boost-your-income-in-2024.

Investing in high-quality dividend stocks is a great way to generate passive income. The best ones can turn idle cash into an attractive and steadily rising income stream. Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEPC)(NYSE: BEP), Realty Income (NYSE: O), and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) have been magnificent dividend stocks over the years by steadily increasing their high-yielding payouts. That should continue in 2024 (and beyond), making them ideal income stocks to buy right now. Lots of power to continue growing its payout Brookfield Renewable currently offers a 4.7% dividend yield. That's several times above the S&P 500's 1.5% dividend yield. It could turn $1,000 into $47 of annual dividend income at that rate compared to $15 from an S&P 500 index fund. The renewable energy giant has done an excellent job growing its high-yielding dividend over the years. For the past dozen years, it has increased its payout by at least 5% annually. That upward trend should continue. Brookfield aims to increase its payout by 5% to 9% per year over the long term. It has plenty of power to achieve that plan. Brookfield's funds from operations (FFO) are on track to rise by more than 10% per share this year. The company is benefiting from strong organic growth drivers (inflation-linked power rate increases and development projects) and needle-moving acquisitions. It has closed three deals over the past few months, which gives it lots of momentum heading into 2024. The company believes its growth drivers position it to deliver double-digit FFO per share growth through at least 2028. That puts it in a strong position to continue increasing its high-yielding payout in the coming years. Built-in growth for 2024 Realty Income has been a magnificent dividend stock. The real estate investment trust (REIT) has increased its payment 123 times since its public market listing in 1994, including five times this year. The company's payout currently yields 5.4%, which could turn a $1,000 investment into $54 of annual dividend income. The REIT is in an excellent position to continue growing its payout in 2024. It got a head start on next year's growth by recently agreeing to acquire fellow REIT Spirit Realty in a $9.3 billion deal that should close in early 2024. The company expects the acquisition to increase its adjusted FFO by more than 2.5% per share next year. That's more than half its targeted annual growth rate of 4% to 5% per share. Realty Income anticipates that the combined company will generate over $800 million in post-dividend free cash flow. That will give it the funds to acquire even more income-producing real estate. The combination of those reinvested cash flows, its elite balance sheet, and the Spirit Realty deal should be enough to enable the REIT to deliver 4% to 5% adjusted FFO per share growth next year without raising any additional equity. The REIT should have no shortage of growth opportunities. It has steadily expanded into new areas, enhancing its ability to grow. It has added data centers, consumer-centric medical, gaming, vertical farming, credit investment, Italy, and Ireland to its investment verticals over the past year. That has extended its already long growth runway. Collecting more cash in 2024 Verizon currently yields 7.1%, which is one of the highest levels among S&P 500 members. The telecom giant recently increased its already sizable payout by another 1.9%, marking its 17th straight year of dividend growth. The company is in an excellent position to continue growing its dividend. It has invested heavily in building out its faster 5G network, which is helping to accelerate wireless service revenue growth. Meanwhile, it passed the peak for capital spending earlier this year, which will free up $5 billion of annual cash flow. On top of that, the company is working to trim a couple more billion dollars from its cost structure. These drivers will increase its already massive free cash flow, giving it more money to pay dividends and strengthen its balance sheet. Verizon's falling debt levels will help cut interest expenses, freeing up even more cash to enhance shareholder value. Start 2024 off right with these income-producing machines Brookfield Infrastructure, Realty Income, and Verizon offer investors high-yielding payouts that they've steadily increased. They're in excellent positions to continue growing their payouts in 2024 and beyond, and that makes them great dividend stocks to buy to boost your income in the coming year. Should you invest $1,000 in Brookfield Renewable right now? Before you buy stock in Brookfield Renewable, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Brookfield Renewable wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Matthew DiLallo has positions in Brookfield Renewable, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Realty Income, and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Brookfield Renewable and Realty Income. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Renewable Partners and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The company is benefiting from strong organic growth drivers (inflation-linked power rate increases and development projects) and needle-moving acquisitions. It got a head start on next year's growth by recently agreeing to acquire fellow REIT Spirit Realty in a $9.3 billion deal that should close in early 2024. The combination of those reinvested cash flows, its elite balance sheet, and the Spirit Realty deal should be enough to enable the REIT to deliver 4% to 5% adjusted FFO per share growth next year without raising any additional equity.

Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEPC)(NYSE: BEP), Realty Income (NYSE: O), and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) have been magnificent dividend stocks over the years by steadily increasing their high-yielding payouts. Start 2024 off right with these income-producing machines Brookfield Infrastructure, Realty Income, and Verizon offer investors high-yielding payouts that they've steadily increased. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Matthew DiLallo has positions in Brookfield Renewable, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Realty Income, and Verizon Communications.

Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEPC)(NYSE: BEP), Realty Income (NYSE: O), and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) have been magnificent dividend stocks over the years by steadily increasing their high-yielding payouts. Before you buy stock in Brookfield Renewable, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Brookfield Renewable wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Matthew DiLallo has positions in Brookfield Renewable, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Realty Income, and Verizon Communications.

Lots of power to continue growing its payout Brookfield Renewable currently offers a 4.7% dividend yield. The company's payout currently yields 5.4%, which could turn a $1,000 investment into $54 of annual dividend income. Should you invest $1,000 in Brookfield Renewable right now?

1817874.0

2023-12-16 23:30:00 UTC

2 EV Stocks to Sell in 2023 Before It's Too Late

PPHI

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/2-ev-stocks-to-sell-in-2023-before-its-too-late

There was a significant divergence in the fortunes of electric vehicle (EV) stocks in 2023. While Tesla (TSLA) has more than doubled in the year, many others - like Lucid Motors (LCID), Nikola (NKLA), Fisker (FSR), and Polestar (PSNY) - fell to record lows, albeit at different points throughout the year. We also had a new EV listing in the form of VinFast (VFS), and the Vietnam-based company quickly gained “meme status.” VFS soared after its initial listing in August, and printed as high as $93 – which gave the startup EV company a market cap of over $200 billion. That exceeded the combined market caps of Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), and Volkswagen (VWAGY). www.barchart.com This was also the year when the “demand” question came to the forefront, and multiple players - including Ford and General Motors - scaled back their EV production and slowed the pace of investments. Even the formidable Tesla has alluded to demand not being as strong amid the uncertain economy, and the company is proceeding cautiously on its upcoming Mexico factory. EV Industry Undergoes Turmoil in 2023 The EV price war also continued unabated, with Tesla cutting its cars' prices multiple times, most recently in October. Other players also joined the price war, and cut prices to keep their models competitive in what’s looking like an increasingly crowded market. The lethal combination of tough capital market conditions, execution woes, demand slowdown, price wars, and perennial losses took their toll on startup EV companies. Looking forward to 2024, the EV industry churn should continue as new models hit the markets at a time when dealers are saddled with unsold inventory of electric cars. Given that background, I believe VinFast and Electrameccanica Vehicles (SOLO) are two EV stocks investors should sell in 2023. Here’s why. VinFast Stock Still Looks Overvalued Despite having fallen sharply from its peak, VinFast still commands a market cap above $17 billion – which, for context, is higher than that of Chinese EV makers NIO (NIO) and Xpeng Motors (XPEV). Even if we account for the “valuation discount” amid the structural deterioration in the valuation of Chinese companies, it’s tough to justify VinFast’s current valuations. Notably, while VinFast went public only recently through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) reverse merger, the company could not raise much cash due to massive redemptions by unit holders. It is therefore reliant on its parent company, Vingroup, which granted it a loan of $955 million with Chairman Pham Nhat Vuong putting in another $291 million in the form of grants. Also, VinFast cars don’t have great reviews, unlike models from some of the other EV companies - like NIO, Rivian (RIVN), and Lucid Motors. VinFast might have a really tough time competing in the U.S., where Tesla is the market leader - and the Chinese market already looks oversaturated with domestic companies like BYD (BYDDY). While VinFast is looking at increasing sales in markets like India and Indonesia, these regions are not as lucrative as the U.S., which is the most profitable major automotive market - and China, meanwhile, is the world’s biggest market for new energy vehicles. Overall, with many other EV companies offering a much better product proposition, and stronger balance sheets available at much lower valuations, I would give VinFast stock a miss – at least, at these prices. Avoid Electrameccanica Vehicles Stock Electrameccanica Vehicles is another startup EV name that looks distressed. The stock is trading near its all-time lows, and its market cap is a mere $43 million. It was looking to merge with electric medium-duty truck manufacturer Tevva Motors Limited, but the deal was called off. www.barchart.com The company is now looking to merge with other businesses, and in its December update it said that while it held talks with over 20 candidates since the second week of October, it “recently narrowed the focus of these efforts to just a handful of electric businesses.” SOLO also said that it is “actively exploring a wider variety of ways to leverage our state-of-the-art, 235,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Mesa, AZ.” While SOLO once looked like a promising EV startup with a differentiated product, there are not many takers for its three-wheeled vehicles. Things might only get worse as automakers, including Tesla, launch lower-priced EV models. The fact that Electrameccanica Vehicles did a product recall for its SOLO G2 and G3 for model years between 2019 and 2023 did not help bring any credibility to its vehicles. While the company might still find a merger partner, I would stay away from SOLO stock, given the high risk associated with this distressed EV play. On the date of publication, Mohit Oberoi had a position in: F , GM , RIVN , XPEV , NIO . All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

www.barchart.com This was also the year when the “demand” question came to the forefront, and multiple players - including Ford and General Motors - scaled back their EV production and slowed the pace of investments. The lethal combination of tough capital market conditions, execution woes, demand slowdown, price wars, and perennial losses took their toll on startup EV companies. Looking forward to 2024, the EV industry churn should continue as new models hit the markets at a time when dealers are saddled with unsold inventory of electric cars.

That exceeded the combined market caps of Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), and Volkswagen (VWAGY). www.barchart.com This was also the year when the “demand” question came to the forefront, and multiple players - including Ford and General Motors - scaled back their EV production and slowed the pace of investments. EV Industry Undergoes Turmoil in 2023 The EV price war also continued unabated, with Tesla cutting its cars' prices multiple times, most recently in October.

We also had a new EV listing in the form of VinFast (VFS), and the Vietnam-based company quickly gained “meme status.” VFS soared after its initial listing in August, and printed as high as $93 – which gave the startup EV company a market cap of over $200 billion. VinFast Stock Still Looks Overvalued Despite having fallen sharply from its peak, VinFast still commands a market cap above $17 billion – which, for context, is higher than that of Chinese EV makers NIO (NIO) and Xpeng Motors (XPEV). www.barchart.com The company is now looking to merge with other businesses, and in its December update it said that while it held talks with over 20 candidates since the second week of October, it “recently narrowed the focus of these efforts to just a handful of electric businesses.” SOLO also said that it is “actively exploring a wider variety of ways to leverage our state-of-the-art, 235,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Mesa, AZ.” While SOLO once looked like a promising EV startup with a differentiated product, there are not many takers for its three-wheeled vehicles.

Given that background, I believe VinFast and Electrameccanica Vehicles (SOLO) are two EV stocks investors should sell in 2023. VinFast Stock Still Looks Overvalued Despite having fallen sharply from its peak, VinFast still commands a market cap above $17 billion – which, for context, is higher than that of Chinese EV makers NIO (NIO) and Xpeng Motors (XPEV). The fact that Electrameccanica Vehicles did a product recall for its SOLO G2 and G3 for model years between 2019 and 2023 did not help bring any credibility to its vehicles.

40909.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

Dow Movers: CRM, CVX

ACGLO

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/dow-movers%3A-crm-cvx-4

In early trading on Wednesday, shares of Chevron topped the list of the day's best performing Dow Jones Industrial Average components, trading up 0.5%. Year to date, Chevron has lost about 15.1% of its value. And the worst performing Dow component thus far on the day is Salesforce, trading down 0.7%. Salesforce is showing a gain of 98.0% looking at the year to date performance. Two other components making moves today are International Business Machines, trading down 0.6%, and Walt Disney, trading up 0.2% on the day. VIDEO: Dow Movers: CRM, CVX The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In early trading on Wednesday, shares of Chevron topped the list of the day's best performing Dow Jones Industrial Average components, trading up 0.5%. And the worst performing Dow component thus far on the day is Salesforce, trading down 0.7%. Salesforce is showing a gain of 98.0% looking at the year to date performance.

In early trading on Wednesday, shares of Chevron topped the list of the day's best performing Dow Jones Industrial Average components, trading up 0.5%. Year to date, Chevron has lost about 15.1% of its value. And the worst performing Dow component thus far on the day is Salesforce, trading down 0.7%.

In early trading on Wednesday, shares of Chevron topped the list of the day's best performing Dow Jones Industrial Average components, trading up 0.5%. And the worst performing Dow component thus far on the day is Salesforce, trading down 0.7%. Two other components making moves today are International Business Machines, trading down 0.6%, and Walt Disney, trading up 0.2% on the day.

And the worst performing Dow component thus far on the day is Salesforce, trading down 0.7%. Salesforce is showing a gain of 98.0% looking at the year to date performance. VIDEO: Dow Movers: CRM, CVX The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

125876.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

Wednesday 12/20 Insider Buying Report: CPZ, FLO

AKO-A

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/wednesday-12-20-insider-buying-report%3A-cpz-flo

As the saying goes, there are many possible reasons for an insider to sell a stock, but only one reason to buy -- they expect to make money. So let's look at two noteworthy recent insider buys. On Monday, Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust's President and Chairman, John P. Calamos Sr., made a $201,090 purchase of CPZ, buying 13,715 shares at a cost of $14.66 each. So far Calamos Sr. is in the green, up about 1.8% on their purchase based on today's trading high of $14.93. Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust is trading up about 0.2% on the day Wednesday. Before this latest buy, Calamos Sr. made one other buy in the past twelve months, purchasing $233,607 shares for a cost of $14.77 each. And also on Monday, CEO Ryals McMullian bought $200,153 worth of Flowers Foods, buying 9,100 shares at a cost of $21.99 each. This purchase marks the first one filed by McMullian in the past year. Flowers Foods is trading down about 0.2% on the day Wednesday. So far McMullian is in the green, up about 2.0% on their purchase based on today's trading high of $22.43. Also see: • • • The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust is trading up about 0.2% on the day Wednesday. And also on Monday, CEO Ryals McMullian bought $200,153 worth of Flowers Foods, buying 9,100 shares at a cost of $21.99 each. So far McMullian is in the green, up about 2.0% on their purchase based on today's trading high of $22.43.

On Monday, Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust's President and Chairman, John P. Calamos Sr., made a $201,090 purchase of CPZ, buying 13,715 shares at a cost of $14.66 each. So far Calamos Sr. is in the green, up about 1.8% on their purchase based on today's trading high of $14.93. Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust is trading up about 0.2% on the day Wednesday.

On Monday, Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust's President and Chairman, John P. Calamos Sr., made a $201,090 purchase of CPZ, buying 13,715 shares at a cost of $14.66 each. So far Calamos Sr. is in the green, up about 1.8% on their purchase based on today's trading high of $14.93. Before this latest buy, Calamos Sr. made one other buy in the past twelve months, purchasing $233,607 shares for a cost of $14.77 each.

On Monday, Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust's President and Chairman, John P. Calamos Sr., made a $201,090 purchase of CPZ, buying 13,715 shares at a cost of $14.66 each. Before this latest buy, Calamos Sr. made one other buy in the past twelve months, purchasing $233,607 shares for a cost of $14.77 each. And also on Monday, CEO Ryals McMullian bought $200,153 worth of Flowers Foods, buying 9,100 shares at a cost of $21.99 each.

247115.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

Apple can't repair older out-of-warranty watches during ban - Bloomberg News

ARTLW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/apple-cant-repair-older-out-of-warranty-watches-during-ban-bloomberg-news

Dec 21 (Reuters) - Apple AAPL.O customer service teams were informed in a company memo this week that it will no longer replace out-of-warranty models going back to Apple Watch Series 6, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. The iPhone maker is in the midst of a patent dispute related to a technology used in newer models of its watch. Apple said on Monday it would pause sales of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the U.S. from this week, in relation to the patent dispute over the technology that enables the blood oxygen feature on the devices. If a customer has a broken screen, for instance, they won't be able to get the issue fixed by Apple, Bloomberg News said, adding that the company will still offer help that can be done via software, such as reinstalling the operating system. Company representatives were told to inform affected customers that they will be contacted when hardware replacements are allowed again, according to the report. Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. (Reporting by Arsheeya Bajwa in Bengaluru) ((ArsheeyaSingh.Bajwa@thomsonreuters.com; +91 8510015800)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Apple said on Monday it would pause sales of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the U.S. from this week, in relation to the patent dispute over the technology that enables the blood oxygen feature on the devices. If a customer has a broken screen, for instance, they won't be able to get the issue fixed by Apple, Bloomberg News said, adding that the company will still offer help that can be done via software, such as reinstalling the operating system. Company representatives were told to inform affected customers that they will be contacted when hardware replacements are allowed again, according to the report.

Dec 21 (Reuters) - Apple AAPL.O customer service teams were informed in a company memo this week that it will no longer replace out-of-warranty models going back to Apple Watch Series 6, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. The iPhone maker is in the midst of a patent dispute related to a technology used in newer models of its watch. If a customer has a broken screen, for instance, they won't be able to get the issue fixed by Apple, Bloomberg News said, adding that the company will still offer help that can be done via software, such as reinstalling the operating system.

Dec 21 (Reuters) - Apple AAPL.O customer service teams were informed in a company memo this week that it will no longer replace out-of-warranty models going back to Apple Watch Series 6, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. Apple said on Monday it would pause sales of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the U.S. from this week, in relation to the patent dispute over the technology that enables the blood oxygen feature on the devices. If a customer has a broken screen, for instance, they won't be able to get the issue fixed by Apple, Bloomberg News said, adding that the company will still offer help that can be done via software, such as reinstalling the operating system.

Dec 21 (Reuters) - Apple AAPL.O customer service teams were informed in a company memo this week that it will no longer replace out-of-warranty models going back to Apple Watch Series 6, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. The iPhone maker is in the midst of a patent dispute related to a technology used in newer models of its watch. Apple said on Monday it would pause sales of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the U.S. from this week, in relation to the patent dispute over the technology that enables the blood oxygen feature on the devices.

325863.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

S&P 500 Movers: FDX, GOOGL

BH-A

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/sp-500-movers%3A-fdx-googl

In early trading on Wednesday, shares of Alphabet topped the list of the day's best performing components of the S&P 500 index, trading up 2.3%. Year to date, Alphabet registers a 58.4% gain. And the worst performing S&P 500 component thus far on the day is FedEx, trading down 10.2%. FedEx is showing a gain of 45.2% looking at the year to date performance. One other component making moves today is AON, trading down 8.2% on the day. VIDEO: S&P 500 Movers: FDX, GOOGL The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

And the worst performing S&P 500 component thus far on the day is FedEx, trading down 10.2%. FedEx is showing a gain of 45.2% looking at the year to date performance. One other component making moves today is AON, trading down 8.2% on the day.

In early trading on Wednesday, shares of Alphabet topped the list of the day's best performing components of the S&P 500 index, trading up 2.3%. Year to date, Alphabet registers a 58.4% gain. And the worst performing S&P 500 component thus far on the day is FedEx, trading down 10.2%.

In early trading on Wednesday, shares of Alphabet topped the list of the day's best performing components of the S&P 500 index, trading up 2.3%. And the worst performing S&P 500 component thus far on the day is FedEx, trading down 10.2%. VIDEO: S&P 500 Movers: FDX, GOOGL The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

And the worst performing S&P 500 component thus far on the day is FedEx, trading down 10.2%. FedEx is showing a gain of 45.2% looking at the year to date performance. VIDEO: S&P 500 Movers: FDX, GOOGL The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

1109870.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

Wednesday's ETF Movers: EES, EMGF

GECCM

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/wednesdays-etf-movers%3A-ees-emgf

In trading on Wednesday, the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Fund ETF is outperforming other ETFs, up about 1.2% on the day. Components of that ETF showing particular strength include shares of System1, up about 28.5% and shares of Oportun Financial, up about 13.9% on the day. And underperforming other ETFs today is the iShares Emerging Markets Equity Factor ETF, down about 5.3% in Wednesday afternoon trading. Among components of that ETF with the weakest showing on Wednesday were shares of Lufax Holding, lower by about 3.3%, and shares of KE Holdings, lower by about 2.1% on the day. VIDEO: Wednesday's ETF Movers: EES, EMGF The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

And underperforming other ETFs today is the iShares Emerging Markets Equity Factor ETF, down about 5.3% in Wednesday afternoon trading. Among components of that ETF with the weakest showing on Wednesday were shares of Lufax Holding, lower by about 3.3%, and shares of KE Holdings, lower by about 2.1% on the day. VIDEO: Wednesday's ETF Movers: EES, EMGF The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Components of that ETF showing particular strength include shares of System1, up about 28.5% and shares of Oportun Financial, up about 13.9% on the day. Among components of that ETF with the weakest showing on Wednesday were shares of Lufax Holding, lower by about 3.3%, and shares of KE Holdings, lower by about 2.1% on the day. VIDEO: Wednesday's ETF Movers: EES, EMGF The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Fund ETF is outperforming other ETFs, up about 1.2% on the day. And underperforming other ETFs today is the iShares Emerging Markets Equity Factor ETF, down about 5.3% in Wednesday afternoon trading. Among components of that ETF with the weakest showing on Wednesday were shares of Lufax Holding, lower by about 3.3%, and shares of KE Holdings, lower by about 2.1% on the day.

In trading on Wednesday, the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Fund ETF is outperforming other ETFs, up about 1.2% on the day. Components of that ETF showing particular strength include shares of System1, up about 28.5% and shares of Oportun Financial, up about 13.9% on the day. And underperforming other ETFs today is the iShares Emerging Markets Equity Factor ETF, down about 5.3% in Wednesday afternoon trading.

1251483.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

General Mills (GIS) Q2 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

HCXY

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/general-mills-gis-q2-2024-earnings-call-transcript

Image source: The Motley Fool. General Mills (NYSE: GIS) Q2 2024 Earnings Call Dec 20, 2023, 9:00 a.m. ET Contents: Prepared Remarks Questions and Answers Call Participants Prepared Remarks: Operator Greetings and welcome to the General Mills second quarter F '24earnings call During the presentation, all participants will be in a listen-only mode. Afterwards, we will conduct a question-and-answer session. [Operator instructions] As a reminder, this conference is being recorded, Wednesday, December 20, 2023. I would now like to turn the conference over to Jeff Siemon, vice president for investor relations and treasurer. Please go ahead. Jeff Siemon -- Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer Thank you, Dina, and good morning to everyone. Thank you for joining us this morning for our Q&A session on our second quarter fiscal 2024 results. I hope everyone had time to review our press release, listen to the prepared remarks, and view our presentation materials, which were made available this morning on our investor relations website. Please note that in our Q&A session this morning, we may make forward-looking statements that are based on our current views and assumptions. Please refer to this morning's press release for factors that could impact forward-looking statements and for reconciliations of non-GAAP information, which may be discussed on today's call. I'm here with Jeff Harmening, our chairman and CEO; and Kofi Bruce, our CFO. So, let's go ahead and get to the first question. Dina, can you please get us started? Should you invest $1,000 in General Mills right now? Before you buy stock in General Mills, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and General Mills wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Questions & Answers: Operator Of course. [Operator instructions] Our first question is coming from the line of David Palmer with Evercore ISI. Please go ahead. David Palmer -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst Thank you. A question on North America retail margins. They've been impressive in spite of the volume declines we've been seeing. Do you think that the segment margin can hold near these levels given what's going on with volume trends? And I guess, what -- a couple of factors I'm thinking about is some of your high-margin categories like dough might be a negative mix effect. But then again, you're talking about accelerating productivity gains. And so, curious about the margins for that segment. Kofi Bruce -- Chief Financial Officer Yeah. David, thanks for the question. Just to rewind a bit, we've seen the margin improvement, to your point, largely on the backs of really strong HMM delivery. So, one of the features of this environment has been sort of the stabilization of the supply chain environment, which has allowed us to step up HMM more acutely on this business than our other segments and also to get at some of those disruption-related costs. We've made really strong margin progression gains on this business on the backs of those two things. I expect that to abate a bit here as we move forward just as a result of having already gotten out a good chunk of those disruption-related costs. So, on balance, I see this business poised for more stability in aggregate. David Palmer -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst And then with regard to the pet business, you know, maybe -- is there a comment you want to make there about what the biggest fix will be from here? You know, Wilderness, for example, has been relatively weak. But, you know, what do you think the best earliest fixes will be for that business and what are some of the long-term things you're looking to do to improve the trajectory? Thanks. Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Yeah. Thanks, David. This is Jeff. You know, I would say that, you know, in the presentation, we shared four things we're working on, and, you know, a couple of the things we know that we can improve upon to improve the profile of the business. And, you know, two of them were -- we feel good about. And that's important because, you know, it shows that the Blue brand is still strong. And so, as we look at Life Protection Formula, we've changed our advertising on that, and the business has responded, you know, nicely, and we've seen steady improvements there. We have changed the merchandising on our treats business. And while not all the way to bright, we've seen, you know, significant improvement throughout the second quarter on that business. And yet, the results are still not what we want to be. And so, you know, that leads to, you know, what needed to come next. And there are really a couple of businesses that we need to improve. One is our wet business and our wet pet food. And so, you'll see us introduce some value and variety packs in the back half of the year, starting in January. And that -- you know, we'd like to see improvements in that. And then the biggest fixes, which will take a little bit longer, and they're kind of interlinked, but they're not the same, one is Wilderness. And, you know, we really need to reposition the Wilderness brand and do some work on that, and that'll take a little while to get back to full health. The other is that, you know, we have the pet specialty channel. In itself has not done particularly well. We over-indexed in that channel. And there are some things we can probably do to perform better in that channel, even while we keep investing to grow our food, drug, and mass channel, which we're quite pleased with the results, and online with the results. The other thing I guess I would add is, you know, we did have -- as we look at the back half of the year, you know, the reason we're not saying, you know, recovery or stabilization is that in the back half, we had shipments ahead of sales last year. And so, we're lapping that. That is particularly true in the third quarter. And so, even to the extent we see some stabilization in the sales trends in pet, the reported net sales are going to lag that because of some inventory build in the back half of the year. So, those are the things that we need to do. Some of them are underway, and we like what we see so far. And there are a couple more that we really need to work on, and it'll take a little bit longer. David Palmer -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst Thank you. Operator Our next question is coming from the line of Andrew Lazar with Barclays. Please go ahead. Andrew Lazar -- Barclays Capital -- Analyst Great. Thanks so much. Good morning, everybody. Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Good morning. Kofi Bruce -- Chief Financial Officer Good morning. Andrew Lazar -- Barclays Capital -- Analyst Good morning. Jeff, I wanted to maybe chat a bit about, you know, I realize, as you've talked about in the prepared remarks, the company has some EPS flexibility despite the weaker sales, you know, in the form of lower sort of compensation expense versus last year, the HMM that's been stepped up, some more share repurchase versus your sort of initial expectations. So, I guess my question is, you know, is '24 a year where maybe the company perhaps should lean in even more and maybe be a little less concerned about sort of a specific EPS range, if you will, in order to set it up -- set the company up for a more sustainable sort of growth in '25 and beyond? That's a question I'm sort of getting a lot this morning, so I just wanted to get your thoughts on that if I could. Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Yeah. Andrew, I'm glad you asked, and I appreciate the fact that you're getting a lot. I think it's a really important question because, you know, our job is to maximize long-term shareholder return, not in any particular quarter, frankly, even in any particular year. And so, one of the things that we -- as we look back over time, when the consumer is stressed and, you know, results are harder to come by, you know, one of the things we've seen successful companies like ours do is reinvest for the future. And that comes in the form of consumer investment, but also investment in capabilities, things like strategic revenue management and performance marketing and automating supply chains and things like that. And so, incumbent and included in our results is an increase in consumer spending. Even though we've guided down on our sales for the year, we'll still invest in consumer spending. And we're still investing in all the capabilities that we know will drive our growth, not only for this year, but in years to come. And then that's with regard to growing revenues, but also maintaining our discipline on HMM. And, you know, automation and using AI in our supply chains are going to be important parts of that as well. So, one of the things that, you know, I want to make sure you can tell your investors is that, you know, while our profit guidance is still 4% to 5% growth on EPS, that's inclusive of making sure we maintain our reinvestment in the business. And we're able to do that because our HMM levels are very high right now, we're taking out the cost from our supply chain. And as you mentioned, our admin costs are declining. Andrew Lazar -- Barclays Capital -- Analyst Great. Thanks for that. And then just on -- a bit more on the faster competitor normalization of shelf availability comments that you made in the prepared remarks, is it an issue in a specific category or is it more broad-based, and is General Mills actually losing shelf space, or, really, just others now having better availability in the slots that they have, and what have you seen that mean for promotional intensity or not? Thanks so much. Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer All right. Andrew, I'm going to try to address all those questions, and if I miss one, come back because I didn't mean to -- Andrew Lazar -- Barclays Capital -- Analyst Will do. Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer I didn't mean to skip it. Yeah. Andrew Lazar -- Barclays Capital -- Analyst Will do. Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer On the on-shelf availability, you know, when we put our guidance together for this year, I mean, we grew at 10% last year and our original guidance was 3% to 4% this year. And so, we knew that on-shelf availability would be a headwind for us because, frankly, our supply chain held up a lot better than our competition did a year ago. So, we calculate -- we factored that into our guidance for this year. But the fact of the matter is on-shelf availability for our competition increased a lot faster, particularly private label and small players, faster than we had anticipated. Importantly, they're now catching up to our on-shelf availability. And so, we've actually improved our on-shelf availability this year. So, it's not as if we have gone backward, we -- our on-shelf availability is higher now. And you can see that out because we've reduced our disruption costs. It's just that our competitors have increased quite a bit now and have, you know, kind of drawn even with us after trailing for like four years. So, you know, that's the first part of the question. We anticipated but not the rate of change. In terms of the -- and we'll lap -- we'll start lapping that, really, in kind of late April and May of this year, so that's when we started to see this impact. In terms of distribution, one of the things -- you know, our teams, across the board, certainly in North America retail, are really executing well, and our share of distribution is actually up. And so, there's not a problem with our distribution. In fact, the opposite. Our distribution looks good. And I will say that I'm really excited about our innovation in the back half of this year, which I'm hoping will bolster that further. We've got good innovation in cereal, we've got good innovation in yogurt and soup, and Old El Paso and Haagen-Dazs. And so, you know, as I look across our big, you know, billion-dollar businesses, our innovation lineup is really good and, frankly, better than it was last year. And so, as we look to the next half of the year, I think we can see, you know, our distribution continuing to build. You know, as what it means to promotional -- you know, the promotional environment, it's been a very rational promotional environment, you know, against, you know, some thoughts to the contrary. We have seen the number of promotions pick up this year, as we expected, because of on-shelf availability. Importantly, we've also seen the quality of the merchandising, specifically the quality of merchandising that we get, has also accelerated. And because the quality of merchandising has improved for us, we've seen the list we receive, but also the ROI we receive, have been better than they were a year ago. But importantly, and this is a really important point, even though the level of merchandising has increased in frequency, it has not increased in depth. And even the frequency is still below where it was before the pandemic, and the depth of the promotion is well below. So, yes, we're seeing increased levels of promotion. We expected that. And frankly, the returns are better because of the quality of merchandising that we're seeing. Andrew Lazar -- Barclays Capital -- Analyst Great. Thank you so much and have a great holiday. Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thanks. You, too. Operator Our next question is coming from the line of Ken Goldman with J.P. Morgan. Please go ahead. Ken Goldman -- J.P. Morgan -- Analyst Hi. Thank you. Good morning. When you visited New York a couple of months ago, you mentioned that you're -- you know, you may lean in a little bit harder to share repo. So, I don't think today's announcement on that line item was a huge surprise. But I guess I'm curious, you've also spoken about your ongoing desire to be flexible for potential strategic acquisitions. And I'm just wondering, is there any read through, you know, from your willingness to purchase more shares than you initially expected into how you kind of see the ripeness of M&A opportunities, I guess, in today's market? Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Yeah, Ken. This is Jeff. Let me start with that question. And, Kofi, if you want to add any color commentary, that will probably be helpful, too. But no, the fact that we repurchased more shares in the quarter than originally anticipated at the beginning of the year is not a reflection of a change in -- on how we view capital allocation. We -- we're investing quite a bit in the business and then, you know, increasing our dividend. And then if we see M&A, we'll certainly do more M&A. And if not, we said we repurchase shares, which is what we're doing. And, you know, importantly, our net debt to EBITDA levels are in a good place. And so, to the extent that we see something that we think can create shareholder value in terms of portfolio reshaping, we're more than capable of doing that. So, what you've seen is really a reflection of our executing against the capital allocation priorities we already stated. Kofi Bruce -- Chief Financial Officer And I think, Ken, the only other thing I'd add is just to state one of the obvious sort of underlying points, we're getting additional leverage out of our repurchase activity. So, our dollars are going further because of the pressure, obviously, on the stock and as much as the stock has come down since the beginning of our fiscal year. So, that's also amplifying the impact in terms of the diluted share count and the acceleration into the front half of the year. But I think I'd reiterate Jeff's point, we expect to have more than ample flexibility for M&A should we see the right project or set of projects. None of the things we're doing at share repurchase we would expect to take our leverage above three times net debt to EBITDA. Ken Goldman -- J.P. Morgan -- Analyst And then changing subjects, you know, one of the more appealing elements of pet food as a category has been the high level of switching costs, especially in premium, where there's less price sensitivity to. Just curious, though, given some of the challenges facing Blue, is it fair to wonder if maybe the cost to switch isn't quite as high as we all thought and that premium isn't quite as protected, or do you think maybe, hey, we're just in a unique time when the specialty channel is kind of lagging at the same exact time that the consumer suddenly worse off? Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Yeah, Ken, that's a fair question. I think there are two things at play here, and one of them you pointed out, but I'll start in another area. As we look at the pet food business, the feeding business, and certainly, that was a majority of the business we bought when we bought Blue Buffalo is feeding, is relatively inelastic. And, you know, when we see that with the -- you know, our dry pet food, both cat and dog food performance, the -- but treating, and we bought into that when we bought the pet food business from Tyson a couple of years later, that is actually more elastic and is more of an impulse purchase. And that's why when you see the economy as it is, people trading down to less expensive treats if they're still treating and trading a little bit out of treats because they're trying to economize on that, but they stick with the feeding. And so, the first part of the question -- the first part is is that the feeding part is actually not more inelastic than we had thought. The -- but, you know, treating is more elastic. The second piece is it's a combination, as you say. I mean, I don't remember the last time we've seen 30% increase in cost, you know, over three years. And while it's relatively inelastic, it's not completely inelastic. And so, the combination of the tremendous increase in input costs, combined with the pet specialty channel where we over-indexed, you know, that is -- there's no question that those two things have had an impact on our business in the short term. But importantly, as we look over the five years we've owned the business, we've doubled the business. The Blue brand is really strong when we execute well against it, whether it's on Life Protection Formula advertising or holiday treats or things like that. We see the business really respond well. And it's very clear to us, this humanization trend is going to continue, and that Blue is well-placed to capture that over the course of time. Operator Our next question is coming from the line of Nik Modi with RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead. Nik Modi -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst Yeah. Thanks. Good morning, everyone. On the promotional -- I want to follow up on the promotional comment. You know, one thing we're hearing from retailers is, you know, the lift doesn't seem to be as good as we've seen historically, Jeff. So, I just -- I was hoping you can just comment on that. And is that something you're seeing in the marketplace, and does that kind of maybe be a -- send a signal that perhaps absolute price points have become too high? I would just love your comments on that. Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer So, you know, when we talk about historical, it kind of depends, Nik, on what we mean by historical. I don't mean to be acute with this, but if we look relative to where we were a year ago, you know, what we see is our lifts have actually improved vis-a-vis where they were a year ago. If we look to see where the lifts are versus where they were four years ago, they're not quite at the levels where they were four years ago. And I don't have a fact that I can point to as to why exactly that is the case. But I would tell you that, you know, neither we nor consumers have seen inflation the way we've seen it over the last few years. And consumers are still getting used to new prices in the marketplace. And I suspect, you know, whether that's food or gas or rent or any number of things, that that is absolutely the case, and it will take a little while for consumers to settle in to what new price points are to the extent we continue to see inflation, which we do, even if at a more modest level. So, Nik, I would say that relative to a year ago, we're pleased with the progress of our lifts. But relative to historic pre-pandemic, they're a little bit lower, and I would surmise that it's the consumer catching up to a new reality. Nik Modi -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst Great. Thanks. I'll pass it on. Operator Our next question is coming from the line of Pamela Kaufman with Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead. Pamela Kaufman -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst Hi. Good morning. Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Good morning. Kofi Bruce -- Chief Financial Officer Good morning. Pamela Kaufman -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst I had a follow-up question on the guidance for this year. Just wanted to see if you could walk through the puts and takes of the updated outlook. So, your org sales outlook implies about 800 million less in sales this year at the midpoint versus before, but you narrowed your EBIT growth guidance slightly compared to your prior expectations. So, can you just walk through -- I know you have the higher HMM savings, but where else are you finding offsets in the P&L because HMM wouldn't seem to explain the full impact on -- you know, the lower impact on EBIT changing? Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer So, Pam, Kofi and I are going to tag team this. Let me talk about that -- let me talk about the revenue, and then Kofi is going to take the rest of the P&L side. On the revenue side, the way I think about our guidance is that in order to hit the low end of our guidance, let's call it, you know, minus 1%, that would indicate that we would see a continuation of the top-line performance we saw in Q2 and which would indicate a little bit better volume and a little bit less price/mix than we saw in the second quarter, but in absolute terms, you know, about the same as we saw in the second quarter. The higher end of our guidance, which suggests that the categories get a little bit better, which we think they certainly could due to lapping the SNAP, you know, emergency reductions from a year ago and, you know, January through March and from our lapping pricing activity from March and April of last year. So, you know, those two things, combined with, you know, a little bit better share performance based on the out-of-stock situation changing near the end of the year, you know, we could hit the top end of the guidance we suggested. So, that kind of brackets the top line, and I'll let Kofi talk a little bit more about the profitability. Kofi Bruce -- Chief Financial Officer Sure, Pam, and thanks for the question. I would just note, the HMM adjustment is pretty significant. As a reminder, in the past two years, we've delivered below our historic levels of kind of 4% and 3% for each of the prior two years due to the supply chain disrupted environment. We're now on pace to deliver 5% against an early expectation of 4%. That is the biggest single contributor, but we are seeing, you know, improvement in our inflation but not significant enough to change the routing. So, that's a modest contributor as well. But the other component in gross margin is the supply chain-related disruption costs. So, as I mentioned earlier, one of the features of this environment is supply chain stability has allowed us to get at some of those embedded costs we took on to operate in this environment, and we've made sequential improvement over the last four quarters on this and most acutely within our North America retail business. And then lastly, the adjustment of our incentive off of last year's peak levels. So, you know, as you know, last year, really strong year performance, historically high levels of incentive-based comp, which is variable and based on the top- and bottom-line projections. As that's both normalized at the start of the year to a base expectation of planned targets and, now, as we take the top line down, that's almost $100 million in reduction in admin expense. So, as you take all of those, that gives us the confidence to keep within the range, albeit a little tighter as volume expectations come in from the top of the year. Pamela Kaufman -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst Thanks. That's very helpful. And just a follow-up question on gross margins, they're now back to pre-pandemic levels, so how are you thinking about the potential for gross margin expansion from here? On one hand, you have the benefit from HMM, but I'm assuming there will be some volume deleverage. So, how should we expect gross margins to progress, and do you kind of see them at the right levels here? Kofi Bruce -- Chief Financial Officer Yeah. Well, OK, I think it -- you know, implied within our guidance would be, you know, a little bit less gross -- operating margin expansion, bolstered, obviously, by gross margins in the back half as we see a step-down -- a sequential step-down in the contributions from price/mix as we lapped last year's SRM actions fully by Q4 of this year. You know, I'd just note, we've made significant progress at the gross margin level and bolstered, in part, not just by HMM these past two quarters, but, in part, by the disruption costs that I mentioned earlier, 170 basis points, 120 basis points in the back half of last year and the first half of this year, respectively. So, I would expect we'd see more normalized levels of gross margin expansion going forward, kind of off of this base. There are still a little bit more disruption-related costs to get out, primarily in some of our other businesses outside of NAR. So, that'll give us a little bit of a tailwind. But to your point, given the volume environment, that's largely going to go to offset the impacts of deleverage. Pamela Kaufman -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst Thank you. Operator And our next question is coming from the line of Matthew Smith with Stifel. Please go ahead. Matthew Smith -- Stifel Financial Corp. -- Analyst Hi. Good morning. Wanted to follow up on the elevated level of HMM savings here in the year. You mentioned it's a step up relative to the prior two years where it was a bit lower because of inflation and supply chain issues. But how much of the elevated rate here this year is a pull forward from savings that you would expect next year? Or I guess that's another way of saying just how sustainable is this elevated rate of HMM savings as you exit fiscal '24? Kofi Bruce -- Chief Financial Officer Well, I would expect that if the supply chain environment remains stable and continues to stabilize even a little further, we will have the ability to deliver at least in line with our historic levels of about 4% HMM, 4% of COGS. I would expect that the contributions from getting out some of those other disruption-related costs that's sitting in COGS to decrease a bit here as we've gathered a good chunk of them on the back of our NAR business and as we see maybe a smaller base of cost in the other three segments. So, all things equal, I think 4% would be a good long-term estimate for us to migrate back to, provided the supply chain environment continues to cooperate. Matthew Smith -- Stifel Financial Corp. -- Analyst Thank you, Kofi. And, Jeff, maybe a follow-up about your share performance as you begin to lap the rebuild of competitive distribution, which I believe you said that begins to move into the base as you exit fiscal '24. You're holding and gaining share in the majority of the distribution of your categories. So, would you expect your dollar market share performance to improve as you lap that competitive rebuild or are there other concerns like consumer value-seeking behavior or list price gaps that may need to be addressed as the share of shelf normalizes? Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Yeah. One of the things that I'm most pleased with is that, you know, over the last five years, particularly in North America retail, we've gained share in 60% of our categories. And, you know, we continue to execute well. And, you know, the key to our success, once we start to lap the on-shelf availability and once we lap the pricing activities from March and April, will be to the question that Andrew proposed, which is making sure we maintain our brand-building support and really good brand-building, make sure we execute against what I think is a really good innovation, and continue to execute in store. And if we do those things, and I would expect us to do those things, then, you know, our share performance will certainly improve over time. And hopefully, as we're exiting this fiscal year and beginning next fiscal year, we'll see that happen. Interestingly, you know, our dollar share performance, you know, has not been what we needed to be. In terms of pound share, we are growing pound share in about 40% of our categories. And then that's because even though our pricing trailed inflation, so we responded to inflationary pressures, we're actually more agile than our competitors. And so, that provided us a dollar share benefit last year. And, you know, this year, it's a headwind, but we are growing pound share in roughly 40% of our categories. Matthew Smith -- Stifel Financial Corp. -- Analyst Thanks, Jeff. I'll leave it there and pass it on. Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thanks. Operator Our next question is coming from the line of Michael Lavery with Piper Sandler. Please go ahead. Michael Lavery -- Piper Sandler -- Analyst Thank you. Good morning. Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Good morning. Michael Lavery -- Piper Sandler -- Analyst I wanted to -- have a couple of follow-ups on the shelf availability. You said it's improving for competitors. Would you say that it's -- that there are still headwinds to come there or is that sort of all caught up to a normal level? And then on the promotional sort of dynamic related to that, you gave some color on how that environment looks. But just given your guidance update, it would seem like, strategically, you'd rather take a little bit of the volume hit than push promo much harder. I suppose, first, is that a fair characterization? Then what would make you lean in more on the pricing side? Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer On the on-shelf availability, I mean, the competitors have kind of caught up to our levels, and that's been pretty stable for the past few months, and I wouldn't accept -- I wouldn't expect that to accelerate. So, I think we've seen a stabilization in that. Now, we'll see that their on-shelf availability, you know, kind of -- which is equal to ours, I'll remind you. So, we're -- actually, we're doing quite well. So, it's equal to ours. You know, we'll see -- they will see that benefit for the next, you know, three or four months until they start to lap it, you know, a year from now. And so, while it has stabilized, you know, we'll see some of our competitors see a benefit for that for the next few months, and then they won't. You know, in terms of the pricing environment itself, you know, I'm not really going to get into specifics of future pricing. You know, what we do see is that -- I think importantly, we've seen an inflationary environment ahead of us. I know there's been talk of deflation in some cases, and that may be true for things like commodities like milk and eggs. But it's certainly not true for restaurants. You know, their inflation is actually outpacing ours, and we see inflation in the low single digits. So, you look at our -- the category pricing, and it's somewhere in the 2% to 3% range. So, we see continued inflation, even at a lower level. And, you know, usually, pricing tends to follow inflation because that's the basis on which we increase prices if we see an inflationary environment. And so, the -- I -- as we look at trade-offs, I mean, our job is to create long-term value for shareholders, and we do that by serving consumers, and we'll do that by making sure that our brands are strong and by innovating and making sure the products are available when and where people want them. Michael Lavery -- Piper Sandler -- Analyst OK. That's really helpful. And just one quick follow-up on pet. You had mentioned the retailer inventory destocking and characterized it as a temporary headwind. Is that just because there's only so low they can go or do you expect it to reverse? Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer I do not expect it to reverse. I think there's only so low that it can go. And, you know, we may see a reduction again in the third quarter because I suspect that our sale -- our reported net sales are going to lack our sales out to consumers. And so, we may have not have seen the bottom of that as we look at our third quarter. But really, it's a -- more of a -- I don't see a rebound in inventory levels and especially as some of our retailers specifically look to manage their working capital. Michael Lavery -- Piper Sandler -- Analyst OK. Great. Thanks so much. Operator Our next question is coming from the line of Chris Carey with Wells Fargo Securities. Please go ahead. Chris Carey -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst Hi. Good morning, everyone. Kofi Bruce -- Chief Financial Officer Good morning. Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Good morning. Chris Carey -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst So, just a couple of quick follow-ups for me. You know, I guess, number one -- and I think you've been clear about this, but maybe just to, you know, put a bow on this. I mean, in your prepared remarks, you mentioned that price/mix will remain positive in fiscal '24. You know, I'm not sure if I'm reading too much into this, but is there an expectation that price/mix could turn negative in any given quarter ahead, you know, near or medium term because of, you know, mix dynamics or potentially some, you know, step-up in promotional activity? And just secondly, Jeff, you mentioned an expectation for some improvement in category growth. Is any of that just associated with lapping SNAP benefits as you get kind of deeper into your fiscal Q4? Kofi Bruce -- Chief Financial Officer I'll take the first part of that question, and then I'll let Jeff get you on the second. So, look, our expectations on price/mix are really built around the fact that we'll be sequentially stepping down as we lap pricing actions that we took throughout last year. We should fully lap those by the time we get to the end of the fiscal year. We're not expecting any of the quarters to deliver a negative price/mix, but merely just a step-down in the contribution from price/mix to total RNS. Jeff Siemon -- Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer And, Chris, this is Jeff Siemon. One point I'd add there is what you're seeing over the last couple of quarters is mix, even at the segment level, is more of a headwind. You know, as for example, our pet business, you know, is growing slower than the other parts of the business, that's a higher price per pound business as our food service business, which is low price per pound, is outperforming. And so, there are mix elements within the segments that do depress the overall enterprise price/mix. Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer And when -- you asked a question about growth at the category level. You know, there are a couple of headwinds. One is just a little bit of consumer behavior and feeling the economic pressure and a little bit less discretionary spending. And, you know, I don't frankly know when that will turn around. Consumers are certainly still stressed right now. They feel the impact of inflation over the past few years, and we certainly understand that. The thing that we -- that's more discrete, really, is the lapping of the SNAP emergency allotments -- benefits from last year. And those kind of go state by state, but they took place last year between January and March. And that may be a 1-point benefit to the categories that we -- that we're in. And so, it's not a heroic increase, but certainly a stabilization of the categories. And, you know, we'll start -- as I said, we'll start to lap that here in the next month or so throughout our fiscal third quarter. Chris Carey -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst OK. Helpful. I'll pass it on. Thank you. Jeff Siemon -- Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer OK. I -- unfortunately, I think that's all the time we're going to have this morning. Thank you for all the good questions and discussion. Appreciate your time and attention, and we will look forward to catching up in the New Year. In the meantime, happy holidays to everyone, and please reach out if you have any follow-ups to the IR team. Thanks. Operator [Operator signoff] Duration: 0 minutes Call participants: Jeff Siemon -- Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer David Palmer -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst Kofi Bruce -- Chief Financial Officer Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Lazar -- Barclays Capital -- Analyst Ken Goldman -- J.P. Morgan -- Analyst Nik Modi -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst Pamela Kaufman -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst Matthew Smith -- Stifel Financial Corp. -- Analyst Michael Lavery -- Piper Sandler -- Analyst Chris Carey -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst More GIS analysis All earnings call transcripts This article is a transcript of this conference call produced for The Motley Fool. While we strive for our Foolish Best, there may be errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in this transcript. As with all our articles, The Motley Fool does not assume any responsibility for your use of this content, and we strongly encourage you to do your own research, including listening to the call yourself and reading the company's SEC filings. Please see our Terms and Conditions for additional details, including our Obligatory Capitalized Disclaimers of Liability. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Ken Goldman -- J.P. Morgan -- Analyst And then changing subjects, you know, one of the more appealing elements of pet food as a category has been the high level of switching costs, especially in premium, where there's less price sensitivity to. And I suspect, you know, whether that's food or gas or rent or any number of things, that that is absolutely the case, and it will take a little while for consumers to settle in to what new price points are to the extent we continue to see inflation, which we do, even if at a more modest level. Kofi Bruce -- Chief Financial Officer Well, I would expect that if the supply chain environment remains stable and continues to stabilize even a little further, we will have the ability to deliver at least in line with our historic levels of about 4% HMM, 4% of COGS.

And that comes in the form of consumer investment, but also investment in capabilities, things like strategic revenue management and performance marketing and automating supply chains and things like that. You know, I'd just note, we've made significant progress at the gross margin level and bolstered, in part, not just by HMM these past two quarters, but, in part, by the disruption costs that I mentioned earlier, 170 basis points, 120 basis points in the back half of last year and the first half of this year, respectively. Operator [Operator signoff] Duration: 0 minutes Call participants: Jeff Siemon -- Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer David Palmer -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst Kofi Bruce -- Chief Financial Officer Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Lazar -- Barclays Capital -- Analyst Ken Goldman -- J.P. Morgan -- Analyst Nik Modi -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst Pamela Kaufman -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst Matthew Smith -- Stifel Financial Corp. -- Analyst Michael Lavery -- Piper Sandler -- Analyst Chris Carey -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst More GIS analysis All earnings call transcripts This article is a transcript of this conference call produced for The Motley Fool.

Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer On the on-shelf availability, you know, when we put our guidance together for this year, I mean, we grew at 10% last year and our original guidance was 3% to 4% this year. You know, I'd just note, we've made significant progress at the gross margin level and bolstered, in part, not just by HMM these past two quarters, but, in part, by the disruption costs that I mentioned earlier, 170 basis points, 120 basis points in the back half of last year and the first half of this year, respectively. Operator [Operator signoff] Duration: 0 minutes Call participants: Jeff Siemon -- Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer David Palmer -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst Kofi Bruce -- Chief Financial Officer Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Lazar -- Barclays Capital -- Analyst Ken Goldman -- J.P. Morgan -- Analyst Nik Modi -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst Pamela Kaufman -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst Matthew Smith -- Stifel Financial Corp. -- Analyst Michael Lavery -- Piper Sandler -- Analyst Chris Carey -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst More GIS analysis All earnings call transcripts This article is a transcript of this conference call produced for The Motley Fool.

Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer On the on-shelf availability, you know, when we put our guidance together for this year, I mean, we grew at 10% last year and our original guidance was 3% to 4% this year. And if we do those things, and I would expect us to do those things, then, you know, our share performance will certainly improve over time. Operator [Operator signoff] Duration: 0 minutes Call participants: Jeff Siemon -- Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer David Palmer -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst Kofi Bruce -- Chief Financial Officer Jeff Harmening -- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Lazar -- Barclays Capital -- Analyst Ken Goldman -- J.P. Morgan -- Analyst Nik Modi -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst Pamela Kaufman -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst Matthew Smith -- Stifel Financial Corp. -- Analyst Michael Lavery -- Piper Sandler -- Analyst Chris Carey -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst More GIS analysis All earnings call transcripts This article is a transcript of this conference call produced for The Motley Fool.

1538488.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

Feel Like You Missed the Nvidia Train? Think Again.

NEWTI

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/feel-like-you-missed-the-nvidia-train-think-again.

Artificial intelligence (AI) dominated financial headlines throughout 2023. While myriad companies are participating in the AI marathon, the "Magnificent Seven" stocks are setting the pace. Among this cohort of stocks, perhaps the biggest beneficiary from the AI boom is Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). The company recently reported earnings for its third quarter of fiscal 2024, ended Oct. 29, handily beating its revenue guidance and setting a new record. But even after its 240% stock return so far this year, there are plenty of reasons to believe the party is just getting started for Nvidia. Let's dig into the tailwinds pushing demand for the company's semiconductor chips and assess if now is a buying opportunity for long-term investors. Artificial intelligence is fueling demand Nvidia specializes in the production of graphics processing units (GPUs). GPUs play a critical role in gaming, crypto mining, and AI. When it comes to AI use cases, GPU chips are designed to help power large language models (LLMs). This is important because LLMs are a core component of generative AI applications. Given the skyrocketing rise of Microsoft's ChatGPT and Alphabet's Bard, it's easy to draw a dotted line connecting Nvidia to a host of other major AI players. To get a sense of just how much demand Nvidia is experiencing, let's take a look at the company's financial picture and how its valuation has shifted. Image source: Getty Images. Nvidia's path to a $1 trillion valuation The table below illustrates some of Nvidia's key financial metrics over the last year. CATEGORY Q3 FY 23 Q4 FY 23 Q1 FY 24 Q2 FY 24 Q3 FY24 Revenue $5.9 billion $6.1 billion $7.2 billion $13.5 billion $18.1 billion Gross margin % 53.6% 63.3% 64.6% 70.1% 74% Diluted earnings per share $0.27 $0.57 $0.82 $2.48 $3.71 Data source: Nvidia Investor Relations. You can see that Nvidia's revenue has increased by 206% over the last year. But perhaps even better is the company's bottom line. The impressive margin expansion has helped fuel a rise in profits, as diluted earnings per share increased from $0.27 during the third quarter of fiscal 2023 to $3.71 for the most recent quarter -- over 12,000% growth in just one year. Nvidia's eye-popping growth on both the revenue and earnings lines sheds light not only on the demand for its products, but the pricing power that the company can command given its market-leading position. NVDA Market Cap data by YCharts The chart above illustrates Nvidia's market cap over the last year. Since its fiscal third quarter 2022, Nvidia's market cap has grown over 200% to eclipse $1 trillion. Although this valuation might appear steep, a thorough analysis benchmarked against its peers might prove otherwise. Should you buy Nvidia stock in 2024? The chart below illustrates Nvidia's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio compared to its "Magnificent Seven" cohorts. Investors can see that Nvidia's forward P/E of roughly 40 is right in the middle of the pack. What is actually surprising to me is that Tesla, which is a known customer of Nvidia, is trading at a forward P/E nearly double that of Nvidia's. NVDA PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts Perhaps an even more head-scratching dynamic can be seen in the chart below. NVDA PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts Advanced Micro Devices is Nvidia's top rival. While AMD has been posting some impressive results of its own, the disparity between its forward P/E and Nvidia's is astounding. It may sound convoluted to say that a trillion-dollar company is cheap. But when you measure Nvidia against its megacap peers as well as its No. 1 rival, the case for buying the stock becomes increasingly clear. As demand for AI applications continues to gain momentum, I see Nvidia continuing to play an integral role. And with the stock trading at discounts to smaller rivals as well as end customers reliant on the company's technology, now looks like a terrific opportunity for long-term investors to scoop up shares. Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now? Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nvidia wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Given the skyrocketing rise of Microsoft's ChatGPT and Alphabet's Bard, it's easy to draw a dotted line connecting Nvidia to a host of other major AI players. Nvidia's eye-popping growth on both the revenue and earnings lines sheds light not only on the demand for its products, but the pricing power that the company can command given its market-leading position. And with the stock trading at discounts to smaller rivals as well as end customers reliant on the company's technology, now looks like a terrific opportunity for long-term investors to scoop up shares.

Revenue $5.9 billion $6.1 billion $7.2 billion $13.5 billion $18.1 billion Gross margin % 53.6% 63.3% 64.6% 70.1% 74% Diluted earnings per share $0.27 $0.57 $0.82 $2.48 $3.71 Data source: Nvidia Investor Relations. NVDA Market Cap data by YCharts The chart above illustrates Nvidia's market cap over the last year. NVDA PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts Advanced Micro Devices is Nvidia's top rival.

Nvidia's path to a $1 trillion valuation The table below illustrates some of Nvidia's key financial metrics over the last year. What is actually surprising to me is that Tesla, which is a known customer of Nvidia, is trading at a forward P/E nearly double that of Nvidia's. Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nvidia wasn't one of them.

Should you buy Nvidia stock in 2024? The chart below illustrates Nvidia's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio compared to its "Magnificent Seven" cohorts. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla.

1541620.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

2 No-Brainer Growth Stocks to Buy Now With $100 and Hold Through 2024 (and Beyond)

NEWTL

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/2-no-brainer-growth-stocks-to-buy-now-with-%24100-and-hold-through-2024-and-beyond

All three major U.S. financial indexes moved significantly higher in 2023, a welcome turnaround from the steep losses incurred in 2022. Year to date, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 12%, the S&P 500 increased 23%, and the Nasdaq Composite jumped 41%. While the markets as a whole improved and valuations escalated, several individual stocks lagged, creating some buying opportunities in the market. PayPal Holdings (NASDAQ: PYPL) and SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ: SEDG) look particularly compelling at their current valuations, and both stocks are widely accessible at less than $100 per share. Here's what investors should know about these two growth stocks. 1. PayPal Holdings Fintech company PayPal grew at a steady pace in the third quarter. Revenue increased 8% year over year to $7.4 billion and non-GAAP net income climbed 14% to $1.4 billion as the company continued to focus on cost control. But CEO Alex Chriss, who took the reins from Dan Schulman in September, sees room to make PayPal leaner, more focused, and more profitable. The company plans to sell its reverse logistics subsidiary Happy Returns to UPS while leaning into product development and innovation in areas where it has a strong market presence and a substantial competitive advantage -- namely, digital wallets for consumers and checkout solutions for merchants. Those assets form the crux of the investment thesis for PayPal. Specifically, most payment service providers work exclusively with merchants, but PayPal offers financial services to merchants and consumers, meaning it has a deeper understanding of consumer habits. It uses that data to surface shopper insights, improve authorization rates, and prevent fraud for merchants. CFO Gabrielle Rabinovitch says PayPal has the lowest loss rates and best authorization rates in the industry The upshot of those advantages is that PayPal is the most accepted digital wallet in North America and Europe, and the leader in online payment processing with a 41% market share, according to Statista. In that context, PayPal should grow in lockstep (at a minimum) with retail e-commerce sales, a market forecasted to increase at 7.6% annually through 2030. Benchmarking PayPal to the broader online retail industry leaves room for upside if the company gains traction in physical retail, something it aims to do with the Venmo credit and debit cards. But even if PayPal merely matches the 7.6% annual growth in retail e-commerce, its current valuation of 2.3 times sales looks cheap, especially when the five-year average is 7.6 times sales. That's why this growth stock is a no-brainer buy. 2. SolarEdge Technologies SolarEdge had a dismal third quarter as demand for solar energy products nosedived due to high interest rates. Revenue dropped 13% year over year to $725 million and the company reported a GAAP loss of $61 million, down from a profit of $25 million in the prior year. Management expects similar results while distributors work through inventory backlog in the coming quarters. However, weak near-term guidance does not change the long-term investment thesis. Renewable energy is inevitable, and SolarEdge is well-positioned to benefit as the solar industry expands in the years ahead. SolarEdge primarily provides solar inverters, power optimizers, and monitoring software to residential and commercial customers. Inverters change direct current (DC) electricity into usable alternating current (AC) electricity, and power optimizers maximize the energy production per panel by mitigating problems related to partial shading and manufacturing intolerance. The SolarEdge brand carries weight with its customers (distributors and installers). The company revolutionized the solar industry when it brought the first power optimizer to market about two decades ago, and it has since evolved into the second-largest manufacturer of solar inverters in the world (and the largest outside of China). Beyond those markets, SolarEdge has branched into the adjacent areas of energy storage (batteries), electric vehicle (EV) chargers, and energy management software. For instance, the company introduced a new storage system and EV management software for commercial customers earlier this year. Those solutions integrate with existing products to extend the functionality of the SolarEdge platform, broadening its addressable market. On that note, the solar inverter market is forecasted to increase at 4.5% annually through 2031, and the solar battery market is projected to increase at 15.5% annually through 2030, according to Straits Research. Meanwhile, the power optimizer market is forecasted to grow at 13.4% annually, according to Precedence Research. SolarEdge will probably land somewhere in the middle, meaning the company has a great shot at high-single-digit or even low-double-digit revenue growth through the end of the decade. Indeed, Morningstar analysts expect revenue to grow at 10% annually over the next five years, and Morgan Stanley analysts expect revenue to grow at 9% annually over the next decade. In that context, its current valuation of 1.6 times sales looks cheap, especially when the five-year average is 5.8 times sales. That's why this growth stock is a no-brainer buy. Should you invest $1,000 in PayPal right now? Before you buy stock in PayPal, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and PayPal wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Trevor Jennewine has positions in PayPal and SolarEdge Technologies. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends PayPal. The Motley Fool recommends SolarEdge Technologies and United Parcel Service and recommends the following options: short December 2023 $67.50 puts on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

But CEO Alex Chriss, who took the reins from Dan Schulman in September, sees room to make PayPal leaner, more focused, and more profitable. The company plans to sell its reverse logistics subsidiary Happy Returns to UPS while leaning into product development and innovation in areas where it has a strong market presence and a substantial competitive advantage -- namely, digital wallets for consumers and checkout solutions for merchants. SolarEdge will probably land somewhere in the middle, meaning the company has a great shot at high-single-digit or even low-double-digit revenue growth through the end of the decade.

Specifically, most payment service providers work exclusively with merchants, but PayPal offers financial services to merchants and consumers, meaning it has a deeper understanding of consumer habits. But even if PayPal merely matches the 7.6% annual growth in retail e-commerce, its current valuation of 2.3 times sales looks cheap, especially when the five-year average is 7.6 times sales. Beyond those markets, SolarEdge has branched into the adjacent areas of energy storage (batteries), electric vehicle (EV) chargers, and energy management software.

CFO Gabrielle Rabinovitch says PayPal has the lowest loss rates and best authorization rates in the industry The upshot of those advantages is that PayPal is the most accepted digital wallet in North America and Europe, and the leader in online payment processing with a 41% market share, according to Statista. Before you buy stock in PayPal, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and PayPal wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Trevor Jennewine has positions in PayPal and SolarEdge Technologies.

Indeed, Morningstar analysts expect revenue to grow at 10% annually over the next five years, and Morgan Stanley analysts expect revenue to grow at 9% annually over the next decade. Before you buy stock in PayPal, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and PayPal wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Trevor Jennewine has positions in PayPal and SolarEdge Technologies.

1692785.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

US STOCKS-Wall St climbs on optimism about interest rate cuts

OXSQZ

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/us-stocks-wall-st-climbs-on-optimism-about-interest-rate-cuts

By Sruthi Shankar and Johann M Cherian Dec 19 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main stock indexes rose on Tuesday, building on strong gains in recent weeks as investors continued to bet on a policy pivot by the Federal Reserve next year. The benchmark S&P 500 .SPXtrades less than 1% shy of its all-time closing high as traders price in an aggressive timetable for interest rate cuts next year after Fed Chair Jerome Powell saidat the U.S. central bank's policy meetinglast week that its historic monetary tightening is likely over. Despite attempts by policymakers to temper the optimism since the meeting, traders have priced in about 66% chance of the Fed cutting rates by 25 basis points in March, as per the CME Group's FedWatch tool, and cuts of 143 bps by December 2024. FEDWATCH The blue-chip Dow .DJIsecured a new all-time high, while the Nasdaq 100 index .NDXhit a record high. "The sentiment that things with the Fed are okay and that they are going to be accommodative next year with no real issues about further hikes or concerns around it have given the markets the last boost they needed," said Phil Blancato, chief executive officer of Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management in New York. A Commerce Department report showed single-family homebuilding surged in November and could gain further momentum, with declining mortgage rates likely to draw potential buyers back into the housing market. Investors are awaiting other economic data later this week including the final reading of third-quarter GDP and the monthly personal consumption expenditure index (PCE), the Fed's preferred inflation gauge. Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin welcomed the retreat in inflation but refrained from saying how that affects his outlook for central bank interest rate policy next year, in an interview with Yahoo Finance. Fed Atlanta President Raphael Bostic and Fed Chicago President Austan Goolsbee are scheduled to speak later in the day. Bostic is a voting member in the FOMC's rate-setting committee next year. At 9:56 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI was up 146.53 points, or 0.39%, at 37,452.55, the S&P 500 .SPX was up 14.84 points, or 0.31%, at 4,755.40, and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC was up 53.42 points, or 0.36%, at 14,958.61. Light trading volumes are expected to impact market moves in the run-up to the Christmas and New Year holidays. Among single stocks, AccentureACN.Ndipped 0.2% after the IT services provider issued a downbeat second-quarter revenue forecast, anticipating cautious spending by clients as macroeconomic uncertainty remains an overhang. BoeingBA.Ngained 0.7% after German airline Lufthansa LHAG.DE said it ordered 40 737-8 MAX jets from the plane maker and agreed to 60 future purchasing options. KenvueKVUE.N climbed 4.8% after a U.S. court ruled in favor of the consumer health company in a lawsuit which said exposure to its pain-reducing drug Tylenol might contribute to autism or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder during pregnancy. PepsiCo PEP.O slipped 0.3% after J.P. Morgan downgraded the stock to "neutral" from "overweight", while Amgen AMGN.O rose 1.0% after BMO upgraded its rating on the drugmaker to "outperform" from "market perform". Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 4.94-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and 3.37-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P index recorded 30 new 52-week highs and one new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 113 new highs and 39 new lows. (Reporting by Sruthi Shankar and Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel) ((sruthi.shankar@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 6182 2787;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

By Sruthi Shankar and Johann M Cherian Dec 19 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main stock indexes rose on Tuesday, building on strong gains in recent weeks as investors continued to bet on a policy pivot by the Federal Reserve next year. The benchmark S&P 500 .SPXtrades less than 1% shy of its all-time closing high as traders price in an aggressive timetable for interest rate cuts next year after Fed Chair Jerome Powell saidat the U.S. central bank's policy meetinglast week that its historic monetary tightening is likely over. "The sentiment that things with the Fed are okay and that they are going to be accommodative next year with no real issues about further hikes or concerns around it have given the markets the last boost they needed," said Phil Blancato, chief executive officer of Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management in New York.

FEDWATCH The blue-chip Dow .DJIsecured a new all-time high, while the Nasdaq 100 index .NDXhit a record high. Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin welcomed the retreat in inflation but refrained from saying how that affects his outlook for central bank interest rate policy next year, in an interview with Yahoo Finance. The S&P index recorded 30 new 52-week highs and one new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 113 new highs and 39 new lows.

By Sruthi Shankar and Johann M Cherian Dec 19 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main stock indexes rose on Tuesday, building on strong gains in recent weeks as investors continued to bet on a policy pivot by the Federal Reserve next year. The benchmark S&P 500 .SPXtrades less than 1% shy of its all-time closing high as traders price in an aggressive timetable for interest rate cuts next year after Fed Chair Jerome Powell saidat the U.S. central bank's policy meetinglast week that its historic monetary tightening is likely over. Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin welcomed the retreat in inflation but refrained from saying how that affects his outlook for central bank interest rate policy next year, in an interview with Yahoo Finance.

The benchmark S&P 500 .SPXtrades less than 1% shy of its all-time closing high as traders price in an aggressive timetable for interest rate cuts next year after Fed Chair Jerome Powell saidat the U.S. central bank's policy meetinglast week that its historic monetary tightening is likely over. FEDWATCH The blue-chip Dow .DJIsecured a new all-time high, while the Nasdaq 100 index .NDXhit a record high. Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin welcomed the retreat in inflation but refrained from saying how that affects his outlook for central bank interest rate policy next year, in an interview with Yahoo Finance.

1711838.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

Feel Like You Missed the Nvidia Train? Think Again.

PAVMZ

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/feel-like-you-missed-the-nvidia-train-think-again.

Artificial intelligence (AI) dominated financial headlines throughout 2023. While myriad companies are participating in the AI marathon, the "Magnificent Seven" stocks are setting the pace. Among this cohort of stocks, perhaps the biggest beneficiary from the AI boom is Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). The company recently reported earnings for its third quarter of fiscal 2024, ended Oct. 29, handily beating its revenue guidance and setting a new record. But even after its 240% stock return so far this year, there are plenty of reasons to believe the party is just getting started for Nvidia. Let's dig into the tailwinds pushing demand for the company's semiconductor chips and assess if now is a buying opportunity for long-term investors. Artificial intelligence is fueling demand Nvidia specializes in the production of graphics processing units (GPUs). GPUs play a critical role in gaming, crypto mining, and AI. When it comes to AI use cases, GPU chips are designed to help power large language models (LLMs). This is important because LLMs are a core component of generative AI applications. Given the skyrocketing rise of Microsoft's ChatGPT and Alphabet's Bard, it's easy to draw a dotted line connecting Nvidia to a host of other major AI players. To get a sense of just how much demand Nvidia is experiencing, let's take a look at the company's financial picture and how its valuation has shifted. Image source: Getty Images. Nvidia's path to a $1 trillion valuation The table below illustrates some of Nvidia's key financial metrics over the last year. CATEGORY Q3 FY 23 Q4 FY 23 Q1 FY 24 Q2 FY 24 Q3 FY24 Revenue $5.9 billion $6.1 billion $7.2 billion $13.5 billion $18.1 billion Gross margin % 53.6% 63.3% 64.6% 70.1% 74% Diluted earnings per share $0.27 $0.57 $0.82 $2.48 $3.71 Data source: Nvidia Investor Relations. You can see that Nvidia's revenue has increased by 206% over the last year. But perhaps even better is the company's bottom line. The impressive margin expansion has helped fuel a rise in profits, as diluted earnings per share increased from $0.27 during the third quarter of fiscal 2023 to $3.71 for the most recent quarter -- over 12,000% growth in just one year. Nvidia's eye-popping growth on both the revenue and earnings lines sheds light not only on the demand for its products, but the pricing power that the company can command given its market-leading position. NVDA Market Cap data by YCharts The chart above illustrates Nvidia's market cap over the last year. Since its fiscal third quarter 2022, Nvidia's market cap has grown over 200% to eclipse $1 trillion. Although this valuation might appear steep, a thorough analysis benchmarked against its peers might prove otherwise. Should you buy Nvidia stock in 2024? The chart below illustrates Nvidia's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio compared to its "Magnificent Seven" cohorts. Investors can see that Nvidia's forward P/E of roughly 40 is right in the middle of the pack. What is actually surprising to me is that Tesla, which is a known customer of Nvidia, is trading at a forward P/E nearly double that of Nvidia's. NVDA PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts Perhaps an even more head-scratching dynamic can be seen in the chart below. NVDA PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts Advanced Micro Devices is Nvidia's top rival. While AMD has been posting some impressive results of its own, the disparity between its forward P/E and Nvidia's is astounding. It may sound convoluted to say that a trillion-dollar company is cheap. But when you measure Nvidia against its megacap peers as well as its No. 1 rival, the case for buying the stock becomes increasingly clear. As demand for AI applications continues to gain momentum, I see Nvidia continuing to play an integral role. And with the stock trading at discounts to smaller rivals as well as end customers reliant on the company's technology, now looks like a terrific opportunity for long-term investors to scoop up shares. Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now? Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nvidia wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Given the skyrocketing rise of Microsoft's ChatGPT and Alphabet's Bard, it's easy to draw a dotted line connecting Nvidia to a host of other major AI players. Nvidia's eye-popping growth on both the revenue and earnings lines sheds light not only on the demand for its products, but the pricing power that the company can command given its market-leading position. And with the stock trading at discounts to smaller rivals as well as end customers reliant on the company's technology, now looks like a terrific opportunity for long-term investors to scoop up shares.

Revenue $5.9 billion $6.1 billion $7.2 billion $13.5 billion $18.1 billion Gross margin % 53.6% 63.3% 64.6% 70.1% 74% Diluted earnings per share $0.27 $0.57 $0.82 $2.48 $3.71 Data source: Nvidia Investor Relations. NVDA Market Cap data by YCharts The chart above illustrates Nvidia's market cap over the last year. NVDA PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts Advanced Micro Devices is Nvidia's top rival.

Nvidia's path to a $1 trillion valuation The table below illustrates some of Nvidia's key financial metrics over the last year. What is actually surprising to me is that Tesla, which is a known customer of Nvidia, is trading at a forward P/E nearly double that of Nvidia's. Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Nvidia wasn't one of them.

Should you buy Nvidia stock in 2024? The chart below illustrates Nvidia's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio compared to its "Magnificent Seven" cohorts. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla.

1711839.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

Gilead Sciences, Compugen Ink Up To $848 Mln Deal For Pre-clinical Antibody Program

PAVMZ

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/gilead-sciences-compugen-ink-up-to-%24848-mln-deal-for-pre-clinical-antibody-program

(RTTNews) - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) announced Tuesday an agreement with Holon, Israel-based cancer immunotherapy company Compugen Ltd. (CGEN) to exclusively license its potential first-in-class, pre-clinical antibody program against IL-18 binding protein, including the COM503 drug candidate. Compugen utilizes its broadly applicable predictive computational discovery capabilities to identify new drug targets and biological pathways for developing novel cancer immunotherapies. COM503 is a potential first-in-class, high affinity antibody which blocks the interaction between IL-18 binding protein and IL-18, thereby releasing natural IL-18 in the tumor microenvironment and inhibiting cancer growth. Under the terms of the agreement, Compugen will be responsible for the ongoing pre-clinical development and the future Phase 1 study of COM503. Thereafter, Gilead will have the sole right to develop and commercialize COM503. Gilead will make Compugen an upfront payment of $60 million and $30 million in a near term milestone payment subject to IND clearance of COM503 expected in 2024. Compugen will also be eligible to receive up to an additional $758 million in future development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, with a total deal value of $848 million. Compugen will also be eligible to receive single-digit to low double-digit tiered royalties on worldwide net sales. This transaction with Compugen is expected to reduce Gilead's GAAP and non-GAAP 2023 EPS by approximately $0.03 - $0.05. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

(RTTNews) - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) announced Tuesday an agreement with Holon, Israel-based cancer immunotherapy company Compugen Ltd. (CGEN) to exclusively license its potential first-in-class, pre-clinical antibody program against IL-18 binding protein, including the COM503 drug candidate. Compugen utilizes its broadly applicable predictive computational discovery capabilities to identify new drug targets and biological pathways for developing novel cancer immunotherapies. COM503 is a potential first-in-class, high affinity antibody which blocks the interaction between IL-18 binding protein and IL-18, thereby releasing natural IL-18 in the tumor microenvironment and inhibiting cancer growth.

(RTTNews) - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) announced Tuesday an agreement with Holon, Israel-based cancer immunotherapy company Compugen Ltd. (CGEN) to exclusively license its potential first-in-class, pre-clinical antibody program against IL-18 binding protein, including the COM503 drug candidate. Gilead will make Compugen an upfront payment of $60 million and $30 million in a near term milestone payment subject to IND clearance of COM503 expected in 2024. Compugen will also be eligible to receive up to an additional $758 million in future development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, with a total deal value of $848 million.

(RTTNews) - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) announced Tuesday an agreement with Holon, Israel-based cancer immunotherapy company Compugen Ltd. (CGEN) to exclusively license its potential first-in-class, pre-clinical antibody program against IL-18 binding protein, including the COM503 drug candidate. Gilead will make Compugen an upfront payment of $60 million and $30 million in a near term milestone payment subject to IND clearance of COM503 expected in 2024. Compugen will also be eligible to receive up to an additional $758 million in future development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, with a total deal value of $848 million.

(RTTNews) - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) announced Tuesday an agreement with Holon, Israel-based cancer immunotherapy company Compugen Ltd. (CGEN) to exclusively license its potential first-in-class, pre-clinical antibody program against IL-18 binding protein, including the COM503 drug candidate. Compugen utilizes its broadly applicable predictive computational discovery capabilities to identify new drug targets and biological pathways for developing novel cancer immunotherapies. Compugen will also be eligible to receive up to an additional $758 million in future development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, with a total deal value of $848 million.

1722831.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

CANADA STOCKS-TSX futures rise ahead of inflation data

PBR-A

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/canada-stocks-tsx-futures-rise-ahead-of-inflation-data

Dec 19 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's main stock index rose on Tuesday as the market stretched recent gains betting that the U.S. Federal Reserve could start cutting interest rates in the early part of next year, while investors awaited domestic inflation data. March futures on the S&P/TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.4% at 7:13 a.m. ET (1213 GMT), while their U.S. counterparts also edged higher. .N The focus would be on Canada's consumer prices data, due at 8:30 a.m. ET, which is expected to show headline inflation at 2.9% year-on-year in November against last month's reading of 3.1%. The Bank of Canada could start cutting interest rates next year as long as core inflation comes down as predicted, BNN Television cited Governor Tiff Macklem as saying in an interview that aired on Monday. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said cuts to the U.S. central bank's benchmark rate are likely to be appropriate in 2024, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Bank of Japan, on the other hand, maintained ultra-loose policy settings in a widely expected move. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE ended higher in the previous session, lifted by energy stocks. Crude oil prices were largely steady, while prices of most base metals advanced and gold prices were muted. MET/LGOL/O/R Meanwhile, some Canadian oil and gas producers said they will not rush to accelerate emission cuts until they see if unpopular Prime Minister Justin Trudeau survives long enough to implement his proposed oil and gas emissions cap. Among individual stocks, refiner Imperial OilIMO.TO forecast 2024 upstream production higher than its 2023 outlook. Brokerage CIBC downgraded automotive supplier Magna International MG.TO to "neutral" from "outperformer", while it upgraded Boyd Group Services BYD.TO to "outperformer" from "neutral". COMMODITIES AT 7:13 a.m. ET Gold futures GCc2: $2,031; flat GOL/ US crude CLc1: $72.4; -0.1% O/R Brent crude LCOc1: $77.84; -0.1% O/R ($1= C$1.3383) (Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Shweta Agarwal) ((Shashwat.Chauhan@thomsonreuters.com;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Dec 19 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's main stock index rose on Tuesday as the market stretched recent gains betting that the U.S. Federal Reserve could start cutting interest rates in the early part of next year, while investors awaited domestic inflation data. The Bank of Canada could start cutting interest rates next year as long as core inflation comes down as predicted, BNN Television cited Governor Tiff Macklem as saying in an interview that aired on Monday. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said cuts to the U.S. central bank's benchmark rate are likely to be appropriate in 2024, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Dec 19 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's main stock index rose on Tuesday as the market stretched recent gains betting that the U.S. Federal Reserve could start cutting interest rates in the early part of next year, while investors awaited domestic inflation data. The Bank of Canada could start cutting interest rates next year as long as core inflation comes down as predicted, BNN Television cited Governor Tiff Macklem as saying in an interview that aired on Monday. Crude oil prices were largely steady, while prices of most base metals advanced and gold prices were muted.

Dec 19 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's main stock index rose on Tuesday as the market stretched recent gains betting that the U.S. Federal Reserve could start cutting interest rates in the early part of next year, while investors awaited domestic inflation data. The Bank of Canada could start cutting interest rates next year as long as core inflation comes down as predicted, BNN Television cited Governor Tiff Macklem as saying in an interview that aired on Monday. Crude oil prices were largely steady, while prices of most base metals advanced and gold prices were muted.

Dec 19 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's main stock index rose on Tuesday as the market stretched recent gains betting that the U.S. Federal Reserve could start cutting interest rates in the early part of next year, while investors awaited domestic inflation data. ET (1213 GMT), while their U.S. counterparts also edged higher. ET, which is expected to show headline inflation at 2.9% year-on-year in November against last month's reading of 3.1%.

1902316.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

Financial Sector Update for 12/19/2023: FDS, UBS, XLF, FAS, FAZ

RILYP

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/financial-sector-update-for-12-19-2023%3A-fds-ubs-xlf-fas-faz

Financial stocks were gaining pre-bell Tuesday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was 0.3% higher recently. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. FactSet Research Systems (FDS) was down more than 4% after saying it now expects fiscal 2024 adjusted earnings of between $15.60 and $16 per diluted share, down from $15.65 to $16.15 per share anticipated previously. Cevian Capital said it has taken a 1.3% stake in UBS (UBS) for around 1.2 billion euros ($1.31 billion). UBS was gaining over 3% in value in recent premarket activity. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Financial stocks were gaining pre-bell Tuesday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was 0.3% higher recently. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. FactSet Research Systems (FDS) was down more than 4% after saying it now expects fiscal 2024 adjusted earnings of between $15.60 and $16 per diluted share, down from $15.65 to $16.15 per share anticipated previously.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. Cevian Capital said it has taken a 1.3% stake in UBS (UBS) for around 1.2 billion euros ($1.31 billion). UBS was gaining over 3% in value in recent premarket activity.

Financial stocks were gaining pre-bell Tuesday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was 0.3% higher recently. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. Cevian Capital said it has taken a 1.3% stake in UBS (UBS) for around 1.2 billion euros ($1.31 billion).

Financial stocks were gaining pre-bell Tuesday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was 0.3% higher recently. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. UBS was gaining over 3% in value in recent premarket activity.

1909797.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

First Week of February 2024 Options Trading For Construction Partners (ROAD)

ROAD

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/first-week-of-february-2024-options-trading-for-construction-partners-road

Investors in Construction Partners Inc (Symbol: ROAD) saw new options begin trading this week, for the February 2024 expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the ROAD options chain for the new February 2024 contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest. The put contract at the $40.00 strike price has a current bid of 35 cents. If an investor was to sell-to-open that put contract, they are committing to purchase the stock at $40.00, but will also collect the premium, putting the cost basis of the shares at $39.65 (before broker commissions). To an investor already interested in purchasing shares of ROAD, that could represent an attractive alternative to paying $43.13/share today. Because the $40.00 strike represents an approximate 7% discount to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the put contract would expire worthless. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 73%. Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change, publishing a chart of those numbers on our website under the contract detail page for this contract. Should the contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 0.87% return on the cash commitment, or 5.32% annualized — at Stock Options Channel we call this the YieldBoost. Below is a chart showing the trailing twelve month trading history for Construction Partners Inc, and highlighting in green where the $40.00 strike is located relative to that history: Turning to the calls side of the option chain, the call contract at the $50.00 strike price has a current bid of 55 cents. If an investor was to purchase shares of ROAD stock at the current price level of $43.13/share, and then sell-to-open that call contract as a "covered call," they are committing to sell the stock at $50.00. Considering the call seller will also collect the premium, that would drive a total return (excluding dividends, if any) of 17.20% if the stock gets called away at the February 2024 expiration (before broker commissions). Of course, a lot of upside could potentially be left on the table if ROAD shares really soar, which is why looking at the trailing twelve month trading history for Construction Partners Inc, as well as studying the business fundamentals becomes important. Below is a chart showing ROAD's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $50.00 strike highlighted in red: Considering the fact that the $50.00 strike represents an approximate 16% premium to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the covered call contract would expire worthless, in which case the investor would keep both their shares of stock and the premium collected. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 79%. On our website under the contract detail page for this contract, Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change and publish a chart of those numbers (the trading history of the option contract will also be charted). Should the covered call contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 1.28% boost of extra return to the investor, or 7.76% annualized, which we refer to as the YieldBoost. The implied volatility in the put contract example is 76%, while the implied volatility in the call contract example is 70%. Meanwhile, we calculate the actual trailing twelve month volatility (considering the last 250 trading day closing values as well as today's price of $43.13) to be 39%. For more put and call options contract ideas worth looking at, visit StockOptionsChannel.com. Top YieldBoost Calls of the S&P 500 » Also see: • KC market cap history • MBIN Stock Predictions • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding SCLE The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Of course, a lot of upside could potentially be left on the table if ROAD shares really soar, which is why looking at the trailing twelve month trading history for Construction Partners Inc, as well as studying the business fundamentals becomes important. Below is a chart showing ROAD's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $50.00 strike highlighted in red: Considering the fact that the $50.00 strike represents an approximate 16% premium to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the covered call contract would expire worthless, in which case the investor would keep both their shares of stock and the premium collected. Investors in Construction Partners Inc (Symbol: ROAD) saw new options begin trading this week, for the February 2024 expiration.

Below is a chart showing ROAD's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $50.00 strike highlighted in red: Considering the fact that the $50.00 strike represents an approximate 16% premium to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the covered call contract would expire worthless, in which case the investor would keep both their shares of stock and the premium collected. Investors in Construction Partners Inc (Symbol: ROAD) saw new options begin trading this week, for the February 2024 expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the ROAD options chain for the new February 2024 contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.

Below is a chart showing ROAD's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $50.00 strike highlighted in red: Considering the fact that the $50.00 strike represents an approximate 16% premium to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the covered call contract would expire worthless, in which case the investor would keep both their shares of stock and the premium collected. Investors in Construction Partners Inc (Symbol: ROAD) saw new options begin trading this week, for the February 2024 expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the ROAD options chain for the new February 2024 contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.

At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the ROAD options chain for the new February 2024 contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest. Below is a chart showing ROAD's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $50.00 strike highlighted in red: Considering the fact that the $50.00 strike represents an approximate 16% premium to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the covered call contract would expire worthless, in which case the investor would keep both their shares of stock and the premium collected. Investors in Construction Partners Inc (Symbol: ROAD) saw new options begin trading this week, for the February 2024 expiration.

2222133.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

Implied IYK Analyst Target Price: $216

UOCT

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/implied-iyk-analyst-target-price%3A-%24216

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. For the iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF (Symbol: IYK), we found that the implied analyst target price for the ETF based upon its underlying holdings is $216.39 per unit. With IYK trading at a recent price near $189.75 per unit, that means that analysts see 14.04% upside for this ETF looking through to the average analyst targets of the underlying holdings. Three of IYK's underlying holdings with notable upside to their analyst target prices are Archer Daniels Midland Co. (Symbol: ADM), Philip Morris International Inc (Symbol: PM), and Casey's General Stores, Inc. (Symbol: CASY). Although ADM has traded at a recent price of $75.75/share, the average analyst target is 20.25% higher at $91.09/share. Similarly, PM has 18.22% upside from the recent share price of $94.46 if the average analyst target price of $111.67/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting CASY to reach a target price of $306.00/share, which is 14.31% above the recent price of $267.70. Below is a twelve month price history chart comparing the stock performance of ADM, PM, and CASY: Combined, ADM, PM, and CASY represent 9.40% of the iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF. Below is a summary table of the current analyst target prices discussed above: NAME SYMBOL RECENT PRICE AVG. ANALYST 12-MO. TARGET % UPSIDE TO TARGET iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF IYK $189.75 $216.39 14.04% Archer Daniels Midland Co. ADM $75.75 $91.09 20.25% Philip Morris International Inc PM $94.46 $111.67 18.22% Casey's General Stores, Inc. CASY $267.70 $306.00 14.31% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now? Do the analysts have a valid justification for their targets, or are they behind the curve on recent company and industry developments? A high price target relative to a stock's trading price can reflect optimism about the future, but can also be a precursor to target price downgrades if the targets were a relic of the past. These are questions that require further investor research. 10 ETFs With Most Upside To Analyst Targets » Also see: • JYNT Stock Predictions • GWIV Insider Buying • Institutional Holders of HTGZ The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF IYK $189.75 $216.39 14.04% Archer Daniels Midland Co. ADM $75.75 $91.09 20.25% Philip Morris International Inc PM $94.46 $111.67 18.22% Casey's General Stores, Inc. CASY $267.70 $306.00 14.31% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now? Do the analysts have a valid justification for their targets, or are they behind the curve on recent company and industry developments? 10 ETFs With Most Upside To Analyst Targets » Also see: • JYNT Stock Predictions • GWIV Insider Buying • Institutional Holders of HTGZ The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Three of IYK's underlying holdings with notable upside to their analyst target prices are Archer Daniels Midland Co. (Symbol: ADM), Philip Morris International Inc (Symbol: PM), and Casey's General Stores, Inc. (Symbol: CASY). Below is a twelve month price history chart comparing the stock performance of ADM, PM, and CASY: Combined, ADM, PM, and CASY represent 9.40% of the iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF. iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF IYK $189.75 $216.39 14.04% Archer Daniels Midland Co. ADM $75.75 $91.09 20.25% Philip Morris International Inc PM $94.46 $111.67 18.22% Casey's General Stores, Inc. CASY $267.70 $306.00 14.31% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now?

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. Similarly, PM has 18.22% upside from the recent share price of $94.46 if the average analyst target price of $111.67/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting CASY to reach a target price of $306.00/share, which is 14.31% above the recent price of $267.70. A high price target relative to a stock's trading price can reflect optimism about the future, but can also be a precursor to target price downgrades if the targets were a relic of the past.

For the iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF (Symbol: IYK), we found that the implied analyst target price for the ETF based upon its underlying holdings is $216.39 per unit. With IYK trading at a recent price near $189.75 per unit, that means that analysts see 14.04% upside for this ETF looking through to the average analyst targets of the underlying holdings. Below is a twelve month price history chart comparing the stock performance of ADM, PM, and CASY: Combined, ADM, PM, and CASY represent 9.40% of the iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF.

2222134.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

Analysts Expect 10% Gains Ahead For HDV

UOCT

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/analysts-expect-10-gains-ahead-for-hdv

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. For the iShares Core High Dividend ETF (Symbol: HDV), we found that the implied analyst target price for the ETF based upon its underlying holdings is $112.21 per unit. With HDV trading at a recent price near $102.38 per unit, that means that analysts see 9.60% upside for this ETF looking through to the average analyst targets of the underlying holdings. Three of HDV's underlying holdings with notable upside to their analyst target prices are Essential Utilities Inc (Symbol: WTRG), Kinder Morgan Inc. (Symbol: KMI), and General Mills Inc (Symbol: GIS). Although WTRG has traded at a recent price of $36.09/share, the average analyst target is 34.11% higher at $48.40/share. Similarly, KMI has 16.80% upside from the recent share price of $17.49 if the average analyst target price of $20.43/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting GIS to reach a target price of $72.47/share, which is 11.12% above the recent price of $65.22. Below is a twelve month price history chart comparing the stock performance of WTRG, KMI, and GIS: Below is a summary table of the current analyst target prices discussed above: NAME SYMBOL RECENT PRICE AVG. ANALYST 12-MO. TARGET % UPSIDE TO TARGET iShares Core High Dividend ETF HDV $102.38 $112.21 9.60% Essential Utilities Inc WTRG $36.09 $48.40 34.11% Kinder Morgan Inc. KMI $17.49 $20.43 16.80% General Mills Inc GIS $65.22 $72.47 11.12% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now? Do the analysts have a valid justification for their targets, or are they behind the curve on recent company and industry developments? A high price target relative to a stock's trading price can reflect optimism about the future, but can also be a precursor to target price downgrades if the targets were a relic of the past. These are questions that require further investor research. 10 ETFs With Most Upside To Analyst Targets » Also see: • Funds Holding SHLT • News 13F Filers • HMHC YTD Return The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

iShares Core High Dividend ETF HDV $102.38 $112.21 9.60% Essential Utilities Inc WTRG $36.09 $48.40 34.11% Kinder Morgan Inc. KMI $17.49 $20.43 16.80% General Mills Inc GIS $65.22 $72.47 11.12% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now? Do the analysts have a valid justification for their targets, or are they behind the curve on recent company and industry developments? 10 ETFs With Most Upside To Analyst Targets » Also see: • Funds Holding SHLT • News 13F Filers • HMHC YTD Return The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Three of HDV's underlying holdings with notable upside to their analyst target prices are Essential Utilities Inc (Symbol: WTRG), Kinder Morgan Inc. (Symbol: KMI), and General Mills Inc (Symbol: GIS). Similarly, KMI has 16.80% upside from the recent share price of $17.49 if the average analyst target price of $20.43/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting GIS to reach a target price of $72.47/share, which is 11.12% above the recent price of $65.22. iShares Core High Dividend ETF HDV $102.38 $112.21 9.60% Essential Utilities Inc WTRG $36.09 $48.40 34.11% Kinder Morgan Inc. KMI $17.49 $20.43 16.80% General Mills Inc GIS $65.22 $72.47 11.12% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now?

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. Similarly, KMI has 16.80% upside from the recent share price of $17.49 if the average analyst target price of $20.43/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting GIS to reach a target price of $72.47/share, which is 11.12% above the recent price of $65.22. A high price target relative to a stock's trading price can reflect optimism about the future, but can also be a precursor to target price downgrades if the targets were a relic of the past.

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. With HDV trading at a recent price near $102.38 per unit, that means that analysts see 9.60% upside for this ETF looking through to the average analyst targets of the underlying holdings. iShares Core High Dividend ETF HDV $102.38 $112.21 9.60% Essential Utilities Inc WTRG $36.09 $48.40 34.11% Kinder Morgan Inc. KMI $17.49 $20.43 16.80% General Mills Inc GIS $65.22 $72.47 11.12% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now?

2222135.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

IYH's Holdings Could Mean 12% Gain Potential

UOCT

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/iyhs-holdings-could-mean-12-gain-potential

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. For the iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (Symbol: IYH), we found that the implied analyst target price for the ETF based upon its underlying holdings is $315.67 per unit. With IYH trading at a recent price near $281.04 per unit, that means that analysts see 12.32% upside for this ETF looking through to the average analyst targets of the underlying holdings. Three of IYH's underlying holdings with notable upside to their analyst target prices are Maravai LifeSciences Holdings Inc (Symbol: MRVI), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc (Symbol: ALNY), and Sotera Health Co (Symbol: SHC). Although MRVI has traded at a recent price of $6.23/share, the average analyst target is 60.51% higher at $10.00/share. Similarly, ALNY has 21.17% upside from the recent share price of $185.24 if the average analyst target price of $224.45/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting SHC to reach a target price of $18.33/share, which is 15.88% above the recent price of $15.82. Below is a twelve month price history chart comparing the stock performance of MRVI, ALNY, and SHC: Below is a summary table of the current analyst target prices discussed above: NAME SYMBOL RECENT PRICE AVG. ANALYST 12-MO. TARGET % UPSIDE TO TARGET iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF IYH $281.04 $315.67 12.32% Maravai LifeSciences Holdings Inc MRVI $6.23 $10.00 60.51% Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc ALNY $185.24 $224.45 21.17% Sotera Health Co SHC $15.82 $18.33 15.88% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now? Do the analysts have a valid justification for their targets, or are they behind the curve on recent company and industry developments? A high price target relative to a stock's trading price can reflect optimism about the future, but can also be a precursor to target price downgrades if the targets were a relic of the past. These are questions that require further investor research. 10 ETFs With Most Upside To Analyst Targets » Also see: • HSON shares outstanding history • Funds Holding MSCA • MHFI Historical Stock Prices The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF IYH $281.04 $315.67 12.32% Maravai LifeSciences Holdings Inc MRVI $6.23 $10.00 60.51% Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc ALNY $185.24 $224.45 21.17% Sotera Health Co SHC $15.82 $18.33 15.88% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now? Do the analysts have a valid justification for their targets, or are they behind the curve on recent company and industry developments? 10 ETFs With Most Upside To Analyst Targets » Also see: • HSON shares outstanding history • Funds Holding MSCA • MHFI Historical Stock Prices The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Three of IYH's underlying holdings with notable upside to their analyst target prices are Maravai LifeSciences Holdings Inc (Symbol: MRVI), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc (Symbol: ALNY), and Sotera Health Co (Symbol: SHC). Similarly, ALNY has 21.17% upside from the recent share price of $185.24 if the average analyst target price of $224.45/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting SHC to reach a target price of $18.33/share, which is 15.88% above the recent price of $15.82. iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF IYH $281.04 $315.67 12.32% Maravai LifeSciences Holdings Inc MRVI $6.23 $10.00 60.51% Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc ALNY $185.24 $224.45 21.17% Sotera Health Co SHC $15.82 $18.33 15.88% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now?

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. Similarly, ALNY has 21.17% upside from the recent share price of $185.24 if the average analyst target price of $224.45/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting SHC to reach a target price of $18.33/share, which is 15.88% above the recent price of $15.82. A high price target relative to a stock's trading price can reflect optimism about the future, but can also be a precursor to target price downgrades if the targets were a relic of the past.

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. With IYH trading at a recent price near $281.04 per unit, that means that analysts see 12.32% upside for this ETF looking through to the average analyst targets of the underlying holdings. iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF IYH $281.04 $315.67 12.32% Maravai LifeSciences Holdings Inc MRVI $6.23 $10.00 60.51% Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc ALNY $185.24 $224.45 21.17% Sotera Health Co SHC $15.82 $18.33 15.88% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now?

2222136.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

Implied SPHQ Analyst Target Price: $59

UOCT

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/implied-sphq-analyst-target-price%3A-%2459

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. For the Invesco S&P 500— Quality ETF (Symbol: SPHQ), we found that the implied analyst target price for the ETF based upon its underlying holdings is $58.86 per unit. With SPHQ trading at a recent price near $53.69 per unit, that means that analysts see 9.63% upside for this ETF looking through to the average analyst targets of the underlying holdings. Three of SPHQ's underlying holdings with notable upside to their analyst target prices are Pioneer Natural Resources Co (Symbol: PXD), TJX Companies, Inc. (Symbol: TJX), and Cisco Systems Inc (Symbol: CSCO). Although PXD has traded at a recent price of $227.15/share, the average analyst target is 13.97% higher at $258.89/share. Similarly, TJX has 12.45% upside from the recent share price of $89.29 if the average analyst target price of $100.41/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting CSCO to reach a target price of $55.53/share, which is 11.36% above the recent price of $49.87. Below is a twelve month price history chart comparing the stock performance of PXD, TJX, and CSCO: Below is a summary table of the current analyst target prices discussed above: NAME SYMBOL RECENT PRICE AVG. ANALYST 12-MO. TARGET % UPSIDE TO TARGET Invesco S&P 500— Quality ETF SPHQ $53.69 $58.86 9.63% Pioneer Natural Resources Co PXD $227.15 $258.89 13.97% TJX Companies, Inc. TJX $89.29 $100.41 12.45% Cisco Systems Inc CSCO $49.87 $55.53 11.36% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now? Do the analysts have a valid justification for their targets, or are they behind the curve on recent company and industry developments? A high price target relative to a stock's trading price can reflect optimism about the future, but can also be a precursor to target price downgrades if the targets were a relic of the past. These are questions that require further investor research. 10 ETFs With Most Upside To Analyst Targets » Also see: • Top Stocks Held By Carl Icahn • SEVN Dividend History • Institutional Holders of SEPT The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Invesco S&P 500— Quality ETF SPHQ $53.69 $58.86 9.63% Pioneer Natural Resources Co PXD $227.15 $258.89 13.97% TJX Companies, Inc. TJX $89.29 $100.41 12.45% Cisco Systems Inc CSCO $49.87 $55.53 11.36% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now? Do the analysts have a valid justification for their targets, or are they behind the curve on recent company and industry developments? 10 ETFs With Most Upside To Analyst Targets » Also see: • Top Stocks Held By Carl Icahn • SEVN Dividend History • Institutional Holders of SEPT The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Three of SPHQ's underlying holdings with notable upside to their analyst target prices are Pioneer Natural Resources Co (Symbol: PXD), TJX Companies, Inc. (Symbol: TJX), and Cisco Systems Inc (Symbol: CSCO). Similarly, TJX has 12.45% upside from the recent share price of $89.29 if the average analyst target price of $100.41/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting CSCO to reach a target price of $55.53/share, which is 11.36% above the recent price of $49.87. Invesco S&P 500— Quality ETF SPHQ $53.69 $58.86 9.63% Pioneer Natural Resources Co PXD $227.15 $258.89 13.97% TJX Companies, Inc. TJX $89.29 $100.41 12.45% Cisco Systems Inc CSCO $49.87 $55.53 11.36% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now?

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. Similarly, TJX has 12.45% upside from the recent share price of $89.29 if the average analyst target price of $100.41/share is reached, and analysts on average are expecting CSCO to reach a target price of $55.53/share, which is 11.36% above the recent price of $49.87. A high price target relative to a stock's trading price can reflect optimism about the future, but can also be a precursor to target price downgrades if the targets were a relic of the past.

Looking at the underlying holdings of the ETFs in our coverage universe at ETF Channel, we have compared the trading price of each holding against the average analyst 12-month forward target price, and computed the weighted average implied analyst target price for the ETF itself. With SPHQ trading at a recent price near $53.69 per unit, that means that analysts see 9.63% upside for this ETF looking through to the average analyst targets of the underlying holdings. Invesco S&P 500— Quality ETF SPHQ $53.69 $58.86 9.63% Pioneer Natural Resources Co PXD $227.15 $258.89 13.97% TJX Companies, Inc. TJX $89.29 $100.41 12.45% Cisco Systems Inc CSCO $49.87 $55.53 11.36% Are analysts justified in these targets, or overly optimistic about where these stocks will be trading 12 months from now?

2480816.0

2023-12-16 23:31:00 UTC

History Says the Nasdaq Will Surge in 2024: 1 Stock-Split Stock to Buy Before It Does

ZIONL

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/history-says-the-nasdaq-will-surge-in-2024%3A-1-stock-split-stock-to-buy-before-it-does

There's no doubt that 2022 will go down in history as one of the toughest years on record for Wall Street, but markets appear to have turned the corner. After tumbling more than 35% in 2022, the Nasdaq Composite has rebounded with a vengeance, gaining 39% thus far in 2023 (as of market close on Tuesday). Investors who are students of history will know the surge will likely continue. As far back as 1972 -- the first full year of trading for the Nasdaq -- in the year following a market rebound, the tech-heavy index has generated gains of 19% on average, which suggests the current rebound will likely continue. Furthermore, the resurgence of stock splits in recent year has investors taking a fresh look at companies that have split their shares, as the move is usually preceded by years of robust growth. One such company is Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). The stock has gained 677% over the past decade, causing the company to split its shares in mid-2022. Despite recent challenges, Amazon has a history of strong performance, and the coming year will likely be no different. Image source: Getty Images. Late to the AI race or decades early? Demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI) has spread like wildfire over the past year or so, with many businesses scrambling to adopt these sophisticated algorithms to reap the expected productivity windfall. These AI models have been used to draft and summarize emails, search and condense content, mine data, generate original content, and even write computer code, all of which saves users time and makes them more productive. There's been a lot of talk about how Amazon was late to recognize this shift and the accelerating demand for the technology, an uncharacteristic and costly miscalculation. It's further been suggested that this allowed competitors to get the jump on Amazon, but this belies decades of evidence to the contrary. Amazon has implemented AI in a broad cross-section of its operations over the years. It uses AI to make product recommendations to customers, to predict inventory levels necessary at its warehouses and distribution centers, to help stock and ship products (with AI-powered robots), and even to set up the most efficient routes for deliveries. Perhaps most central to the company's efforts is Amazon Web Services (AWS), which has long provided a host of AI offerings to its cloud computing customers. Suggesting Amazon is late to the AI party defies logic, and recent developments suggest the company is putting its years of expertise in the field to good use. Amazon's far-reaching strategy Recently, AWS announced the general availability of Bedrock, a service that gives cloud customers access to all the top generative AI models, including those developed by AI21 Labs, Anthropic, Cohere, Meta Platforms, and Stability AI, among others. Then, of course, there's Amazon's own Titan, which offers a family of AI models that have been trained by AWS, supporting a variety of use cases. For example, Titan Image Generator can create original images using voice prompts, much like OpenAI's DALL-E. These offerings provide cloud users with everything they need to develop their own AI applications, helping bring AI to the masses. Just last month, Amazon revealed that it would provide access to Nvidia's latest state-of-the-art AI chips -- the H200 Tensor Core graphics processing units (GPUs). Amazon also announced its new, more energy-efficient Trainium2 and Graviton4 AI processors. This will give its cloud infrastructure customers access to a wide range of AI choices, from the top of the line to more cost-effective options. The company also debuted Amazon Q, a generative AI-powered assistant designed to help automate and streamline mundane and time-consuming tasks for enterprises. Its cloud unit aside, Amazon is providing generative AI tools to merchants on its e-commerce platform to help create accurate product listings while also debuting AI-powered image generation for customers advertising on its e-commerce platform. Amazon is also deploying generative AI to improve customer purchase recommendations and the search process. Finally, Amazon has taken a page from Microsoft's own AI playbook, taking a $4 billion minority stake in AI start-up Anthropic -- a rival to OpenAI -- to further expand its AI chops. The evidence shows that Amazon is using the next generation of AI to maintain or even improve the competitive advantages in its industry-leading businesses. All that potential at a bargain Despite the stock's significant gains this year, Amazon offers a great deal of opportunity for a surprisingly reasonable valuation. The stock is currently selling for roughly 2.4 times forward sales, a significant discount to its seven-year average of 3.5 times sales. This gives savvy investors the opportunity to buy all the potential Amazon has to offer at a discount. Should you invest $1,000 in Amazon right now? Before you buy stock in Amazon, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Amazon wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Danny Vena has positions in Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI) has spread like wildfire over the past year or so, with many businesses scrambling to adopt these sophisticated algorithms to reap the expected productivity windfall. Perhaps most central to the company's efforts is Amazon Web Services (AWS), which has long provided a host of AI offerings to its cloud computing customers. Just last month, Amazon revealed that it would provide access to Nvidia's latest state-of-the-art AI chips -- the H200 Tensor Core graphics processing units (GPUs).

Amazon's far-reaching strategy Recently, AWS announced the general availability of Bedrock, a service that gives cloud customers access to all the top generative AI models, including those developed by AI21 Labs, Anthropic, Cohere, Meta Platforms, and Stability AI, among others. Its cloud unit aside, Amazon is providing generative AI tools to merchants on its e-commerce platform to help create accurate product listings while also debuting AI-powered image generation for customers advertising on its e-commerce platform. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors.

Amazon's far-reaching strategy Recently, AWS announced the general availability of Bedrock, a service that gives cloud customers access to all the top generative AI models, including those developed by AI21 Labs, Anthropic, Cohere, Meta Platforms, and Stability AI, among others. Its cloud unit aside, Amazon is providing generative AI tools to merchants on its e-commerce platform to help create accurate product listings while also debuting AI-powered image generation for customers advertising on its e-commerce platform. Before you buy stock in Amazon, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Amazon wasn't one of them.

Amazon's far-reaching strategy Recently, AWS announced the general availability of Bedrock, a service that gives cloud customers access to all the top generative AI models, including those developed by AI21 Labs, Anthropic, Cohere, Meta Platforms, and Stability AI, among others. Its cloud unit aside, Amazon is providing generative AI tools to merchants on its e-commerce platform to help create accurate product listings while also debuting AI-powered image generation for customers advertising on its e-commerce platform. Amazon is also deploying generative AI to improve customer purchase recommendations and the search process.

40908.0

2023-12-16 23:32:00 UTC

2 Overhyped Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Sell in 2024

ACGLO

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/2-overhyped-artificial-intelligence-ai-stocks-to-sell-in-2024

The technology-heavy Nasdaq Index has risen an impressive 43% year to date. Much of that came from investor optimism in artificial intelligence (AI), which is already boosting growth for many companies. But even though a rising tide can lift all boats, some of these stocks don't deserve their inflated valuations. Let's discuss why C3.ai (NYSE: AI) and Arm Holdings (NASDAQ: ARM) might underperform in 2024. 1. C3.ai With shares up by a whopping 183% year to date, C3.ai was a fantastic investment for those who got in at the start of 2023. But this doesn't overshadow the company's weak fundamentals. Despite its name, C3.ai remains a poor way to bet on the AI opportunity because of its relentless cash burn and lackluster growth. Founded in 2009, software company C3.ai offers enterprise software in a variety of industries. According to the company website, its turnkey systems have been for tasks ranging from predicting system failure in military aircraft to optimizing industrial plant management. But while the business has a slew of big-name clients (including Shell and the U.S. Air Force), operational results leave much to be desired. Revenue increased by just 17% year over year to $73.2 million, with the vast majority coming from recurring client subscriptions. However, C3.ai's cost of revenue and overhead expenses remain high, leading to an operating loss of $79.4 million -- up 10% from the prior year period. With such modest top-line growth, the company doesn't look likely to scale into profitability any time soon. Even though, with $762 million in cash and marketable securities on its balance sheet, it is in no immediate threat of running out of the liquidity needed to maintain operations. Based solely on its income statement and balance sheet, C3.ai doesn't look like a horrible company. But its valuation is simply too high. With a price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 12.6, the stock is roughly 5 times pricier than the S&P 500 average. And that's just too much for what's on offer. 2. Arm Holdings With an initial public offering (IPO) in September of this year, Arm Holdings was at the right place at the right time to ride the wave of AI hype, which helped it earn a market cap of $73 billion at the time of writing. But while the chip designer can benefit from rising AI-related demand, it will struggle to justify its astronomical valuation. On the surface, Arm Holdings is an attractive business with a deep economic moat. Founded in 1990, the U.K.-based semiconductor company is a leader in designing and licensing the intellectual property needed to make central processing units (CPUs) -- a technology with applications in a wide range of consumer and enterprise hardware. Management expects new demand from data centers and cloud computing providers to help offset its more mature revenue streams, such as smartphones and PCs. Image source: Getty Images. But like C3.ai, Arm's biggest problem is valuation. With a price-to-sales ratio of 26, it makes even C3.ai look cheap. In fact, the stock's valuation is similar to the industry-leading semiconductor company, Nvidia, which trades for 27 times sales. The problem is that Nvidia grew its top line by 206% year over year in its most recently reported quarter, while Arm grew its top line by only 28% (to $806 million). Investors who want to bet on the "picks and shovels" side of the AI opportunity have better options. Focus on fundamentals Following the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, AI has arguably become a hype cycle -- a situation where investor excitement can begin to overshadow fundamentals. Companies that seem associated with the technology have enjoyed substantial share price growth despite minimal improvement in their operations. C3.AI and Arm Holdings seem to fit into this category. Investors should be careful about holding these stocks into 2024 as the hype begins to fade and pressure mounts for AI-related companies to justify their sky-high valuations. Should you invest $1,000 in Arm Holdings right now? Before you buy stock in Arm Holdings, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Arm Holdings wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Will Ebiefung has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends C3.ai. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Founded in 1990, the U.K.-based semiconductor company is a leader in designing and licensing the intellectual property needed to make central processing units (CPUs) -- a technology with applications in a wide range of consumer and enterprise hardware. Management expects new demand from data centers and cloud computing providers to help offset its more mature revenue streams, such as smartphones and PCs. Investors should be careful about holding these stocks into 2024 as the hype begins to fade and pressure mounts for AI-related companies to justify their sky-high valuations.

Let's discuss why C3.ai (NYSE: AI) and Arm Holdings (NASDAQ: ARM) might underperform in 2024. Founded in 2009, software company C3.ai offers enterprise software in a variety of industries. Before you buy stock in Arm Holdings, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Arm Holdings wasn't one of them.

Arm Holdings With an initial public offering (IPO) in September of this year, Arm Holdings was at the right place at the right time to ride the wave of AI hype, which helped it earn a market cap of $73 billion at the time of writing. Investors should be careful about holding these stocks into 2024 as the hype begins to fade and pressure mounts for AI-related companies to justify their sky-high valuations. Before you buy stock in Arm Holdings, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Arm Holdings wasn't one of them.

Much of that came from investor optimism in artificial intelligence (AI), which is already boosting growth for many companies. Before you buy stock in Arm Holdings, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Arm Holdings wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Will Ebiefung has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

125874.0

2023-12-16 23:32:00 UTC

EPR Properties' Series E Preferred Shares Yield Pushes Past 8%

AKO-A

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/epr-properties-series-e-preferred-shares-yield-pushes-past-8

In trading on Wednesday, shares of EPR Properties's 9.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares (Symbol: EPR.PRE) were yielding above the 8% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $2.25), with shares changing hands as low as $28.10 on the day. This compares to an average yield of 7.98% in the "Real Estate" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. As of last close, EPR.PRE was trading at a 13.12% premium to its liquidation preference amount, versus the average discount of 14.40% in the "Real Estate" category. It should be noted that the preferred shares are convertible, with a conversion ratio of 0.4512. Below is a dividend history chart for EPR.PRE, showing historical dividend payments on EPR Properties's 9.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares: In Wednesday trading, EPR Properties's 9.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares (Symbol: EPR.PRE) is currently up about 0.3% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: EPR) are up about 1.1%. Click here to find out the 50 highest yielding preferreds » Also see: • GMAB Options Chain • QUBT YTD Return • CLGX YTD Return The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

As of last close, EPR.PRE was trading at a 13.12% premium to its liquidation preference amount, versus the average discount of 14.40% in the "Real Estate" category. Below is a dividend history chart for EPR.PRE, showing historical dividend payments on EPR Properties's 9.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares: In Wednesday trading, EPR Properties's 9.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares (Symbol: EPR.PRE) is currently up about 0.3% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: EPR) are up about 1.1%. Click here to find out the 50 highest yielding preferreds » Also see: • GMAB Options Chain • QUBT YTD Return • CLGX YTD Return The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, shares of EPR Properties's 9.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares (Symbol: EPR.PRE) were yielding above the 8% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $2.25), with shares changing hands as low as $28.10 on the day. This compares to an average yield of 7.98% in the "Real Estate" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. Below is a dividend history chart for EPR.PRE, showing historical dividend payments on EPR Properties's 9.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares: In Wednesday trading, EPR Properties's 9.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares (Symbol: EPR.PRE) is currently up about 0.3% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: EPR) are up about 1.1%.

In trading on Wednesday, shares of EPR Properties's 9.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares (Symbol: EPR.PRE) were yielding above the 8% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $2.25), with shares changing hands as low as $28.10 on the day. Below is a dividend history chart for EPR.PRE, showing historical dividend payments on EPR Properties's 9.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares: In Wednesday trading, EPR Properties's 9.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares (Symbol: EPR.PRE) is currently up about 0.3% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: EPR) are up about 1.1%. Click here to find out the 50 highest yielding preferreds » Also see: • GMAB Options Chain • QUBT YTD Return • CLGX YTD Return The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, shares of EPR Properties's 9.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares (Symbol: EPR.PRE) were yielding above the 8% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $2.25), with shares changing hands as low as $28.10 on the day. This compares to an average yield of 7.98% in the "Real Estate" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. As of last close, EPR.PRE was trading at a 13.12% premium to its liquidation preference amount, versus the average discount of 14.40% in the "Real Estate" category.

125875.0

2023-12-16 23:32:00 UTC

KeyCorp's Preferred Stock, Series G Yield Pushes Past 7%

AKO-A

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/keycorps-preferred-stock-series-g-yield-pushes-past-7

In trading on Wednesday, shares of KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) were yielding above the 7% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.4063), with shares changing hands as low as $19.95 on the day. This compares to an average yield of 6.81% in the "Financial" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. As of last close, KEY.PRK was trading at a 19.36% discount to its liquidation preference amount, versus the average discount of 11.75% in the "Financial" category. Investors should keep in mind that the shares are not cumulative, meaning that in the event of a missed payment, the company does not have to pay the balance of missed dividends to preferred shareholders before resuming a common dividend. Below is a dividend history chart for KEY.PRK, showing historical dividend payments on KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G : In Wednesday trading, KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) is currently up about 2.5% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: KEY) are up about 0.2%. Click here to find out the 50 highest yielding preferreds » Also see: • Top Stocks Held By Victor Mashaal • RMTI shares outstanding history • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding RUBI The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, shares of KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) were yielding above the 7% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.4063), with shares changing hands as low as $19.95 on the day. Below is a dividend history chart for KEY.PRK, showing historical dividend payments on KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G : In Wednesday trading, KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) is currently up about 2.5% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: KEY) are up about 0.2%. Click here to find out the 50 highest yielding preferreds » Also see: • Top Stocks Held By Victor Mashaal • RMTI shares outstanding history • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding RUBI The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, shares of KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) were yielding above the 7% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.4063), with shares changing hands as low as $19.95 on the day. This compares to an average yield of 6.81% in the "Financial" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. Below is a dividend history chart for KEY.PRK, showing historical dividend payments on KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G : In Wednesday trading, KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) is currently up about 2.5% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: KEY) are up about 0.2%.

In trading on Wednesday, shares of KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) were yielding above the 7% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.4063), with shares changing hands as low as $19.95 on the day. Below is a dividend history chart for KEY.PRK, showing historical dividend payments on KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G : In Wednesday trading, KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) is currently up about 2.5% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: KEY) are up about 0.2%. Click here to find out the 50 highest yielding preferreds » Also see: • Top Stocks Held By Victor Mashaal • RMTI shares outstanding history • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding RUBI The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, shares of KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) were yielding above the 7% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.4063), with shares changing hands as low as $19.95 on the day. This compares to an average yield of 6.81% in the "Financial" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. As of last close, KEY.PRK was trading at a 19.36% discount to its liquidation preference amount, versus the average discount of 11.75% in the "Financial" category.

423134.0

2023-12-16 23:32:00 UTC

Health Care Sector Update for 12/20/2023: MGNX, RDHL, ARGX, LQDA

BROGW

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/health-care-sector-update-for-12-20-2023%3A-mgnx-rdhl-argx-lqda

Health care stocks fell in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Health Care Index down 0.5% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) shedding 1.1%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) slumped 2.7%. In corporate news, MacroGenics (MGNX) shares gained over 8% after Citigroup upgraded the company's stock to buy from neutral, while raising its price target to $13 from $7. Liquidia (LQDA) shares surged past 34% after the company won a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirming the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's 2021 decision in a dispute with United Therapeutics (UTHR). Redhill Biopharma (RDHL) jumped over 5% after it said a US Army-funded study showed that its investigational drugs opaganib and RHB-107 showed a "robust synergistic effect" when combined individually with remdesivir against the Ebola virus. Argenx (ARGX) tumbled 26% after saying the clinical study of its efgartigimod subcutaneous therapeutic candidate for pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus didn't meet the primary endpoint. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In corporate news, MacroGenics (MGNX) shares gained over 8% after Citigroup upgraded the company's stock to buy from neutral, while raising its price target to $13 from $7. Liquidia (LQDA) shares surged past 34% after the company won a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirming the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's 2021 decision in a dispute with United Therapeutics (UTHR). Redhill Biopharma (RDHL) jumped over 5% after it said a US Army-funded study showed that its investigational drugs opaganib and RHB-107 showed a "robust synergistic effect" when combined individually with remdesivir against the Ebola virus.

Health care stocks fell in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Health Care Index down 0.5% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) shedding 1.1%. In corporate news, MacroGenics (MGNX) shares gained over 8% after Citigroup upgraded the company's stock to buy from neutral, while raising its price target to $13 from $7. Redhill Biopharma (RDHL) jumped over 5% after it said a US Army-funded study showed that its investigational drugs opaganib and RHB-107 showed a "robust synergistic effect" when combined individually with remdesivir against the Ebola virus.

Health care stocks fell in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Health Care Index down 0.5% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) shedding 1.1%. Liquidia (LQDA) shares surged past 34% after the company won a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirming the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's 2021 decision in a dispute with United Therapeutics (UTHR). The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Health care stocks fell in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Health Care Index down 0.5% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) shedding 1.1%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) slumped 2.7%. In corporate news, MacroGenics (MGNX) shares gained over 8% after Citigroup upgraded the company's stock to buy from neutral, while raising its price target to $13 from $7.

653212.0

2023-12-16 23:32:00 UTC

Column: Abused teen’s case against Snap could be headed to the US Supreme Court

CRM

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/column%3A-abused-teens-case-against-snap-could-be-headed-to-the-us-supreme-court

By Alison Frankel Dec 20 (Reuters) - Lawyers for a Texas high school student who sued social media company Snap SNAP.N after his science teacher allegedly used the platform to lure him into a sexual relationship said on Wednesday that they will likely ask the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether federal appellate courts have granted too broad a shield to internet publishers. The full 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined on Monday to hear the teen’s case, which alleged that certain Snap features, including disappearing Snapchat messages, enable grooming by sexual predators. The teen, identified only as John Doe in the case caption, claimed Snap was liable for its defective design and for distributing illegal content. A federal trial judge in Houston dismissed the case in 2022 under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the law immunizing internet publishers from liability for speech created by users. The judge concluding that all of Doe’s claims stemmed from the messages sent by his teacher and were therefore barred by Section 230. (The teacher, Bonnie Guess-Mazock, pleaded guilty to sexual assault in 2022.) A three-judge appellate panel affirmed the dismissal last June, citing the 5th Circuit’s longstanding precedent shielding internet platforms from claims arising from user-generated content. An unidentified judge on the court called for a vote on whether the full court should take up the case to revisit that precedent. Eight 5th Circuit judges voted against rehearing in Monday’s decision. But seven other 5th Circuit judges joined in a dissent arguing that their court and other federal circuits have gone astray by granting online platforms more protection than Section 230 actually affords. The statute’s text, wrote Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod for the dissenters, only immunizes internet platforms from claims based on their actions as publishers of third-party content – not from product liability and illegal distribution claims. “We missed an opportunity,” Elrod wrote for the dissenters. “As a result, it is once again up to our nation's highest court to properly interpret the statutory language.” Derek Merman of Heard Merman, who is Doe’s lead counsel, told me that in the wake of the 5th Circuit ruling, his team is vetting Supreme Court specialists and talking to potential friend-of-the-court allies about a potential petition raising the concerns expressed by Elrod and the other 5th Circuit dissenters. “We’re encouraged that a growing body of respected jurists are questioning the atextual application of 230 that provides blanket immunity to social media companies,” Merman said. Snap and its counsel from King & Spalding did not respond to my email query. The company argued in its 5th Circuit brief that regardless of how Doe’s lawyers have framed Doe's claims, all of his assertions are based on Snap’s publication of his teacher’s messages. Section 230, the company argued, unquestionably precludes liability against the platform for failing to remove or prevent content created by a user. “This is not an ‘edge case,’” Snap said. “The circuits are uniform in applying Section 230 immunity to failure to remove and/or prevent third-party content cases such as this one.” As you know, there has nevertheless been considerable foment in recent years about the scope of Section 230 immunity. As Doe recounted in his 5th Circuit brief, Congress has considered at least 40 bills to amend the law, though none has been passed. The Supreme Court also heard a case earlier this year that might have weakened protection for online platforms — but the justices ultimately opted against exposing websites to additional claims. But plaintiffs have made small inroads in eroding Section 230's shield in a couple of federal circuits. In 2021, the 9th Circuit held that the parents of two young men killed in a high-speed car accident could proceed with design-defect claims accusing Snap of encouraging dangerous driving with its now-eliminated “Speed Filter” feature. (Snap did not seek further review of the ruling.) And in August, the 7th Circuit refused to toss a sex trafficking victim’s claims against Salesforce CRM.N because the software company was not acting as a publisher of third-party content when it provided software and product support to Backpage, the classified advertising website. (The plaintiff alleged that she was trafficked through Backpage ads.) Elrod and her fellow 5th Circuit dissenters can be confident of at least one ally on the Supreme Court: Justice Clarence Thomas. Elrod’s dissenting opinion, in fact, relied heavily on Thomas's arguments in a 2020 statement on the Supreme Court’s decision not to review an antitrust case against content filtering software company Malwarebytes. Thomas said the Malwarebytes case wasn’t a good vehicle but that when a better case presented itself, the Supreme Court should clarify that Section 230 is intended to shield online companies only from claims based on their actions as publishers of users’ speech. The law, Thomas argued, does not immunize these companies from claims that they knowingly distributed illegal content or that their products were defectively designed. Appellate courts, Thomas said, have erroneously “relied on policy and purpose arguments to grant sweeping protection to Internet platforms.” Thomas repeated his arguments in 2022 when the Supreme Court declined to review a Texas Supreme Court decision shielding Meta subsidiary Facebook from common law claims that it enabled a sexual predator to entice a 15-year-old girl to a meeting in which she was raped and beaten. The Facebook case had procedural complications that made it a bad vehicle to address the scope of Section 230 protections, the justice said. But Thomas said it was “hard to see” why Section 230’s protection from liability for users’ content should extend to Facebook’s own alleged acts and omissions. “Assuming Congress does not step in to clarify Section 230’s scope, we should do so in an appropriate case,” Thomas said. Doe’s case against Snap could be just what he’s looking for. Read more: Salesforce can't dodge child sex trafficking claims, appeals court says US Supreme Court leaves protections for internet companies unscathed Supreme Court to scrutinize U.S. protections for social media (Reporting By Alison Frankel) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

And in August, the 7th Circuit refused to toss a sex trafficking victim’s claims against Salesforce CRM.N because the software company was not acting as a publisher of third-party content when it provided software and product support to Backpage, the classified advertising website. Circuit Court of Appeals declined on Monday to hear the teen’s case, which alleged that certain Snap features, including disappearing Snapchat messages, enable grooming by sexual predators. In 2021, the 9th Circuit held that the parents of two young men killed in a high-speed car accident could proceed with design-defect claims accusing Snap of encouraging dangerous driving with its now-eliminated “Speed Filter” feature.

And in August, the 7th Circuit refused to toss a sex trafficking victim’s claims against Salesforce CRM.N because the software company was not acting as a publisher of third-party content when it provided software and product support to Backpage, the classified advertising website. The statute’s text, wrote Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod for the dissenters, only immunizes internet platforms from claims based on their actions as publishers of third-party content – not from product liability and illegal distribution claims. Appellate courts, Thomas said, have erroneously “relied on policy and purpose arguments to grant sweeping protection to Internet platforms.” Thomas repeated his arguments in 2022 when the Supreme Court declined to review a Texas Supreme Court decision shielding Meta subsidiary Facebook from common law claims that it enabled a sexual predator to entice a 15-year-old girl to a meeting in which she was raped and beaten.

And in August, the 7th Circuit refused to toss a sex trafficking victim’s claims against Salesforce CRM.N because the software company was not acting as a publisher of third-party content when it provided software and product support to Backpage, the classified advertising website. Thomas said the Malwarebytes case wasn’t a good vehicle but that when a better case presented itself, the Supreme Court should clarify that Section 230 is intended to shield online companies only from claims based on their actions as publishers of users’ speech. Appellate courts, Thomas said, have erroneously “relied on policy and purpose arguments to grant sweeping protection to Internet platforms.” Thomas repeated his arguments in 2022 when the Supreme Court declined to review a Texas Supreme Court decision shielding Meta subsidiary Facebook from common law claims that it enabled a sexual predator to entice a 15-year-old girl to a meeting in which she was raped and beaten.

And in August, the 7th Circuit refused to toss a sex trafficking victim’s claims against Salesforce CRM.N because the software company was not acting as a publisher of third-party content when it provided software and product support to Backpage, the classified advertising website. But seven other 5th Circuit judges joined in a dissent arguing that their court and other federal circuits have gone astray by granting online platforms more protection than Section 230 actually affords. Elrod and her fellow 5th Circuit dissenters can be confident of at least one ally on the Supreme Court: Justice Clarence Thomas.

849911.0

2023-12-16 23:32:00 UTC

Nippon Steel confident hefty premium for U.S. Steel makes sense

EBR-B

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/nippon-steel-confident-hefty-premium-for-u.s.-steel-makes-sense

By Yuka Obayashi and Mariko Katsumura TOKYO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Nippon Steel 5401.T said on Tuesday its $14.1 billion deal to buy U.S. Steel X.N would help it tap into a new growth market, as concerns over the huge premium the world's fourth largest steelmaker was paying sent its shares down as much as 6%. Nippon Steel has been looking to expand overseas in recent years, as a shrinking population in Japan, where it generates nearly three-fifths of its revenue, is dimming the demand outlook for high-end steel used for autos and electronic goods. "U.S. Steel is not a competitor to us in the U.S. market or elsewhere, so we can objectively say that it is a best match," he said. U.S. Steel's net sales at home last year were $16.8 billion, well over double the revenue of about 957 billion yen ($6.7 billion) that Nippon Steel generated in North America last fiscal year. Last year, Nippon Steel bought majority stakes in two electric arc furnace steelmakers in Thailand, and in 2019, together with ArcelorMittal, the Japanese firm bought India's Essar Steel. "This deal will propel Nippon Steel into the top 3 global makers of steel," Japan analyst Mark Chadwick wrote on the Smartkarma research platform. "In many ways, Nippon Steel is paying a huge premium. In simple terms, the offer values U.S. Steel at an EV (enterprise value) of $750/ton, far higher than Nippon Steel’s own EV of $560/ton." Nippon Steel's shares fell 5.5% in early trade in Tokyo to the lowest level since July, but pared losses to trade down 2.6%. It is paying the equivalent of 7.3 times U.S. Steel's 12-month earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), according to LSEG data. The automotive and transportation sector represented almost a quarter of steel shipments out of U.S. Steel's North American facilities in 2022, according to the company's annual report. U.S. Steel also provides steel for renewable energy infrastructure such as wind turbines and so stands to benefit from the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which provides tax credits and other incentives for such projects. U.S. Steel shares ended trading up 26% at $49.59 on Monday following the deal announcement. (Reporting by Mariko Katsumura and Yuka Obayashi; Writing by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Sonali Paul) ((yuka.obayashi@thomsonreuters.com; +813-4520-1265)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

By Yuka Obayashi and Mariko Katsumura TOKYO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Nippon Steel 5401.T said on Tuesday its $14.1 billion deal to buy U.S. Steel X.N would help it tap into a new growth market, as concerns over the huge premium the world's fourth largest steelmaker was paying sent its shares down as much as 6%. It is paying the equivalent of 7.3 times U.S. Steel's 12-month earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), according to LSEG data. (Reporting by Mariko Katsumura and Yuka Obayashi; Writing by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Sonali Paul) ((yuka.obayashi@thomsonreuters.com; +813-4520-1265)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

By Yuka Obayashi and Mariko Katsumura TOKYO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Nippon Steel 5401.T said on Tuesday its $14.1 billion deal to buy U.S. Steel X.N would help it tap into a new growth market, as concerns over the huge premium the world's fourth largest steelmaker was paying sent its shares down as much as 6%. U.S. Steel's net sales at home last year were $16.8 billion, well over double the revenue of about 957 billion yen ($6.7 billion) that Nippon Steel generated in North America last fiscal year. Last year, Nippon Steel bought majority stakes in two electric arc furnace steelmakers in Thailand, and in 2019, together with ArcelorMittal, the Japanese firm bought India's Essar Steel.

By Yuka Obayashi and Mariko Katsumura TOKYO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Nippon Steel 5401.T said on Tuesday its $14.1 billion deal to buy U.S. Steel X.N would help it tap into a new growth market, as concerns over the huge premium the world's fourth largest steelmaker was paying sent its shares down as much as 6%. Nippon Steel has been looking to expand overseas in recent years, as a shrinking population in Japan, where it generates nearly three-fifths of its revenue, is dimming the demand outlook for high-end steel used for autos and electronic goods. U.S. Steel's net sales at home last year were $16.8 billion, well over double the revenue of about 957 billion yen ($6.7 billion) that Nippon Steel generated in North America last fiscal year.

By Yuka Obayashi and Mariko Katsumura TOKYO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Nippon Steel 5401.T said on Tuesday its $14.1 billion deal to buy U.S. Steel X.N would help it tap into a new growth market, as concerns over the huge premium the world's fourth largest steelmaker was paying sent its shares down as much as 6%. "U.S. Steel is not a competitor to us in the U.S. market or elsewhere, so we can objectively say that it is a best match," he said. U.S. Steel's net sales at home last year were $16.8 billion, well over double the revenue of about 957 billion yen ($6.7 billion) that Nippon Steel generated in North America last fiscal year.

1053029.0

2023-12-16 23:32:00 UTC

Tuesday Sector Laggards: Utilities, Technology & Communications

FSMB

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/tuesday-sector-laggards%3A-utilities-technology-communications-1

Looking at the sectors faring worst as of midday Tuesday, shares of Utilities companies are underperforming other sectors, up 0.4%. Within the sector, Xcel Energy Inc (Symbol: XEL) and Eversource Energy (Symbol: ES) are two large stocks that are lagging, showing a loss of 0.8% and 0.5%, respectively. Among utilities ETFs, one ETF following the sector is the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLU), which is up 0.2% on the day, and down 7.04% year-to-date. Xcel Energy Inc, meanwhile, is down 9.53% year-to-date, and Eversource Energy, is down 23.57% year-to-date. Combined, XEL and ES make up approximately 6.0% of the underlying holdings of XLU. The next worst performing sector is the Technology & Communications sector, higher by 0.5%. Among large Technology & Communications stocks, NVIDIA Corp (Symbol: NVDA) and FactSet Research Systems Inc. (Symbol: FDS) are the most notable, showing a loss of 1.8% and 1.4%, respectively. One ETF closely tracking Technology & Communications stocks is the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK), which is up 0.1% in midday trading, and up 57.05% on a year-to-date basis. NVIDIA Corp, meanwhile, is up 243.76% year-to-date, and FactSet Research Systems Inc. is up 12.24% year-to-date. NVDA makes up approximately 4.3% of the underlying holdings of XLK. Comparing these stocks and ETFs on a trailing twelve month basis, below is a relative stock price performance chart, with each of the symbols shown in a different color as labeled in the legend at the bottom: Here's a snapshot of how the S&P 500 components within the various sectors are faring in afternoon trading on Tuesday. As you can see, nine sectors are up on the day, while none of the sectors are down. SECTOR % CHANGE Services +1.0% Materials +1.0% Healthcare +0.9% Financial +0.9% Energy +0.7% Consumer Products +0.6% Industrial +0.6% Technology & Communications +0.5% Utilities +0.4% 25 Dividend Giants Widely Held By ETFs » Also see: • Funds Holding TZV • UNIT shares outstanding history • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding TBRG The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Combined, XEL and ES make up approximately 6.0% of the underlying holdings of XLU. Comparing these stocks and ETFs on a trailing twelve month basis, below is a relative stock price performance chart, with each of the symbols shown in a different color as labeled in the legend at the bottom: Here's a snapshot of how the S&P 500 components within the various sectors are faring in afternoon trading on Tuesday. Services +1.0% Materials +1.0% Healthcare +0.9% Financial +0.9% Energy +0.7% Consumer Products +0.6% Industrial +0.6% Technology & Communications +0.5% Utilities +0.4% 25 Dividend Giants Widely Held By ETFs » Also see: • Funds Holding TZV • UNIT shares outstanding history • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding TBRG The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Within the sector, Xcel Energy Inc (Symbol: XEL) and Eversource Energy (Symbol: ES) are two large stocks that are lagging, showing a loss of 0.8% and 0.5%, respectively. Among utilities ETFs, one ETF following the sector is the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLU), which is up 0.2% on the day, and down 7.04% year-to-date. Among large Technology & Communications stocks, NVIDIA Corp (Symbol: NVDA) and FactSet Research Systems Inc. (Symbol: FDS) are the most notable, showing a loss of 1.8% and 1.4%, respectively.

Among utilities ETFs, one ETF following the sector is the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLU), which is up 0.2% on the day, and down 7.04% year-to-date. One ETF closely tracking Technology & Communications stocks is the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK), which is up 0.1% in midday trading, and up 57.05% on a year-to-date basis. Services +1.0% Materials +1.0% Healthcare +0.9% Financial +0.9% Energy +0.7% Consumer Products +0.6% Industrial +0.6% Technology & Communications +0.5% Utilities +0.4% 25 Dividend Giants Widely Held By ETFs » Also see: • Funds Holding TZV • UNIT shares outstanding history • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding TBRG The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Looking at the sectors faring worst as of midday Tuesday, shares of Utilities companies are underperforming other sectors, up 0.4%. Among large Technology & Communications stocks, NVIDIA Corp (Symbol: NVDA) and FactSet Research Systems Inc. (Symbol: FDS) are the most notable, showing a loss of 1.8% and 1.4%, respectively. One ETF closely tracking Technology & Communications stocks is the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK), which is up 0.1% in midday trading, and up 57.05% on a year-to-date basis.

1053030.0

2023-12-16 23:32:00 UTC

Tuesday Sector Leaders: Services, Materials

FSMB

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/tuesday-sector-leaders%3A-services-materials

Looking at the sectors faring best as of midday Tuesday, shares of Services companies are outperforming other sectors, higher by 1.0%. Within that group, Caesars Entertainment Inc (Symbol: CZR) and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (Symbol: WBA) are two large stocks leading the way, showing a gain of 3.6% and 3.1%, respectively. Among the largest ETFs, one ETF closely following services stocks is the iShares U.S. Consumer Services ETF (Symbol: IYC), which is up 0.7% on the day, and up 35.57% year-to-date. Caesars Entertainment Inc, meanwhile, is up 15.88% year-to-date, and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc, is down 25.56% year-to-date. CZR makes up approximately 0.2% of the underlying holdings of IYC. The next best performing sector is the Materials sector, higher by 1.0%. Among large Materials stocks, Mosaic Co (Symbol: MOS) and FMC Corp. (Symbol: FMC) are the most notable, showing a gain of 2.9% and 2.8%, respectively. One ETF closely tracking Materials stocks is the Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB), which is up 1.0% in midday trading, and up 12.46% on a year-to-date basis. Mosaic Co, meanwhile, is down 8.26% year-to-date, and FMC Corp., is down 50.13% year-to-date. Combined, MOS and FMC make up approximately 1.9% of the underlying holdings of XLB. Comparing these stocks and ETFs on a trailing twelve month basis, below is a relative stock price performance chart, with each of the symbols shown in a different color as labeled in the legend at the bottom: Here's a snapshot of how the S&P 500 components within the various sectors are faring in afternoon trading on Tuesday. As you can see, nine sectors are up on the day, while none of the sectors are down. SECTOR % CHANGE Services +1.0% Materials +1.0% Healthcare +0.9% Financial +0.9% Energy +0.7% Consumer Products +0.6% Industrial +0.6% Technology & Communications +0.5% Utilities +0.4% 25 Dividend Giants Widely Held By ETFs » Also see: • Future Dividend Aristocrats • OTT Insider Buying • DRAY YTD Return The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Combined, MOS and FMC make up approximately 1.9% of the underlying holdings of XLB. Comparing these stocks and ETFs on a trailing twelve month basis, below is a relative stock price performance chart, with each of the symbols shown in a different color as labeled in the legend at the bottom: Here's a snapshot of how the S&P 500 components within the various sectors are faring in afternoon trading on Tuesday. Services +1.0% Materials +1.0% Healthcare +0.9% Financial +0.9% Energy +0.7% Consumer Products +0.6% Industrial +0.6% Technology & Communications +0.5% Utilities +0.4% 25 Dividend Giants Widely Held By ETFs » Also see: • Future Dividend Aristocrats • OTT Insider Buying • DRAY YTD Return The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Within that group, Caesars Entertainment Inc (Symbol: CZR) and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (Symbol: WBA) are two large stocks leading the way, showing a gain of 3.6% and 3.1%, respectively. Among the largest ETFs, one ETF closely following services stocks is the iShares U.S. Consumer Services ETF (Symbol: IYC), which is up 0.7% on the day, and up 35.57% year-to-date. Among large Materials stocks, Mosaic Co (Symbol: MOS) and FMC Corp. (Symbol: FMC) are the most notable, showing a gain of 2.9% and 2.8%, respectively.

Among the largest ETFs, one ETF closely following services stocks is the iShares U.S. Consumer Services ETF (Symbol: IYC), which is up 0.7% on the day, and up 35.57% year-to-date. One ETF closely tracking Materials stocks is the Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB), which is up 1.0% in midday trading, and up 12.46% on a year-to-date basis. Comparing these stocks and ETFs on a trailing twelve month basis, below is a relative stock price performance chart, with each of the symbols shown in a different color as labeled in the legend at the bottom: Here's a snapshot of how the S&P 500 components within the various sectors are faring in afternoon trading on Tuesday.

Among the largest ETFs, one ETF closely following services stocks is the iShares U.S. Consumer Services ETF (Symbol: IYC), which is up 0.7% on the day, and up 35.57% year-to-date. One ETF closely tracking Materials stocks is the Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB), which is up 1.0% in midday trading, and up 12.46% on a year-to-date basis. Mosaic Co, meanwhile, is down 8.26% year-to-date, and FMC Corp., is down 50.13% year-to-date.

1109869.0

2023-12-16 23:32:00 UTC

Wednesday 12/20 Insider Buying Report: CPZ, FLO

GECCM

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/wednesday-12-20-insider-buying-report%3A-cpz-flo

As the saying goes, there are many possible reasons for an insider to sell a stock, but only one reason to buy -- they expect to make money. So let's look at two noteworthy recent insider buys. On Monday, Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust's President and Chairman, John P. Calamos Sr., made a $201,090 purchase of CPZ, buying 13,715 shares at a cost of $14.66 each. So far Calamos Sr. is in the green, up about 1.8% on their purchase based on today's trading high of $14.93. Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust is trading up about 0.2% on the day Wednesday. Before this latest buy, Calamos Sr. made one other buy in the past twelve months, purchasing $233,607 shares for a cost of $14.77 each. And also on Monday, CEO Ryals McMullian bought $200,153 worth of Flowers Foods, buying 9,100 shares at a cost of $21.99 each. This purchase marks the first one filed by McMullian in the past year. Flowers Foods is trading down about 0.2% on the day Wednesday. So far McMullian is in the green, up about 2.0% on their purchase based on today's trading high of $22.43. Also see: • • • The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust is trading up about 0.2% on the day Wednesday. And also on Monday, CEO Ryals McMullian bought $200,153 worth of Flowers Foods, buying 9,100 shares at a cost of $21.99 each. So far McMullian is in the green, up about 2.0% on their purchase based on today's trading high of $22.43.

On Monday, Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust's President and Chairman, John P. Calamos Sr., made a $201,090 purchase of CPZ, buying 13,715 shares at a cost of $14.66 each. So far Calamos Sr. is in the green, up about 1.8% on their purchase based on today's trading high of $14.93. Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust is trading up about 0.2% on the day Wednesday.

On Monday, Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust's President and Chairman, John P. Calamos Sr., made a $201,090 purchase of CPZ, buying 13,715 shares at a cost of $14.66 each. So far Calamos Sr. is in the green, up about 1.8% on their purchase based on today's trading high of $14.93. Before this latest buy, Calamos Sr. made one other buy in the past twelve months, purchasing $233,607 shares for a cost of $14.77 each.

On Monday, Calamos Long/Short Equity & Dynamic Income Trust's President and Chairman, John P. Calamos Sr., made a $201,090 purchase of CPZ, buying 13,715 shares at a cost of $14.66 each. Before this latest buy, Calamos Sr. made one other buy in the past twelve months, purchasing $233,607 shares for a cost of $14.77 each. And also on Monday, CEO Ryals McMullian bought $200,153 worth of Flowers Foods, buying 9,100 shares at a cost of $21.99 each.

1541619.0

2023-12-16 23:32:00 UTC

3 Dividend-Paying Tech Stocks to Buy for 2024

NEWTL

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/3-dividend-paying-tech-stocks-to-buy-for-2024

Technology stocks are known for a handful of common characteristics. Paying dividends is not one of them. These companies typically reinvest the bulk of their profits into developing new and better tech and attempting to grow their sales. If you dig deep enough, though, you can find a handful of technology stocks that pay surprisingly solid dividends. Here are three you may want to consider stepping into before 2024 arrives. Buying now will help you take advantage of higher interest rates that not only work against growth companies but favor dividend-paying value stocks -- no matter what business they're in. 1. HP There's no denying that HP (NYSE: HPQ) (formerly known as Hewlett-Packard) isn't close to being the technology titan it once was. Neither consumers nor corporations buy computers as often as they used to. Further, in the early stages of the pandemic, there was a huge surge in computer purchases as people upgraded their machines so they could work and attend school remotely. That pulled a large volume of business forward, and the resulting ripples of lower demand are still being felt: HP's personal computer revenue fell 19% during the fiscal year that ended in October. Even the ultra-patient Warren Buffett is giving up on the company. Berkshire Hathaway has been selling off the stake in HP it began acquiring early last year, likely locking in modest losses. While Berkshire is backing off, you might want to use this misunderstood outfit's recent weakness as an entry point. Yes, HP is in the computer business. PCs account for about two-thirds of its total sales. That segment is not a particularly great profit producer, though. HP's much smaller (by revenue) printing business produces around 60% of its profits, and its printing business is very, very reliable. That's because the paperless offices that computers were supposed to create when they started to become common back in the 1990s have given us the capacity to print more pages than ever. And workers are using that option to the fullest. Data source: HP. Chart by author. This, of course, is precisely what makes for a great dividend-paying stock -- an underlying business based on a product the world is willing to pay for over and over again. Newcomers will be plugging into the stock while its dividend yield is just a hair under 3.6%. Its quarterly payout, by the way, has grown from $0.16 per share five years ago to a little over $0.27 per share now. That's an annualized growth rate of a little over 9%. 2. IBM Like HP, IBM (NYSE: IBM) was once royalty among technology names. Not any longer. The company mostly missed out on the rise of cloud computing and mobile connectivity. By the time it started to pivot into those arenas in 2016, it was too late. The stock had already begun a sell-off that would last for years, reflecting the company's lost ground. Many investors have forgotten about IBM in the meantime, presuming it wouldn't recover. Well, those people may want to take a fresh look at the stock now. It just hit a six-year high. And, if the company's new business lines and business model are any indication, more new highs could be in the cards. Simply put, IBM's core focus these days is hybrid cloud computing and all of its ancillary businesses. These add-on businesses range from artificial intelligence to cloud management cybersecurity to automation, to name a few. The thing is, offering such turn-key cloud computing solutions means IBM can generate a combination of software, hardware, and consulting revenue from any given client. "Our approach to hybrid cloud is platform-centric," CFO Jim Kavanaugh explained during the Q4 2022earnings callin January. "As we land a platform, we get a multiplier effect across software, consulting, and infrastructure." He didn't divulge specific numbers at the time, but Kavanaugh has commented in the past that "for every dollar that we land on [sales of] the [hybrid cloud] platform, we get $3 to $5 of software and $6 to $8 of services revenue." It seems we're finally seeing the measurable benefit of this dynamic. Last quarter's software revenue was up 8% year over year, while consulting revenue improved 6% on much more modest infrastructure sales growth of only 2%. And this is largely recurring revenue that helps support a dividend. IBM not only maintained its payouts during the rough patch it was going through a few years ago, but it has raised them for 28 consecutive years. At current prices, new investors would be buying the stock with a dividend yield of a little more than 4%. 3. Cisco Systems Last but not least, add Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) to your list of dividend-paying technology stocks to buy. Currently, it's yielding a respectable 3.1%. Not unlike IBM and HP, Cisco's glory days came in the late 1990s and early 2000s. That's when it was riding the then-rapid growth of the personal computer market. Cisco's role in that movement was supplying the world with the modems, routers, and switches needed to connect PCs to the internet and to one another. It still manufactures this hardware, although demand isn't quite as fevered now as it was then. New entrants into the ethernet switch and router market are also competitive against market-leading Cisco. The networking hardware business has changed, however, in a way that helps keep Cisco surprisingly competitive. See, in step with other kinds of related technologies, switches, and routers are now powered by adaptable and updatable software. The company did $4.4 billion worth of software business during the fiscal quarter that ended Oct. 28 -- roughly one-third of its total sales. Its subscription-based businesses produced a total of $6.5 billion worth of sales for the quarter, accounting for nearly half of the company's top line. This isn't a coincidence. It's by design. As CEO Chuck Robbins commented during theearnings call "We continue to transform our business toward more software and recurring revenue streams fueled by accelerated innovation." The word "recurring" is key here, as it translates into predictable, reliable cash flow that in turn funds continued dividend payments. To that point, Cisco's annualized rate of recurring revenue stands at $24.5 billion, which is just under half of last year's total top line. You'll probably never get great growth from Cisco stock. You'll certainly get good income, however, from a dividend that management has now raised for 13 consecutive years. Should you invest $1,000 in Cisco Systems right now? Before you buy stock in Cisco Systems, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Cisco Systems wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway, Cisco Systems, and HP. The Motley Fool recommends International Business Machines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

That pulled a large volume of business forward, and the resulting ripples of lower demand are still being felt: HP's personal computer revenue fell 19% during the fiscal year that ended in October. He didn't divulge specific numbers at the time, but Kavanaugh has commented in the past that "for every dollar that we land on [sales of] the [hybrid cloud] platform, we get $3 to $5 of software and $6 to $8 of services revenue." As CEO Chuck Robbins commented during theearnings call "We continue to transform our business toward more software and recurring revenue streams fueled by accelerated innovation."

The company did $4.4 billion worth of software business during the fiscal quarter that ended Oct. 28 -- roughly one-third of its total sales. Its subscription-based businesses produced a total of $6.5 billion worth of sales for the quarter, accounting for nearly half of the company's top line. Before you buy stock in Cisco Systems, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Cisco Systems wasn't one of them.

Last quarter's software revenue was up 8% year over year, while consulting revenue improved 6% on much more modest infrastructure sales growth of only 2%. Cisco Systems Last but not least, add Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) to your list of dividend-paying technology stocks to buy. Before you buy stock in Cisco Systems, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Cisco Systems wasn't one of them.

Yes, HP is in the computer business. Last quarter's software revenue was up 8% year over year, while consulting revenue improved 6% on much more modest infrastructure sales growth of only 2%. Before you buy stock in Cisco Systems, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Cisco Systems wasn't one of them.

1755426.0

2023-12-16 23:32:00 UTC

The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund Experiences Big Inflow

PFFL

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/the-communication-services-select-sector-spdr-fund-experiences-big-inflow-4

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLC) where we have detected an approximate $200.8 million dollar inflow -- that's a 1.3% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 218,150,000 to 220,950,000). Among the largest underlying components of XLC, in trading today AT&T Inc (Symbol: T) is up about 0.3%, Walt Disney Co. (Symbol: DIS) is up about 0.4%, and Verizon Communications Inc (Symbol: VZ) is lower by about 0.3%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLC Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLC, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, XLC's low point in its 52 week range is $46.475 per share, with $72.445 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $72.34. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ». Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs. Click here to find out which 9 other ETFs had notable inflows » Also see: • PRGS Insider Buying • GIK shares outstanding history • INTL Videos The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLC) where we have detected an approximate $200.8 million dollar inflow -- that's a 1.3% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 218,150,000 to 220,950,000). These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Click here to find out which 9 other ETFs had notable inflows » Also see: • PRGS Insider Buying • GIK shares outstanding history • INTL Videos The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Among the largest underlying components of XLC, in trading today AT&T Inc (Symbol: T) is up about 0.3%, Walt Disney Co. (Symbol: DIS) is up about 0.4%, and Verizon Communications Inc (Symbol: VZ) is lower by about 0.3%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLC Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLC, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, XLC's low point in its 52 week range is $46.475 per share, with $72.445 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $72.34. Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''.

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLC) where we have detected an approximate $200.8 million dollar inflow -- that's a 1.3% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 218,150,000 to 220,950,000). For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLC Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLC, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, XLC's low point in its 52 week range is $46.475 per share, with $72.445 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $72.34. Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLC) where we have detected an approximate $200.8 million dollar inflow -- that's a 1.3% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 218,150,000 to 220,950,000). For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLC Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLC, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, XLC's low point in its 52 week range is $46.475 per share, with $72.445 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $72.34. Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.

1755427.0

2023-12-16 23:32:00 UTC

Notable ETF Inflow Detected - IYW, ADI, PANW, APH

PFFL

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/notable-etf-inflow-detected-iyw-adi-panw-aph

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the iShares U.S. Technology ETF (Symbol: IYW) where we have detected an approximate $207.8 million dollar inflow -- that's a 1.5% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 113,400,000 to 115,100,000). Among the largest underlying components of IYW, in trading today Analog Devices Inc (Symbol: ADI) is up about 0.3%, Palo Alto Networks, Inc (Symbol: PANW) is up about 0.8%, and Amphenol Corp. (Symbol: APH) is up by about 0.1%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the IYW Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of IYW, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, IYW's low point in its 52 week range is $72.09 per share, with $122.77 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $122.63. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ». Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs. Click here to find out which 9 other ETFs had notable inflows » Also see: • Socially Responsible Preferreds • EFAV Videos • GFIG Split History The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs. Click here to find out which 9 other ETFs had notable inflows » Also see: • Socially Responsible Preferreds • EFAV Videos • GFIG Split History The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Among the largest underlying components of IYW, in trading today Analog Devices Inc (Symbol: ADI) is up about 0.3%, Palo Alto Networks, Inc (Symbol: PANW) is up about 0.8%, and Amphenol Corp. (Symbol: APH) is up by about 0.1%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the IYW Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of IYW, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, IYW's low point in its 52 week range is $72.09 per share, with $122.77 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $122.63. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the iShares U.S. Technology ETF (Symbol: IYW) where we have detected an approximate $207.8 million dollar inflow -- that's a 1.5% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 113,400,000 to 115,100,000). For a complete list of holdings, visit the IYW Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of IYW, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, IYW's low point in its 52 week range is $72.09 per share, with $122.77 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $122.63. Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the iShares U.S. Technology ETF (Symbol: IYW) where we have detected an approximate $207.8 million dollar inflow -- that's a 1.5% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 113,400,000 to 115,100,000). For a complete list of holdings, visit the IYW Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of IYW, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, IYW's low point in its 52 week range is $72.09 per share, with $122.77 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $122.63. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand.

1901883.0

2023-12-16 23:32:00 UTC

Better Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock for 2024: Palantir vs. C3.ai

RILYG

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/better-artificial-intelligence-ai-stock-for-2024%3A-palantir-vs.-c3.ai

In 2023, two of the top artificial intelligence (AI) stocks to own were Palantir (NYSE: PLTR) and C3.ai (NYSE: AI). The stocks have performed similarly, with Palantir up around 185% and C3.ai up around 180% year to date. Any investor would be extremely satisfied with those returns, but with such an impressive year, shareholders of each business are likely wondering if there's any more room to run in 2024. So, of the two, which is a better investment moving forward? Let's find out. C3.ai and Palantir are tackling different corners of the same market Both C3.ai and Palantir provide AI solutions for their clients, and each is a critical supplier to various government departments. However, C3.ai is also heavily involved in the oil and gas space. The key difference between the two providers is that C3.ai's products are mostly pre-built for a specific purpose that can be easily deployed to tackle tasks like machine reliability, analyze supply chains, and improve energy efficiency. Palantir's software is highly adaptable to any situation, giving it a broader use case at the cost of employing specialized engineers. However, with a wide need for various AI applications, there is a use for both products in today's marketplace. Winner: Tie Palantir is growing faster despite its size Moving to finances, each is growing slightly slower than many AI investors might expect. In Q3, Palantir's revenue was up 17% to $558 million, while C3.ai's grew 17% to $73.2 million (for Q2 FY 2024 ending Oct. 31). Although each company grew at the same pace, Palantir is much larger, so growth should theoretically be harder to come by. As a result, I'll give Palantir the edge here in a face-value tie. Looking ahead to next quarter, C3.ai's management expects 15% growth versus Palantir's projected 18%. So, despite Palantir's size, it's beating C3.ai out on the growth front. Winner: Palantir C3.ai doesn't know what profits are Transitioning to an area that some investors don't care about (although they should), we need to discuss each company's profit picture. Palantir is already turning a profit and improving each quarter. PLTR Profit Margin (Quarterly) data by YCharts This is a huge win for the company, as it shows that management is serious about profits and has executed its plan to control expense growth. C3.ai is essentially the exact opposite of that. In Q2 FY 2024, C3.ai had revenue of $73.3 million, but the cost of revenue and operating expenses totaled $152.6 million. That means C3.ai posted a horrendous operating loss margin of 108%. In C3.ai's defense, it is much smaller than Palantir and is still working to capture a massive generative AI opportunity management sees. However, it's a big concern with C3.ai that far in the hole. Winner: Palantir Palantir's dominance comes at a price Palantir has clearly shown it's a much better business to invest in. But that doesn't come for free, as its stock trades at a premium to C3.ai. AI PS Ratio data by YCharts While 19 times sales isn't cheap for any software company, it's also a bit concerning because normally, that premium is reserved for companies growing their revenue by at least a 30% pace. C3.ai's premium is a bit more reasonable, but for 12 times sales, many stocks are growing faster and are closer to breaking even. Therefore, I'd caution all investors against taking a position in either Palantir or C3.ai, as they are priced for perfection and need growth acceleration to justify their current valuations. However, if you need to buy one, Palantir is a much better investment than C3.ai. Should you invest $1,000 in Palantir Technologies right now? Before you buy stock in Palantir Technologies, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Palantir Technologies wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Keithen Drury has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends C3.ai. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The key difference between the two providers is that C3.ai's products are mostly pre-built for a specific purpose that can be easily deployed to tackle tasks like machine reliability, analyze supply chains, and improve energy efficiency. Palantir's software is highly adaptable to any situation, giving it a broader use case at the cost of employing specialized engineers. Therefore, I'd caution all investors against taking a position in either Palantir or C3.ai, as they are priced for perfection and need growth acceleration to justify their current valuations.

Winner: Tie Palantir is growing faster despite its size Moving to finances, each is growing slightly slower than many AI investors might expect. PLTR Profit Margin (Quarterly) data by YCharts This is a huge win for the company, as it shows that management is serious about profits and has executed its plan to control expense growth. Before you buy stock in Palantir Technologies, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Palantir Technologies wasn't one of them.

C3.ai and Palantir are tackling different corners of the same market Both C3.ai and Palantir provide AI solutions for their clients, and each is a critical supplier to various government departments. Winner: Palantir Palantir's dominance comes at a price Palantir has clearly shown it's a much better business to invest in. Before you buy stock in Palantir Technologies, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Palantir Technologies wasn't one of them.

Winner: Tie Palantir is growing faster despite its size Moving to finances, each is growing slightly slower than many AI investors might expect. Winner: Palantir Palantir's dominance comes at a price Palantir has clearly shown it's a much better business to invest in. Before you buy stock in Palantir Technologies, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Palantir Technologies wasn't one of them.

927030.0

2023-12-16 23:33:00 UTC

ESLT Ex-Dividend Reminder - 12/22/23

ESLT

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/eslt-ex-dividend-reminder-12-22-23

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 12/22/23, Elbit Systems Ltd. (Symbol: ESLT) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.50, payable on 1/8/24. As a percentage of ESLT's recent stock price of $214.16, this dividend works out to approximately 0.23%. In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from ESLT is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 0.93% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward. The chart below shows the one year performance of ESLT shares, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, ESLT's low point in its 52 week range is $162.01 per share, with $225.22 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $215.13. In Wednesday trading, Elbit Systems Ltd. shares are currently up about 1% on the day. Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen » Also see: • Yield Charts • CB Price Target • Funds Holding OM The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from ESLT is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 0.93% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward. The chart below shows the one year performance of ESLT shares, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, ESLT's low point in its 52 week range is $162.01 per share, with $225.22 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $215.13. Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 12/22/23, Elbit Systems Ltd. (Symbol: ESLT) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.50, payable on 1/8/24.

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 12/22/23, Elbit Systems Ltd. (Symbol: ESLT) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.50, payable on 1/8/24. As a percentage of ESLT's recent stock price of $214.16, this dividend works out to approximately 0.23%. In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from ESLT is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 0.93% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward.

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 12/22/23, Elbit Systems Ltd. (Symbol: ESLT) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.50, payable on 1/8/24. In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from ESLT is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 0.93% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward. The chart below shows the one year performance of ESLT shares, versus its 200 day moving average: Looking at the chart above, ESLT's low point in its 52 week range is $162.01 per share, with $225.22 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $215.13.

As a percentage of ESLT's recent stock price of $214.16, this dividend works out to approximately 0.23%. In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from ESLT is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 0.93% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward. Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 12/22/23, Elbit Systems Ltd. (Symbol: ESLT) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.50, payable on 1/8/24.

1109868.0

2023-12-16 23:33:00 UTC

KeyCorp's Preferred Stock, Series G Yield Pushes Past 7%

GECCM

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/keycorps-preferred-stock-series-g-yield-pushes-past-7

In trading on Wednesday, shares of KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) were yielding above the 7% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.4063), with shares changing hands as low as $19.95 on the day. This compares to an average yield of 6.81% in the "Financial" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. As of last close, KEY.PRK was trading at a 19.36% discount to its liquidation preference amount, versus the average discount of 11.75% in the "Financial" category. Investors should keep in mind that the shares are not cumulative, meaning that in the event of a missed payment, the company does not have to pay the balance of missed dividends to preferred shareholders before resuming a common dividend. Below is a dividend history chart for KEY.PRK, showing historical dividend payments on KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G : In Wednesday trading, KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) is currently up about 2.5% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: KEY) are up about 0.2%. Click here to find out the 50 highest yielding preferreds » Also see: • Top Stocks Held By Victor Mashaal • RMTI shares outstanding history • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding RUBI The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, shares of KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) were yielding above the 7% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.4063), with shares changing hands as low as $19.95 on the day. Below is a dividend history chart for KEY.PRK, showing historical dividend payments on KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G : In Wednesday trading, KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) is currently up about 2.5% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: KEY) are up about 0.2%. Click here to find out the 50 highest yielding preferreds » Also see: • Top Stocks Held By Victor Mashaal • RMTI shares outstanding history • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding RUBI The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, shares of KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) were yielding above the 7% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.4063), with shares changing hands as low as $19.95 on the day. This compares to an average yield of 6.81% in the "Financial" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. Below is a dividend history chart for KEY.PRK, showing historical dividend payments on KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G : In Wednesday trading, KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) is currently up about 2.5% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: KEY) are up about 0.2%.

In trading on Wednesday, shares of KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) were yielding above the 7% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.4063), with shares changing hands as low as $19.95 on the day. Below is a dividend history chart for KEY.PRK, showing historical dividend payments on KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G : In Wednesday trading, KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) is currently up about 2.5% on the day, while the common shares (Symbol: KEY) are up about 0.2%. Click here to find out the 50 highest yielding preferreds » Also see: • Top Stocks Held By Victor Mashaal • RMTI shares outstanding history • Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding RUBI The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In trading on Wednesday, shares of KeyCorp's 5.625% Fixed Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (Symbol: KEY.PRK) were yielding above the 7% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.4063), with shares changing hands as low as $19.95 on the day. This compares to an average yield of 6.81% in the "Financial" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. As of last close, KEY.PRK was trading at a 19.36% discount to its liquidation preference amount, versus the average discount of 11.75% in the "Financial" category.

1636214.0

2023-12-16 23:33:00 UTC

History Says the Nasdaq Will Surge in 2024: 1 Stock-Split Stock to Buy Before It Does

OCFCP

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/history-says-the-nasdaq-will-surge-in-2024%3A-1-stock-split-stock-to-buy-before-it-does

There's no doubt that 2022 will go down in history as one of the toughest years on record for Wall Street, but markets appear to have turned the corner. After tumbling more than 35% in 2022, the Nasdaq Composite has rebounded with a vengeance, gaining 39% thus far in 2023 (as of market close on Tuesday). Investors who are students of history will know the surge will likely continue. As far back as 1972 -- the first full year of trading for the Nasdaq -- in the year following a market rebound, the tech-heavy index has generated gains of 19% on average, which suggests the current rebound will likely continue. Furthermore, the resurgence of stock splits in recent year has investors taking a fresh look at companies that have split their shares, as the move is usually preceded by years of robust growth. One such company is Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). The stock has gained 677% over the past decade, causing the company to split its shares in mid-2022. Despite recent challenges, Amazon has a history of strong performance, and the coming year will likely be no different. Image source: Getty Images. Late to the AI race or decades early? Demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI) has spread like wildfire over the past year or so, with many businesses scrambling to adopt these sophisticated algorithms to reap the expected productivity windfall. These AI models have been used to draft and summarize emails, search and condense content, mine data, generate original content, and even write computer code, all of which saves users time and makes them more productive. There's been a lot of talk about how Amazon was late to recognize this shift and the accelerating demand for the technology, an uncharacteristic and costly miscalculation. It's further been suggested that this allowed competitors to get the jump on Amazon, but this belies decades of evidence to the contrary. Amazon has implemented AI in a broad cross-section of its operations over the years. It uses AI to make product recommendations to customers, to predict inventory levels necessary at its warehouses and distribution centers, to help stock and ship products (with AI-powered robots), and even to set up the most efficient routes for deliveries. Perhaps most central to the company's efforts is Amazon Web Services (AWS), which has long provided a host of AI offerings to its cloud computing customers. Suggesting Amazon is late to the AI party defies logic, and recent developments suggest the company is putting its years of expertise in the field to good use. Amazon's far-reaching strategy Recently, AWS announced the general availability of Bedrock, a service that gives cloud customers access to all the top generative AI models, including those developed by AI21 Labs, Anthropic, Cohere, Meta Platforms, and Stability AI, among others. Then, of course, there's Amazon's own Titan, which offers a family of AI models that have been trained by AWS, supporting a variety of use cases. For example, Titan Image Generator can create original images using voice prompts, much like OpenAI's DALL-E. These offerings provide cloud users with everything they need to develop their own AI applications, helping bring AI to the masses. Just last month, Amazon revealed that it would provide access to Nvidia's latest state-of-the-art AI chips -- the H200 Tensor Core graphics processing units (GPUs). Amazon also announced its new, more energy-efficient Trainium2 and Graviton4 AI processors. This will give its cloud infrastructure customers access to a wide range of AI choices, from the top of the line to more cost-effective options. The company also debuted Amazon Q, a generative AI-powered assistant designed to help automate and streamline mundane and time-consuming tasks for enterprises. Its cloud unit aside, Amazon is providing generative AI tools to merchants on its e-commerce platform to help create accurate product listings while also debuting AI-powered image generation for customers advertising on its e-commerce platform. Amazon is also deploying generative AI to improve customer purchase recommendations and the search process. Finally, Amazon has taken a page from Microsoft's own AI playbook, taking a $4 billion minority stake in AI start-up Anthropic -- a rival to OpenAI -- to further expand its AI chops. The evidence shows that Amazon is using the next generation of AI to maintain or even improve the competitive advantages in its industry-leading businesses. All that potential at a bargain Despite the stock's significant gains this year, Amazon offers a great deal of opportunity for a surprisingly reasonable valuation. The stock is currently selling for roughly 2.4 times forward sales, a significant discount to its seven-year average of 3.5 times sales. This gives savvy investors the opportunity to buy all the potential Amazon has to offer at a discount. Should you invest $1,000 in Amazon right now? Before you buy stock in Amazon, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Amazon wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Danny Vena has positions in Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI) has spread like wildfire over the past year or so, with many businesses scrambling to adopt these sophisticated algorithms to reap the expected productivity windfall. Perhaps most central to the company's efforts is Amazon Web Services (AWS), which has long provided a host of AI offerings to its cloud computing customers. Just last month, Amazon revealed that it would provide access to Nvidia's latest state-of-the-art AI chips -- the H200 Tensor Core graphics processing units (GPUs).

Amazon's far-reaching strategy Recently, AWS announced the general availability of Bedrock, a service that gives cloud customers access to all the top generative AI models, including those developed by AI21 Labs, Anthropic, Cohere, Meta Platforms, and Stability AI, among others. Its cloud unit aside, Amazon is providing generative AI tools to merchants on its e-commerce platform to help create accurate product listings while also debuting AI-powered image generation for customers advertising on its e-commerce platform. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors.

Amazon's far-reaching strategy Recently, AWS announced the general availability of Bedrock, a service that gives cloud customers access to all the top generative AI models, including those developed by AI21 Labs, Anthropic, Cohere, Meta Platforms, and Stability AI, among others. Its cloud unit aside, Amazon is providing generative AI tools to merchants on its e-commerce platform to help create accurate product listings while also debuting AI-powered image generation for customers advertising on its e-commerce platform. Before you buy stock in Amazon, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Amazon wasn't one of them.

Amazon's far-reaching strategy Recently, AWS announced the general availability of Bedrock, a service that gives cloud customers access to all the top generative AI models, including those developed by AI21 Labs, Anthropic, Cohere, Meta Platforms, and Stability AI, among others. Its cloud unit aside, Amazon is providing generative AI tools to merchants on its e-commerce platform to help create accurate product listings while also debuting AI-powered image generation for customers advertising on its e-commerce platform. Amazon is also deploying generative AI to improve customer purchase recommendations and the search process.

1662526.0

2023-12-16 23:33:00 UTC

Can Costco Stock Reach $1,000 in 2024?

OPINL

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/can-costco-stock-reach-%241000-in-2024

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST), a thriving business that has flown under the radar this year due to the intense focus on tech and artificial intelligence, just reported its fiscal 2024 first quarter (ended Nov. 26) financial results. And it seems like the market came away impressed. Shares have crushed the S&P 500 in 2023, up 44%. This continues a long history of outsized returns for investors. But we have our sights set on the future. Can this top retail stock reach $1,000 per share by the end of 2024? Let's see if this hypothetical 52% gain (from the price on Dec. 15) is a real possibility in the next 12 months. Costco's momentum continues In the most recent fiscal quarter, Costco was able to increase net sales by 6.1% on a year-over-year basis to $56.7 billion. Diluted earnings per share jumped 16.6% compared to Q1 2023. These headline figures beat Wall Street expectations. CFO Richard Galanti mentioned on the Q1 2024 earnings call that "fresh foods were relatively strong" in the quarter, and that "non-food showed improvement." This demonstrates the broad-based appeal Costco has for its customer base. It's also very encouraging that foot traffic positively surprised executives to the upside. This is a sign that shoppers are turning to Costco as a top destination during a busy holiday season. The company ended the quarter with 72 million membership households, up 7.6% from last year. These fees brought in just under $1.1 billion in revenue. These were all strong results, but I think investors were most pleased with the management team announcing a special $15 dividend. Costco is known for approving hefty one-time payouts like this on an occasional basis. The last one was in December 2020 for $10 a share. Expectations might be too high There's absolutely no question that this is one of the best businesses around. Costco focuses on taking care of customers with low prices, great service, and a wonderful shopping experience. The company's huge scale makes it hard for other retailers to compete. And by operating a membership-based model, the business generates a high-margin and sticky recurring revenue stream. The share's monumental historical performance proves this point. Only a business that has strong fundamentals can reward investors like Costco has. However, as we look out for 12 months, I believe it's unrealistic for the stock to hit $1,000 by the end of 2024. There are two reasons I feel confident about this perspective. The first one is due to Costco's already massive scale. This is the world's third largest retailer, with 871 warehouses and fiscal 2023 revenue of $238 billion. To be fair, more locations are being opened, and there is sizable opportunity in China. But I believe revenue and earnings growth going forward will be less stellar than what was registered in the past. The other factor deals with the current valuation. As of this writing, shares trade at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 46.5. That's significantly higher than what it was at the start of this year. And it represents a meaningful premium to the stock's trailing one-, three-, five-, and 10-year average P/E multiples. Maybe investors view this business as a safe haven during what has been an uncertain economic backdrop. Costco's steep valuation is the key reason why I don't own this stock right now. The vast majority of the stock's impressive run in 2023 is attributed to a 35% expansion in the P/E ratio. Nonetheless, I can see why some investors who prioritize quality, reliability, and predictability over the current valuation might still be inclined to own the stock. If this sounds like you, just don't expect a $1,000 price target to be achieved next year. And make sure you plan to buy and hold for many years. Should you invest $1,000 in Costco Wholesale right now? Before you buy stock in Costco Wholesale, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Costco Wholesale wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of the S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST), a thriving business that has flown under the radar this year due to the intense focus on tech and artificial intelligence, just reported its fiscal 2024 first quarter (ended Nov. 26) financial results. CFO Richard Galanti mentioned on the Q1 2024 earnings call that "fresh foods were relatively strong" in the quarter, and that "non-food showed improvement." Costco focuses on taking care of customers with low prices, great service, and a wonderful shopping experience.

Costco's momentum continues In the most recent fiscal quarter, Costco was able to increase net sales by 6.1% on a year-over-year basis to $56.7 billion. Before you buy stock in Costco Wholesale, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Costco Wholesale wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST), a thriving business that has flown under the radar this year due to the intense focus on tech and artificial intelligence, just reported its fiscal 2024 first quarter (ended Nov. 26) financial results. Before you buy stock in Costco Wholesale, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Costco Wholesale wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

Can this top retail stock reach $1,000 per share by the end of 2024? Costco's steep valuation is the key reason why I don't own this stock right now. Before you buy stock in Costco Wholesale, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Costco Wholesale wasn't one of them.

1682085.0

2023-12-16 23:33:00 UTC

Southwest Airlines agrees to $140 million penalty over 2022 holiday meltdown

OXLCM

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/southwest-airlines-agrees-to-%24140-million-penalty-over-2022-holiday-meltdown

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines LUV.N agreed to a record-setting $140 million civil penalty over the December 2022 holiday meltdown that led to 16,900 flight cancellations and stranded 2 million passengers, the U.S. government said on Monday. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) consent order resolves a lengthy government investigation into the massive travel disruption and provides "a strong deterrent," the agency said. The settlement includes a $35 million cash fine and a three-year mandate that Southwest provide $90 million in travel vouchers of $75 or more to passengers delayed at least three hours getting to final destinations because of an airline-caused issue or cancellation. "If airlines fail their passengers, we will use the full extent of our authority to hold them accountable," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The 2022 massive winter storm and subsequent chaos prompted travel horror stories: people missing funerals or long-awaited holiday gatherings, passengers with canceled flights forced to make cross-country drives of 17 or more hours across and some cancer patients could not get treatment. One senior executive told angry lawmakers bluntly: "We messed up." Southwest, which paid over $600 million to passengers impacted by the storm that cost it more than $1 billion, has over the last year made significant technology and consumer service upgrades and other investments including more de-icing equipment across its network, new staffing and softwareand using artificial intelligence to predict network health. The airline has seen significant operational improvements this year. "We are absolutely prepared for winter," Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said in a Reuters interview on Monday pointing to its strong performance this year. He said the airline was pleased to resolve the investigation even though it did not admit wrongdoing. "It was a historic storm that led to a historic week of operational disruption," Jordan said. A disruption of that magnitude "is not going to happen again." The largest penalty previously was $4.5 million imposed on Air Canada AC.TO after USDOT initially sought $25.5 million. Southwest's penalty -- which includes the $35 million fine payable over three years -- is more than all penalties assessed by USDOT combined since 1996. USDOT said in January it planned to start seeking higher fines. USDOT found Southwest violated consumer protection laws by failing to provide adequate customer service assistance "via its call center to hundreds of thousands of customers" as well as failing to provide prompt flight status notifications to more than 1 million passengers and prompt refunds to thousands. Jordan, who said over 99% of refunds were processed within seven days,said the $30 million in vouchers annually is "roughly equivalent to our operational performance.... It's the right number." He said Southwest would make it "really easy" to request the compensation. Asked if Southwest would end the program after three years, Jordan said consumer programs "rarely change or go away." USDOT also said it closed its "unrealistic scheduling investigation" without making any finding. The agency credited Southwest with $33 million toward the penalty for voluntarily awarding frequent flyer points to hundreds of thousands impacted passengers "to incentivize other airlines to take similar measures" during operational woes. In May, President Joe Biden said USDOT would propose new rules requiring airlines compensate passengers with cash for significant flight delays or cancellations when carriers are responsible. USDOT last year asked carriers if they would pay at least $100 for delays of at least three hours caused by airlines and none agreed. Most carriers - including Southwest - voluntarily committed in August 2022 to provide hotels, meals and ground transportation for airline-caused delays or cancellations but resisted providing cash compensation. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) ((David.Shepardson@thomsonreuters.com; 2028988324;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The 2022 massive winter storm and subsequent chaos prompted travel horror stories: people missing funerals or long-awaited holiday gatherings, passengers with canceled flights forced to make cross-country drives of 17 or more hours across and some cancer patients could not get treatment. The agency credited Southwest with $33 million toward the penalty for voluntarily awarding frequent flyer points to hundreds of thousands impacted passengers "to incentivize other airlines to take similar measures" during operational woes. In May, President Joe Biden said USDOT would propose new rules requiring airlines compensate passengers with cash for significant flight delays or cancellations when carriers are responsible.

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines LUV.N agreed to a record-setting $140 million civil penalty over the December 2022 holiday meltdown that led to 16,900 flight cancellations and stranded 2 million passengers, the U.S. government said on Monday. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) consent order resolves a lengthy government investigation into the massive travel disruption and provides "a strong deterrent," the agency said. In May, President Joe Biden said USDOT would propose new rules requiring airlines compensate passengers with cash for significant flight delays or cancellations when carriers are responsible.

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines LUV.N agreed to a record-setting $140 million civil penalty over the December 2022 holiday meltdown that led to 16,900 flight cancellations and stranded 2 million passengers, the U.S. government said on Monday. The settlement includes a $35 million cash fine and a three-year mandate that Southwest provide $90 million in travel vouchers of $75 or more to passengers delayed at least three hours getting to final destinations because of an airline-caused issue or cancellation. USDOT found Southwest violated consumer protection laws by failing to provide adequate customer service assistance "via its call center to hundreds of thousands of customers" as well as failing to provide prompt flight status notifications to more than 1 million passengers and prompt refunds to thousands.

Southwest's penalty -- which includes the $35 million fine payable over three years -- is more than all penalties assessed by USDOT combined since 1996. USDOT last year asked carriers if they would pay at least $100 for delays of at least three hours caused by airlines and none agreed. Most carriers - including Southwest - voluntarily committed in August 2022 to provide hotels, meals and ground transportation for airline-caused delays or cancellations but resisted providing cash compensation.

1901992.0

2023-12-16 23:33:00 UTC

US STOCKS-Wall St set to open higher as investors pin hopes on Fed rate cuts

RILYM

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/us-stocks-wall-st-set-to-open-higher-as-investors-pin-hopes-on-fed-rate-cuts

By Sruthi Shankar and Johann M Cherian Dec 19 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main stock indexes were on track to open higher on Tuesday, building on strong gains in recent weeks as investors continued to bet on a policy pivot by the Federal Reserve next year. The benchmark S&P 500 .SPXtrades just 1.2% shy of its all-time closing high as traders price in an aggressive timetable for interest rate cuts next year after Fed Chair Jerome Powell said last week the historic tightening of monetary policy is likely over. Despite attempts by policymakers to temper the optimism since the meeting, traders have priced in a 74% chance of the Fed cutting rates by 25 basis points in March, as per the CME Group's FedWatch tool, and cuts of 143 bps by December 2024. FEDWATCH The blue-chip Dow .DJI is set to secure a new all-time high, while the Nasdaq 100 .NDX is nearly 0.2% away from surpassing its record high hit in November 2021. "I think as we get through the end of this year, the market has gotten quite expensive to look at from all levels and valuations at a time when earnings are just not there and earnings won't grow at least until probably the second quarter or even third quarter of next year," said Brian Klimke, chief market strategist at Cetera Investment Management. Meanwhile, a Commerce Department report showed single-family homebuilding surged in November and could gain further momentum, with declining mortgage rates likely to draw potential buyers back into the housing market. Later in the week investors await the final reading of third-quarter GDP and the monthly personal consumption expenditure index (PCE), the Fed's preferred inflation gauge. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said on Monday that cuts to the U.S. central bank's benchmark rate are likely be appropriate next year because of an improvement in inflation this year, the Wall Street Journal reported. Fed Atlanta President Raphael Bostic and Fed Chicago President Austan Goolsbee are scheduled to speak later in the day. Daly and Bostic are voting members in the FOMC's rate-setting committee next year. Light trading volumes are expected to impact market moves in the run-up to the Christmas and New Year holidays. Among single stocks, AccentureACN.Ndropped 2.6% after the IT services provider issued a downbeat second-quarter revenue forecast, anticipating cautious spending by clients as macroeconomic uncertainty remains an overhang. BoeingBA.Ngained 0.1% after German airline Lufthansa LHAG.DE said it ordered 40 737-8 MAX jets from the plane maker and agreed to 60 future purchasing options. Crypto stocks like CoinbaseCOIN.O Riot Platforms RIOT.O and Marathon Digital MARA.O added between 1.5% and 4.2% respectively as prices of the world's most valuable cryptocurrency, Bitcoin BTC=BTSP, ticked up. PepsiCo PEP.O slipped 0.5% after J.P. Morgan downgraded the stock to "neutral" from "overweight", while AmgenAMGN.O rose 1.0% after BMO upgraded its rating on the drugmaker to "outperform" from "market perform". Plug Power PLUG.O fell 4.1% after Piper Sandler downgraded the hydrogen fuel cell firm to "underweight". (Reporting by Sruthi Shankar and Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel) ((sruthi.shankar@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 6182 2787;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

By Sruthi Shankar and Johann M Cherian Dec 19 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main stock indexes were on track to open higher on Tuesday, building on strong gains in recent weeks as investors continued to bet on a policy pivot by the Federal Reserve next year. The benchmark S&P 500 .SPXtrades just 1.2% shy of its all-time closing high as traders price in an aggressive timetable for interest rate cuts next year after Fed Chair Jerome Powell said last week the historic tightening of monetary policy is likely over. Meanwhile, a Commerce Department report showed single-family homebuilding surged in November and could gain further momentum, with declining mortgage rates likely to draw potential buyers back into the housing market.

By Sruthi Shankar and Johann M Cherian Dec 19 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main stock indexes were on track to open higher on Tuesday, building on strong gains in recent weeks as investors continued to bet on a policy pivot by the Federal Reserve next year. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said on Monday that cuts to the U.S. central bank's benchmark rate are likely be appropriate next year because of an improvement in inflation this year, the Wall Street Journal reported. (Reporting by Sruthi Shankar and Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel) ((sruthi.shankar@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 6182 2787;)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

By Sruthi Shankar and Johann M Cherian Dec 19 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main stock indexes were on track to open higher on Tuesday, building on strong gains in recent weeks as investors continued to bet on a policy pivot by the Federal Reserve next year. The benchmark S&P 500 .SPXtrades just 1.2% shy of its all-time closing high as traders price in an aggressive timetable for interest rate cuts next year after Fed Chair Jerome Powell said last week the historic tightening of monetary policy is likely over. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said on Monday that cuts to the U.S. central bank's benchmark rate are likely be appropriate next year because of an improvement in inflation this year, the Wall Street Journal reported.

By Sruthi Shankar and Johann M Cherian Dec 19 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main stock indexes were on track to open higher on Tuesday, building on strong gains in recent weeks as investors continued to bet on a policy pivot by the Federal Reserve next year. The benchmark S&P 500 .SPXtrades just 1.2% shy of its all-time closing high as traders price in an aggressive timetable for interest rate cuts next year after Fed Chair Jerome Powell said last week the historic tightening of monetary policy is likely over. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said on Monday that cuts to the U.S. central bank's benchmark rate are likely be appropriate next year because of an improvement in inflation this year, the Wall Street Journal reported.

2222132.0

2023-12-16 23:33:00 UTC

2 Stocks I'm Going to Buy Before 2024

UOCT

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/2-stocks-im-going-to-buy-before-2024

We're approaching the end of 2023, and the last few months have been very good for the stock market as a whole. However, Fool.com contributors Matt Frankel, CFP®, and Tyler Crowe still see massive opportunities in certain areas of the market and share two of them in this video. *Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of Dec. 14, 2023. The video was published on Dec. 15, 2023. Should you invest $1,000 in Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF right now? Before you buy stock in Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Matthew Frankel, CFP® has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Tyler Crowe has positions in Investors Title and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Investors Title and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Matthew Frankel is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

However, Fool.com contributors Matt Frankel, CFP®, and Tyler Crowe still see massive opportunities in certain areas of the market and share two of them in this video. Tyler Crowe has positions in Investors Title and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Investors Title and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF.

Before you buy stock in Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF wasn't one of them. Tyler Crowe has positions in Investors Title and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Investors Title and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF.

Before you buy stock in Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Matthew Frankel, CFP® has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Investors Title and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF.

However, Fool.com contributors Matt Frankel, CFP®, and Tyler Crowe still see massive opportunities in certain areas of the market and share two of them in this video. Before you buy stock in Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Vanguard Specialized Funds-Vanguard Real Estate ETF wasn't one of them. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

2369789.0

2023-12-16 23:33:00 UTC

Financial Sector Update for 12/19/2023: FDS, UBS, XLF, FAS, FAZ

WLDR

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/financial-sector-update-for-12-19-2023%3A-fds-ubs-xlf-fas-faz

Financial stocks were gaining pre-bell Tuesday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was 0.3% higher recently. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. FactSet Research Systems (FDS) was down more than 4% after saying it now expects fiscal 2024 adjusted earnings of between $15.60 and $16 per diluted share, down from $15.65 to $16.15 per share anticipated previously. Cevian Capital said it has taken a 1.3% stake in UBS (UBS) for around 1.2 billion euros ($1.31 billion). UBS was gaining over 3% in value in recent premarket activity. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Financial stocks were gaining pre-bell Tuesday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was 0.3% higher recently. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. FactSet Research Systems (FDS) was down more than 4% after saying it now expects fiscal 2024 adjusted earnings of between $15.60 and $16 per diluted share, down from $15.65 to $16.15 per share anticipated previously.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. Cevian Capital said it has taken a 1.3% stake in UBS (UBS) for around 1.2 billion euros ($1.31 billion). UBS was gaining over 3% in value in recent premarket activity.

Financial stocks were gaining pre-bell Tuesday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was 0.3% higher recently. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. Cevian Capital said it has taken a 1.3% stake in UBS (UBS) for around 1.2 billion euros ($1.31 billion).

Financial stocks were gaining pre-bell Tuesday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was 0.3% higher recently. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower. UBS was gaining over 3% in value in recent premarket activity.

2465019.0

2023-12-16 23:33:00 UTC

New Year's Resolution: Buy This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Hand Over Fist

YGYIP

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/new-years-resolution%3A-buy-this-artificial-intelligence-ai-stock-hand-over-fist

Investors will likely remember 2023 as the year artificial intelligence (AI) found footing in the market. With the excitement generated by ChatGPT, investors have rushed into many prominent AI stocks. Such price action may persuade investors to make a New Year's resolution to buy a specific stock. Verizon (NYSE: VZ) is one to consider. Investors hammered it as debt costs and growth struggles weighed on the telecom stock. Nonetheless, thanks to a critical piece of news, this stock is likely to surge higher in the new year for one key reason. Why is 2024 the time for Verizon? Admittedly, after years of declines, one can understand some hesitation to buy Verizon. The stock has fallen 35% over the last five years as slow customer growth, competition from T-Mobile and AT&T, and the massive capital costs in a nearly continuous process of network upgrades weighed on the company. Consequently, Verizon managed to rack up nearly $147 billion in debt, and that is without the costly moves into pay TV and content that have hurt AT&T. Over the next year, almost $13 billion in debt will come due on debt ranging from 1.625% to 4.073% in interest costs. Hence, unless it reduces or eliminates the dividend, which is on track to cost it $11 billion in 2023, Verizon will likely have to turn to the capital markets to refinance most of the debt at higher rates. Worse, it could have to keep repeating this process in subsequent years. The good news However, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has held the federal funds rate steady and indicated the Fed will reduce it three times in 2024. That move could reduce the effect of the higher rates as it issues new debt. Moreover, lower rates could improve Verizon's revenue prospects. Businesses had cut back on activity with the higher cost of borrowing, but lower rates could mean that they'll resume spending. This is important because J.D. Power has named Verizon No. 1 for network quality 31 consecutive times. Networks like Verizon's support AI-driven activities, and such accolades could make it the best-positioned telecom company to attract that business. AI has also helped foster an additional source of revenue for Verizon. Its 5G network can support AI-driven tasks such as repetitive work and bring insights and innovation in real time, making Verizon's network a critical component of increasing productivity. As a result, enterprises as diverse as Honda Motor Company and Arizona State University rely on Verizon's 5G to support connectivity and IT-related functions that are critical for AI to work. Attracting similar clients will almost certainly make Verizon's 5G network and the application of AI more critical. How that may benefit shareholders As such benefits become more evident to investors, more people and entities may want to become Verizon shareholders. In the recent past, its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just under 8 did not attract investors due to slow growth and high debts. Still, if AI-driven applications start to spur more revenue growth, investors will probably respond positively to the low earnings multiple. Investors may also be in better shape with regard to the dividend. After 17 yearly increases, the annual payout of $2.66 per share amounts to a dividend yield of over 7%, nearly five times the S&P 500 average of 1.5%. Admittedly, one could argue that eliminating the dividend helps Verizon stock since it makes faster debt reduction possible. Still, lower debt costs make it less costly to maintain a payout, which could preserve the stock's appeal to income investors. Consider Verizon Verizon's support of AI-driven applications makes its stock more appealing under current conditions. Since it leads in network quality, it has already begun to serve the 5G-related AI needs of clients, a business that will likely grow. With the added prospect of falling interest rates, adopting that technology could accelerate. Moreover, lower rates should make the company's debt load more manageable, increasing the shareholder appeal of Verizon stock in the new year. Should you invest $1,000 in Verizon Communications right now? Before you buy stock in Verizon Communications, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Verizon Communications wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of the S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 Will Healy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends T-Mobile US and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The stock has fallen 35% over the last five years as slow customer growth, competition from T-Mobile and AT&T, and the massive capital costs in a nearly continuous process of network upgrades weighed on the company. Hence, unless it reduces or eliminates the dividend, which is on track to cost it $11 billion in 2023, Verizon will likely have to turn to the capital markets to refinance most of the debt at higher rates. As a result, enterprises as diverse as Honda Motor Company and Arizona State University rely on Verizon's 5G to support connectivity and IT-related functions that are critical for AI to work.

Consider Verizon Verizon's support of AI-driven applications makes its stock more appealing under current conditions. Moreover, lower rates should make the company's debt load more manageable, increasing the shareholder appeal of Verizon stock in the new year. Before you buy stock in Verizon Communications, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Verizon Communications wasn't one of them.

Consider Verizon Verizon's support of AI-driven applications makes its stock more appealing under current conditions. Moreover, lower rates should make the company's debt load more manageable, increasing the shareholder appeal of Verizon stock in the new year. Before you buy stock in Verizon Communications, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Verizon Communications wasn't one of them.

Hence, unless it reduces or eliminates the dividend, which is on track to cost it $11 billion in 2023, Verizon will likely have to turn to the capital markets to refinance most of the debt at higher rates. Moreover, lower rates should make the company's debt load more manageable, increasing the shareholder appeal of Verizon stock in the new year. Before you buy stock in Verizon Communications, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Verizon Communications wasn't one of them.

2465020.0

2023-12-16 23:33:00 UTC

Is Microsoft Stock a Buy Now?

YGYIP

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/is-microsoft-stock-a-buy-now-9

What a year for Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). The tech stalwart kicked off 2023 by hitting a 52-week low of $219.35 on January 6. Then Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT grabbed headlines as artificial intelligence exploded into prominence. Since then, Microsoft shares have risen steadily, reaching a 52-week high of $384.30 toward the end of November, illustrating just how far the stock has come from the start of the year. So is it too late to purchase the tech giant's stock? The share price has pulled back from its recent high, creating a potential buy opportunity. Let's analyze where the company is at currently to determine if now is a good time to buy. Microsoft's capacity for success Microsoft is capitalizing on some of the hot technological trends of our time. The company is prospering as it pursues market share in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. This is illustrated by Microsoft's performance in its fiscal 2024 first quarter, ended September 30. The company's Q1 revenue experienced double-digit year-over-year growth, hitting $56.5 billion. Moreover, net income saw an impressive 27% year-over-year jump to $22.3 billion. Microsoft's Q1 prosperity isn't just confined to 2023. The tech veteran's revenue has risen steadily over the years, showing it's on a streak of multi-year growth thanks to its success tapping into cloud computing and AI technologies. Data by YCharts. That success should continue. The company forecasted double-digit revenue growth in fiscal Q2 across many of its offerings, including its Azure cloud computing business. Azure falls under the company's Intelligent Cloud division, which produced $24.3 billion of fiscal Q1's $56.5 billion in sales. In fact, Microsoft CFO Amy Hood stated, "with our strong start to FY24, I am confident that as a team, we will continue to deliver healthy growth in the year ahead driven by our leadership in commercial cloud and our commitment to lead the AI platform wave." Microsoft's many strengths The Microsoft team has good reason to believe the company's current success will continue. The cloud computing and AI technologies at Microsoft's disposal are impressive. It has data centers in over 60 regions around the world. This widespread coverage means Microsoft's systems are fast, since customers using the company's cloud computing and AI technologies are likely to have a data center close to them. This massive data center footprint helped Microsoft secure an exclusive partnership with Oracle, allowing the latter's more than 400,000 customers to access Azure. As for AI, over 18,000 organizations use Microsoft's artificial intelligence technology. This has translated into tangible business results for Microsoft. For instance, the company's Dynamics 365 product, a Salesforce competitor in the customer relationship management (CRM) space, experienced 10 consecutive quarters of market share gains through fiscal Q1, helped by AI features such as automating sales tasks. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella described Dynamics 365 as an "AI inflection point to redefine our role in business applications." Moreover, Microsoft's Xbox gaming division should get a significant sales boost in fiscal 2024. The company's acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard closed on October 13th. And it doesn't end there. Microsoft's financial strength is impressive. The company exited its fiscal Q1 with total assets approaching a staggering half a trillion dollars. Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments alone totaled $144 billion. Total liabilities were a manageable $225.1 billion. To buy or not to buy Microsoft stock So much is going right for Microsoft at this time, and the company even provides a modest dividend, currently yielding 0.8%, as the cherry on top for investors. Microsoft increased its dividend by 10% this year, and has raised it annually for more than a decade. Microsoft is the second-largest cloud computing provider in the world, behind only Amazon. The public cloud computing market, where Microsoft's Azure operates, is forecasted to grow over 78% between 2023 and 2028. Meanwhile, the AI market is estimated to increase from $142.3 billion in 2022 to $1.8 trillion by 2030. The industry growth in AI and cloud computing provide a tailwind to help Microsoft's revenue continue its multi-year rise. The company's impressive technological capabilities position it well to maintain its prosperity, making Microsoft a worthwhile tech stock to buy now. Should you invest $1,000 in Microsoft right now? Before you buy stock in Microsoft, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Microsoft wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 11, 2023 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Robert Izquierdo has positions in Amazon, Microsoft, and Salesforce. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle, and Salesforce. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The tech veteran's revenue has risen steadily over the years, showing it's on a streak of multi-year growth thanks to its success tapping into cloud computing and AI technologies. In fact, Microsoft CFO Amy Hood stated, "with our strong start to FY24, I am confident that as a team, we will continue to deliver healthy growth in the year ahead driven by our leadership in commercial cloud and our commitment to lead the AI platform wave." For instance, the company's Dynamics 365 product, a Salesforce competitor in the customer relationship management (CRM) space, experienced 10 consecutive quarters of market share gains through fiscal Q1, helped by AI features such as automating sales tasks.

The company's Q1 revenue experienced double-digit year-over-year growth, hitting $56.5 billion. Azure falls under the company's Intelligent Cloud division, which produced $24.3 billion of fiscal Q1's $56.5 billion in sales. The industry growth in AI and cloud computing provide a tailwind to help Microsoft's revenue continue its multi-year rise.

Microsoft's many strengths The Microsoft team has good reason to believe the company's current success will continue. To buy or not to buy Microsoft stock So much is going right for Microsoft at this time, and the company even provides a modest dividend, currently yielding 0.8%, as the cherry on top for investors. Before you buy stock in Microsoft, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Microsoft wasn't one of them.

The company is prospering as it pursues market share in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Azure falls under the company's Intelligent Cloud division, which produced $24.3 billion of fiscal Q1's $56.5 billion in sales. Before you buy stock in Microsoft, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Microsoft wasn't one of them.

325862.0

2023-12-16 23:34:00 UTC

Nasdaq 100 Movers: DXCM, SIRI

BH-A

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/nasdaq-100-movers%3A-dxcm-siri-0

In early trading on Wednesday, shares of Sirius XM Holdings topped the list of the day's best performing components of the Nasdaq 100 index, trading up 2.5%. Year to date, Sirius XM Holdings has lost about 4.4% of its value. And the worst performing Nasdaq 100 component thus far on the day is DexCom, trading down 4.3%. DexCom is showing a gain of 4.2% looking at the year to date performance. Two other components making moves today are Airbnb, trading down 2.2%, and Illumina, trading up 2.3% on the day. VIDEO: Nasdaq 100 Movers: DXCM, SIRI The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In early trading on Wednesday, shares of Sirius XM Holdings topped the list of the day's best performing components of the Nasdaq 100 index, trading up 2.5%. And the worst performing Nasdaq 100 component thus far on the day is DexCom, trading down 4.3%. VIDEO: Nasdaq 100 Movers: DXCM, SIRI The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

In early trading on Wednesday, shares of Sirius XM Holdings topped the list of the day's best performing components of the Nasdaq 100 index, trading up 2.5%. Year to date, Sirius XM Holdings has lost about 4.4% of its value. And the worst performing Nasdaq 100 component thus far on the day is DexCom, trading down 4.3%.

In early trading on Wednesday, shares of Sirius XM Holdings topped the list of the day's best performing components of the Nasdaq 100 index, trading up 2.5%. And the worst performing Nasdaq 100 component thus far on the day is DexCom, trading down 4.3%. Two other components making moves today are Airbnb, trading down 2.2%, and Illumina, trading up 2.3% on the day.

In early trading on Wednesday, shares of Sirius XM Holdings topped the list of the day's best performing components of the Nasdaq 100 index, trading up 2.5%. And the worst performing Nasdaq 100 component thus far on the day is DexCom, trading down 4.3%. VIDEO: Nasdaq 100 Movers: DXCM, SIRI The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

335236.0

2023-12-16 23:34:00 UTC

Where Will Dutch Bros Stock Be in 3 Years?

BHFAL

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/where-will-dutch-bros-stock-be-in-3-years-0

Dutch Bros (NYSE: BROS) is effectively trying to take on industry giants like Dunkin and Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX). Although that's a "grande" order, so far the upstart seems to be doing fairly well in its expansion efforts. But the real benefit from new stores doesn't show up for a little while. Here's why Dutch Bros' business, and likely its stock, could be in a better place in three years. It costs a lot to open a new Dutch Bros location In the third quarter of 2023, Dutch Bros had 794 locations. That's up from 641 in the same quarter of 2022. Do the math on that, and the company opened a whopping 153 stores in a year, growing its store count by nearly 24%. That's incredibly rapid growth, even noting that the coffee chain is coming off a relatively small base. For reference, Starbucks operates well over 16,300 locations in the United States. Image source: Getty Images. There's two pieces of good news here. First, given the size of Starbucks, Dutch Bros likely has a material amount of growth ahead of it. Second, the company is executing well on its growth plans. That's worthwhile, given that finding a place to put a new store, building it out, staffing it, and then running it is not an easy task. There is a huge amount of execution risk, especially given how important store count growth is to the company's future. Still, the near-term problem here is that opening stores isn't cheap. To the company's credit, it turned a profit of $0.07 per share in the third quarter. But the profit over the first nine months of 2023 was just $0.05 per share, so black ink appears to be a bit touch-and-go right now. That's not shocking, given the growth phase the company is in. But there's a subtle trend that investors need to get a handle on when thinking about the future. Dutch Bros gets terrible numbers up front When Dutch Bros first opens a new company-owned location, it tends to have a gross profit margin of negative 29%. That's an ugly figure, but it makes complete sense, given the start-up costs involved in opening new coffee shops. Here's the issue: The more new stores it opens, the bigger the drag on the company's overall performance. That's true even though opening new stores is fueling the company's long-term growth opportunity. But from that initial negative, new stores start to improve dramatically over the next 12 months. After two quarters of operations, gross margin improves to 18%. After four quarters, a full year of operation, the gross margin is 26%. In the third quarter, the company's overall gross margin for owned locations was just under 22%. That gives you an idea of the drag that new stores can cause. But once the base of stores grows, the impact of each new store on the total will be reduced. That's simple math, because more stores open for at least a year will be operating with margins in the 26% range. So, in three years, the company's profitability is likely to trend reliably higher. As it proves that it can turn a profit while still opening new stores, investors are likely to take a more positive view of the future. And Dutch Bros will be a bigger company, too. Plenty of room to run for Dutch Bros Is Dutch Bros going to be the next Starbucks? It's way too soon to tell. But it appears to be doing reasonably well at expanding its footprint, even though its modest size currently means new store costs eat into the restaurant chain's profitability. This dynamic, however, should become less of an issue over the next three years as more and more new stores become "old" stores. That suggests a brighter future for the business and, likely, the stock, as well. Should you invest $1,000 in Dutch Bros right now? Before you buy stock in Dutch Bros, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Dutch Bros wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Starbucks. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

There is a huge amount of execution risk, especially given how important store count growth is to the company's future. That's an ugly figure, but it makes complete sense, given the start-up costs involved in opening new coffee shops. But it appears to be doing reasonably well at expanding its footprint, even though its modest size currently means new store costs eat into the restaurant chain's profitability.

It costs a lot to open a new Dutch Bros location In the third quarter of 2023, Dutch Bros had 794 locations. After two quarters of operations, gross margin improves to 18%. Before you buy stock in Dutch Bros, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Dutch Bros wasn't one of them.

It costs a lot to open a new Dutch Bros location In the third quarter of 2023, Dutch Bros had 794 locations. Dutch Bros gets terrible numbers up front When Dutch Bros first opens a new company-owned location, it tends to have a gross profit margin of negative 29%. Before you buy stock in Dutch Bros, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Dutch Bros wasn't one of them.

Here's why Dutch Bros' business, and likely its stock, could be in a better place in three years. Do the math on that, and the company opened a whopping 153 stores in a year, growing its store count by nearly 24%. Before you buy stock in Dutch Bros, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Dutch Bros wasn't one of them.

335237.0

2023-12-16 23:34:00 UTC

Up 218% in 2023, Is DraftKings Stock a Buy for 2024?

BHFAL

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/up-218-in-2023-is-draftkings-stock-a-buy-for-2024

Fool.com contributor Parkev Tatevosian highlights the excellent prospects DraftKings (NASDAQ: DKNG) has in 2024 and answers if that's enough to make the stock a buy for long-term investors. *Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of Dec. 17, 2023. The video was published on Dec. 19, 2023. Should you invest $1,000 in DraftKings right now? Before you buy stock in DraftKings, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and DraftKings wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Fool.com contributor Parkev Tatevosian highlights the excellent prospects DraftKings (NASDAQ: DKNG) has in 2024 and answers if that's enough to make the stock a buy for long-term investors. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services.

Before you buy stock in DraftKings, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and DraftKings wasn't one of them. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

Before you buy stock in DraftKings, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and DraftKings wasn't one of them. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

Before you buy stock in DraftKings, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and DraftKings wasn't one of them. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services.

393536.0

2023-12-16 23:34:00 UTC

US airlines ready for busier holiday travel after 2022 meltdown

BPYPO

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/us-airlines-ready-for-busier-holiday-travel-after-2022-meltdown

Dec 21 (Reuters) - U.S. airlines say they are prepared for busier end of year holiday travel compared with the same peak period a year earlier, when storms led to thousands of canceled flights and congestion. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration expects Thursday to be the busiest travel day of the week. According to the Transportation Security Administration, the official holiday period runs from Thursday through Tuesday, Jan. 2. U.S. airline trade group Airlines for America (A4A) expects carriers to fly more than 39 million passengers during the holidays, or about 2.8 million passengers a day, up 16% from 2022. Airlines and airports in the United States and Canada have hired workers and upgraded equipment in some cases to avoid last year's congestion. U.S. passenger airlines have the largest workforce in the last two decades, A4A said. In 2022, a high-profile operational meltdown at Southwest Airlines LUV.N led to around 17,000 canceled flights and cost the carrier more than $1 billion, along with a historic penalty from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Canada's largest airport has also increased staffing, expanded de-icing and added new advanced snowplows, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority said. The airport wrestled with congestion during peak travel periods last year that led to hard limits on flights. However, United Airlines UAL.O, which expects to have its busiest-ever, end of year holiday travel season, with around 9 million passengers, does not currently expect weather to cause any operational interruptions, a spokesperson said. U.S. airlines expect demand to grow for sun destinations this holiday period, with seats flown from the U.S. to Caribbean resort destinations up 18% in 2023 on an annual basis, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Florida's Orlando International Airport expects record crowds over the holidays. (Reporting By Allison Lampert in Montreal and Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago; Editing by Alistair Bell) ((Allison.Lampert@thomsonreuters.com; 514-796-4212; Reuters Messaging: allison.lampert.reuters.com@reuters.net)) The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Airlines and airports in the United States and Canada have hired workers and upgraded equipment in some cases to avoid last year's congestion. In 2022, a high-profile operational meltdown at Southwest Airlines LUV.N led to around 17,000 canceled flights and cost the carrier more than $1 billion, along with a historic penalty from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The airport wrestled with congestion during peak travel periods last year that led to hard limits on flights.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration expects Thursday to be the busiest travel day of the week. The airport wrestled with congestion during peak travel periods last year that led to hard limits on flights. However, United Airlines UAL.O, which expects to have its busiest-ever, end of year holiday travel season, with around 9 million passengers, does not currently expect weather to cause any operational interruptions, a spokesperson said.

Dec 21 (Reuters) - U.S. airlines say they are prepared for busier end of year holiday travel compared with the same peak period a year earlier, when storms led to thousands of canceled flights and congestion. U.S. airline trade group Airlines for America (A4A) expects carriers to fly more than 39 million passengers during the holidays, or about 2.8 million passengers a day, up 16% from 2022. However, United Airlines UAL.O, which expects to have its busiest-ever, end of year holiday travel season, with around 9 million passengers, does not currently expect weather to cause any operational interruptions, a spokesperson said.

Dec 21 (Reuters) - U.S. airlines say they are prepared for busier end of year holiday travel compared with the same peak period a year earlier, when storms led to thousands of canceled flights and congestion. U.S. airline trade group Airlines for America (A4A) expects carriers to fly more than 39 million passengers during the holidays, or about 2.8 million passengers a day, up 16% from 2022. Airlines and airports in the United States and Canada have hired workers and upgraded equipment in some cases to avoid last year's congestion.

393537.0

2023-12-16 23:34:00 UTC

Daily Dividend Report: CUZ,FULT,WOR,DCOM,IVR

BPYPO

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/daily-dividend-report%3A-cuzfultwordcomivr

Cousins Properties announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.32 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2023. The fourth quarter dividend will be payable on January 16, 2024 to common shareholders of record on January 4, 2024. Fulton Financial today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of seventeen cents per share on its common stock, payable on January 12, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2024. This is a one cent per share increase from the quarterly cash dividend that the Board declared on September 19, 2023. The Worthington Enterprises Board of Directors today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share. The dividend is payable on March 29, 2024, to shareholders of record on March 15, 2024. Worthington has paid a quarterly dividend since it became a public company in 1968. Dime Community Bancshares announced that its Board of Directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of Common Stock, payable on January 24, 2024 to common stockholders of record as of January 17, 2024. The Company continues its trend of uninterrupted dividends. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023. The dividend will be paid on January 26, 2024 to stockholders of record on December 29, 2023, with an ex-dividend date of December 28, 2023. VIDEO: Daily Dividend Report: CUZ,FULT,WOR,DCOM,IVR The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Cousins Properties announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.32 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2023. The Worthington Enterprises Board of Directors today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023.

Fulton Financial today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of seventeen cents per share on its common stock, payable on January 12, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2024. Dime Community Bancshares announced that its Board of Directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of Common Stock, payable on January 24, 2024 to common stockholders of record as of January 17, 2024. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023.

Fulton Financial today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of seventeen cents per share on its common stock, payable on January 12, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2024. Dime Community Bancshares announced that its Board of Directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of Common Stock, payable on January 24, 2024 to common stockholders of record as of January 17, 2024. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023.

The fourth quarter dividend will be payable on January 16, 2024 to common shareholders of record on January 4, 2024. Fulton Financial today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of seventeen cents per share on its common stock, payable on January 12, 2024, to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2024. Invesco Mortgage Capital today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2023 on December 18, 2023.