The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (NYSEMKT:VDC) and Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (NYSEMKT:RSPS) both focus on the consumer staples sector, but VDC charges a fraction of the expense ratio, covers more stocks, and has outperformed RSPS over one and five years. Both funds give investors exposure to companies that produce and sell everyday household products. This comparison looks...
The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (NYSEMKT:VDC) and Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (NYSEMKT:RSPS) both focus on the consumer staples sector, but VDC charges a fraction of the expense ratio, covers more stocks, and has outperformed RSPS over one and five years. Both funds give investors exposure to companies that produce and sell everyday household products. This comparison looks at how RSPS’s equal-weight strategy stacks up against VDC’s market-cap-weighted approach, taking into account costs, returns, risk, and each fund’s unique characteristics. Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The one-year return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Continue reading
S&P 500 earnings are expected to climb 13.2% year over year in the first quarter, a FactSet report Friday said. That would make it the sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.
S&P 500 earnings are expected to climb 13.2% year over year in the first quarter, a FactSet report Friday said. That would make it the sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.
Five weeks of war with Iran have wiped trillions off global stocks, pushed oil past $100 and kept it there and repriced wagers on interest rates and inflation . This week was supposed to bring clarity on when, and how, all that disruption would end. Investors are still waiting. President Donald Trump ’s primetime address on Wednesday signaled more attacks and imminent peace simultaneously, offered...
Five weeks of war with Iran have wiped trillions off global stocks, pushed oil past $100 and kept it there and repriced wagers on interest rates and inflation . This week was supposed to bring clarity on when, and how, all that disruption would end. Investors are still waiting. President Donald Trump ’s primetime address on Wednesday signaled more attacks and imminent peace simultaneously, offered no framework for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and effectively told allies to figure it out themselves. By Thursday morning, stocks had plunged — then recovered almost entirely on a single headline about Iran drafting a shipping protocol with Oman. Not a ceasefire. Not a reopening. A monitoring framework . That a market can swing 1.5% on that little tells you where investor psychology stands. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 had surged 2.9% for its best day since May on hopes the conflict was winding down. That arc — relief, disappointment, panic, relief — is the pattern that has defined this war for markets. The benchmark still ended the week up more than 3%, its best showing since November. But the rally was built on headlines, not resolution. Brent crude, which has gained roughly 50% since the conflict began — the biggest monthly surge in decades — jumped back near $110 at the end of the holiday-shortened week. Wells Fargo Securities LLC cut its year-end S&P 500 target. And the International Energy Agency warned that April will be far worse for oil supply than March. All that is the backdrop against which money managers are now making real decisions. David Royal , chief financial and investment officer at Minneapolis-based Thrivent with $212 billion in assets, watched the speech from a New York hotel room expecting a defining moment. “There’s not a clear end game for market disruption,” he said. He’s been quietly moderating growth-stock exposure in favor of value without panicking. He’s now watching beaten-up blue chips for a chance to buy in the coming weeks. “When it’s least ...
Jutharat Pinpan/iStock via Getty Images Google ( GOOG )( GOOGL ) has updated its pricing tiers for Gemini API optimization and inference based on usage requirements. The inference tiers include Standard, Flex, Priority, Batch, and Caching. "The Gemini API offers a variety of optimization mechanisms to help you balance speed, cost, and reliability based on your specific workload needs," Google said...
Jutharat Pinpan/iStock via Getty Images Google ( GOOG )( GOOGL ) has updated its pricing tiers for Gemini API optimization and inference based on usage requirements. The inference tiers include Standard, Flex, Priority, Batch, and Caching. "The Gemini API offers a variety of optimization mechanisms to help you balance speed, cost, and reliability based on your specific workload needs," Google said. "Whether you're building real-time conversational bots or running heavy offline data-processing pipelines, choosing the right paradigm can significantly cut costs or boost performance." The Flex inference tier offers a 50% discount to the standard price by utilizing opportunistic, off-peak compute capacity. It targets a latency period of 1 to 15 minutes, but it is not guaranteed. The Batch API also offers a 50% discount to the standard rate. Its latency period is up to 24 hours. The Caching tier price is based on cache token count and storage duration. Its suggested usage is for chatbots with extensive system instructions, repetitive analysis of lengthy video files, or queries against large document sets. Finally, the Priority tier runs 75% to 100% more than the standard price. Its latency period runs from milliseconds to seconds. Google recommends this tier for live customer chatbots, real-time fraud detection, and business-critical copilots. More on Alphabet The Cure For FOMO With Tech Contrarians Alphabet: The Social Media Lawsuit Is Not A Long-Term Risk Alphabet: Bulls Are Ignoring The Biggest Red Flag Google unveils Gemma 4 models, aimed at advanced reasoning, agentic workflows Microsoft releases trio of AI models for transcription, voice generation and image creation
Taitai6769/iStock via Getty Images The Trump administration confirmed Thursday it will adjust its Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper imports , altering duties on finished products to help simplify compliance. Under a presidential proclamation , finished products made with imported steel, aluminum, and copper will be tariffed at 25%, which will apply to the entire value of a finishe...
Taitai6769/iStock via Getty Images The Trump administration confirmed Thursday it will adjust its Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper imports , altering duties on finished products to help simplify compliance. Under a presidential proclamation , finished products made with imported steel, aluminum, and copper will be tariffed at 25%, which will apply to the entire value of a finished product containing steel, aluminum, or copper, replacing the current 50% duty, which only applies to the value of the metal used in a product. The 50% tariff will remain in place for commodity-grade steel, aluminum, and copper products—goods that are almost entirely made of the metals; some goods could be reclassified as commodity products if they are made almost entirely of the metals. Products that do not contain a significant amount of steel, aluminum, or copper—less than 15% by weight—will not receive a levy under the metals tariff regime and instead will be subject to Trump's separate, 10% global minimum tariff. The changes are aimed at simplifying an overly complicated tariff regime that gave importers headaches in trying to determine the value of the metal content of thousands of derivative products. Century Aluminum ( CENX ) issued a statement praising the changes, saying they will close valuation loopholes that importers have been using to avoid U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. Other potentially relevant stocks include Nucor ( NUE ), Cleveland-Cliffs ( CLF ), Steel Dynamics ( STLD ), Commercial Metals ( CMC ), Reliance ( RS ), ArcelorMittal, Alcoa ( AA ), Kaiser Aluminum ( KALU ), Constellium ( CSTM ). ETF: ( SLX ) More on Century Aluminum Century Aluminum: A High-Stakes, Strait Of Hormuz Hedge Century Aluminum: Don't Count On Tariffs, But On Its Market Position Century Aluminum Presents at 35th BMO Global Metals, Mining & Critical Minerals Conference - Slideshow
Bond traders torn between growth and inflation concerns are setting up for a key read on the US jobs market, even as the continuing hostilities in the Middle East remain the center of attention. The data is likely to show a moderate rebound in hiring last month and an unchanged unemployment rate. It’s a steady picture that would likely do little to alter expectations for Federal Reserve interest-r...
Bond traders torn between growth and inflation concerns are setting up for a key read on the US jobs market, even as the continuing hostilities in the Middle East remain the center of attention. The data is likely to show a moderate rebound in hiring last month and an unchanged unemployment rate. It’s a steady picture that would likely do little to alter expectations for Federal Reserve interest-rate policy, with investors more focused lately on events in Iran and the surge in oil prices. Still, with trading expected to be thin in a shortened session ahead of the Easter holiday, a surprise in either direction may cause more of a jolt — especially with other markets, including oil and equities, closed. Heading into the numbers, the yield on the Fed-sensitive two-year note is trading at 3.80%, down from as high as around 4% last week but still at the upper end of its recent range and above the central bank’s benchmark. Swaps are pricing in low odds for any move in rates until next year, when a reasonable chance of a cut is expected in March. “You should be ready for some chunky moves in the front end, especially if it’s a really strong print” said Ed Al-Hussainy , portfolio manager at Columbia Threadneedle Investments. “Trading feels thin and it will only get thinner.” US bonds have been on a roller-coaster ride since last month, with the Iran conflict sparking a shakeup in expectations for the economy and rates. Yields initially spiked as rising oil prices prompted traders to price in the possibility of interest-rate hikes, then reversed course somewhat on concerns that prolonged energy disruptions would weigh on growth and justify eventual cuts. A pileup of short positions that had recently built into Treasuries has been diluted over recent sessions as traders hedge against growth shocks from short-term inflationary pressures. In Treasury options, there has been demand for protection against a decline in yields heading into the weekend as traders prepare for a poten...
(RTTNews) - Extending the gains from the two previous sessions, Canadian stocks inched higher on Thursday as the market received support from strength in the energy sector due to gains in oil-linked stocks. After U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to attack Iran "extremely hard,"
(RTTNews) - Extending the gains from the two previous sessions, Canadian stocks inched higher on Thursday as the market received support from strength in the energy sector due to gains in oil-linked stocks. After U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to attack Iran "extremely hard,"
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite recently entered correction territory, as defined as a 10% drop from its most recent high. That means it is halfway to bear-market levels. Many investors are staying away from equities right now, given the challenging broader macroeconomic conditions that are partly to blame for the Nasdaq's decline. However, it might actually be a great time to scoop up shares of a...
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite recently entered correction territory, as defined as a 10% drop from its most recent high. That means it is halfway to bear-market levels. Many investors are staying away from equities right now, given the challenging broader macroeconomic conditions that are partly to blame for the Nasdaq's decline. However, it might actually be a great time to scoop up shares of attractive companies on the dip. Here are two excellent growth stocks to consider right now: MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: MELI) and Shopify (NASDAQ: SHOP) . Image source: Getty Images. In fairness, MercadoLibre's shares started declining long before the recent volatility. Investors who feel as though the company's future is bleak -- given increased competition in its core market in Latin America -- do have a point. Even so, MercadoLibre is positioning itself to be a major winner as the e-commerce market expands over the long run, including in its home region. Continue reading
Comprehensive cross-platform coverage of the U.S. market close on Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, and YouTube with Scarlet Fu, Katie Greifeld, Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. (Source: Bloomberg)
Comprehensive cross-platform coverage of the U.S. market close on Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, and YouTube with Scarlet Fu, Katie Greifeld, Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. (Source: Bloomberg)
Three-time champion Phil Mickelson will miss this year's Masters and step away from golf "for an extended period of time" because of a family health matter, the American says.
Three-time champion Phil Mickelson will miss this year's Masters and step away from golf "for an extended period of time" because of a family health matter, the American says.
In trading on Thursday, shares of Controladora Vuela Compania De Aviacion SAB de CV (Symbol: VLRS) crossed below their 200 day moving average of $7.10, changing hands as low as $6.94 per share. Controladora Vuela Compania De Aviacion SAB de CV shares are currently trading down
In trading on Thursday, shares of Controladora Vuela Compania De Aviacion SAB de CV (Symbol: VLRS) crossed below their 200 day moving average of $7.10, changing hands as low as $6.94 per share. Controladora Vuela Compania De Aviacion SAB de CV shares are currently trading down
Khanchit Khirisutchalual/iStock via Getty Images Is AI a net headwind or a tailwind? This seems to be the core question that is dogging the stock market this year, sparking the "SaaSpocalypse" that has wiped billions off the market cap of the software industry across companies both large and small. All in all, I continue to hold the belief that the SaaSpocalypse narrative is overblown, and investo...
Khanchit Khirisutchalual/iStock via Getty Images Is AI a net headwind or a tailwind? This seems to be the core question that is dogging the stock market this year, sparking the "SaaSpocalypse" that has wiped billions off the market cap of the software industry across companies both large and small. All in all, I continue to hold the belief that the SaaSpocalypse narrative is overblown, and investors should look to near-term quarterly results for hints whether certain software companies are disruptors or candidates for disruption. After all, customers of these software companies can vote with their feet, and if a certain platform is no longer compelling, customers can churn out, especially in this tough macroeconomy. UiPath ( PATH ), which was in the business of workflow and business process automation long before AI became a buzzword, looks like a company enjoying tailwinds. Though its share price has contracted ~30% since the start of the year (largely along with other software companies), the company's fundamentals have continued to shine, with healthy net expansion rates and ARR growth. Data by YCharts I last wrote a "Buy" article on UiPath in December, when the stock was trading at $18 per share. Needless to say, the sharp crash in the stock since then has disappointed me, and my buy call was ill-timed (as I certainly did not predict the SaaSpocalypse at the time). That said, such a sharp correction in any stock merits a fresh look, and especially when I assess the strength of UiPath's latest results against its freshly lowered valuation, I find an incredibly attractive bargain play. I'm reiterating my "Buy" rating here. Here's the reality that we need to confront with UiPath. Since agentic AI took off and automation became the core focus of CIOs and CFOs, UiPath's product is no longer incredibly unique. But at the same time, companies wishing to deploy automation tools now have two distinct options: DIY and build their own vibe-coded, agentic AI tools, or deplo...
In trading on Thursday, shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc (Symbol: EPRT) crossed above their 200 day moving average of $30.98, changing hands as high as $31.07 per share. Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc shares are currently trading up about 1.2% on the day.
In trading on Thursday, shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc (Symbol: EPRT) crossed above their 200 day moving average of $30.98, changing hands as high as $31.07 per share. Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc shares are currently trading up about 1.2% on the day.
Getty Images I've been a net seller of utility companies for the past year and more. I've sold off major positions and mostly left that in cash since then due to what I see as material overvaluation in most of the other spaces as well. While the company I cover today, Public Service Enterprise Group ( PEG ), has somewhat outperformed the market since, I don't consider it material enough to be a fa...
Getty Images I've been a net seller of utility companies for the past year and more. I've sold off major positions and mostly left that in cash since then due to what I see as material overvaluation in most of the other spaces as well. While the company I cover today, Public Service Enterprise Group ( PEG ), has somewhat outperformed the market since, I don't consider it material enough to be a failure. This is because my risk-free return over the same time has been comparable to keeping my money in the position. Seeking Alpha PEG RoR You can find that last article on the company here. As it stands, I believe the entire sector is overvalued for reasons that are unlikely to drive long-term returns. I have covered this in other utility articles, but I will cover it in this article again. That is not to say that PEG is a bad company. With a market capitalization of over $40B and a BBB+ in credit, it's a major player on the market. It's also very apt in terms of forecast accuracy - it doesn't miss much, and when it misses estimates, the few times, it actually ends up beating them. From that view, the company is very solid indeed. But as I am sure, if you follow my work, you know - this isn't enough to actually make it an attractive investment. In order for that we don't just need solid fundamentals, we also want what I would consider a good price for what we are buying. Years ago when I bought PEG, that was possible - that is why I had a return. As it stands, that is not possible unless you were to put the company at a premium that (in my view) it doesn't deserve, or unless you lower your hurdle rate for your expected return. Neither of those things is something that I am particularly interested in doing. In this article, I will update you on the following about 6-7 months, my thesis on the company to see at what price I'd be buying PEG. Public Service Enterprise Group - The growth is something I consider only conditionally realistic. This company certainly has what I w...
In trading on Thursday, shares of T1 Energy Inc (Symbol: TE) crossed below their 200 day moving average of $4.25, changing hands as low as $4.14 per share. T1 Energy Inc shares are currently trading off about 5.9% on the day. The chart below shows the one year performance of T
In trading on Thursday, shares of T1 Energy Inc (Symbol: TE) crossed below their 200 day moving average of $4.25, changing hands as low as $4.14 per share. T1 Energy Inc shares are currently trading off about 5.9% on the day. The chart below shows the one year performance of T
Debalina Ghosh/iStock via Getty Images Investors seeking refuge from stock volatility are turning to alternative ETFs like managed futures, crypto strategies, and commodity plays. Below is a list of the top 10 alternative ETFs ranked by their Seeking Alpha Quant Ratings. The list includes various alternative sub-classes, such as managed futures, relative value, global macro, and cryptocurrency str...
Debalina Ghosh/iStock via Getty Images Investors seeking refuge from stock volatility are turning to alternative ETFs like managed futures, crypto strategies, and commodity plays. Below is a list of the top 10 alternative ETFs ranked by their Seeking Alpha Quant Ratings. The list includes various alternative sub-classes, such as managed futures, relative value, global macro, and cryptocurrency strategies. The list is led by Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF ( BWET ), which tops the rankings with a near-perfect Quant Rating of 4.99 and a “Strong Buy” designation. Defiance Oil Enhanced Options Income ETF ( USOY ) follows closely behind with a 4.78 rating, also earning a “Strong Buy” classification. The overall quality of the list remains strong throughout, with all selections maintaining “Buy” or “Strong Buy” ratings. From the top-ranked BWET down to the FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF ( QMAR ) at the bottom, every fund carries a Quant Rating above 4.20, indicating bullish sentiment across the board. Seeking Alpha’s Quant Ratings system grades ETFs based on their relative performance on key quantitative measures, including valuation, growth, momentum, and profitability. Ratings are given on a scale from 1 to 5, with any score of 3.5 or above considered a bullish rating and any score of 2.5 or below considered bearish. Here is the list: Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF ( BWET ), Quant Rating: 4.99 Defiance Oil Enhanced Options Income ETF ( USOY ), Quant Rating: 4.78 YieldMax MSTR Short Option Income Strategy ETF ( WNTR ), Quant Rating: 4.40 First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strat ETF ( FAAR ), Quant Rating: 4.38 Simplify Commodities Strategy No K-1 ETF ( HARD ), Quant Rating: 4.31 YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF ( AMDY ), Quant Rating: 4.28 Strategas Macro Thematic Opportunities ETF ( SAMT ), Quant Rating: 4.24 Invesco Managed Futures Strategy ETF ( IMF ), Quant Rating: 4.21 Simplify Currency Strategy ETF ( FOXY ), Quant Rating: 4.20 FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF ...
In trading on Thursday, shares of the GraniteShares YieldBOOST MSTR ETF (Symbol: MTYY) entered into oversold territory, changing hands as low as $4.62 per share. We define oversold territory using the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which is a technical analysis indicator used
In trading on Thursday, shares of the GraniteShares YieldBOOST MSTR ETF (Symbol: MTYY) entered into oversold territory, changing hands as low as $4.62 per share. We define oversold territory using the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which is a technical analysis indicator used
Andrii Yalanskyi/iStock via Getty Images Investment Overview The stock of ImmunityBio, Inc. ( IBRX ) has risen in value by ~80% since I last covered the company in January of this year , upgrading to a Buy rating - after two prior Hold calls. Immunity stock is currently priced at $7.3 per share, and the San Diego, California based biotechs' market cap valuation is presently ~$7.9bn. Stock is now u...
Andrii Yalanskyi/iStock via Getty Images Investment Overview The stock of ImmunityBio, Inc. ( IBRX ) has risen in value by ~80% since I last covered the company in January of this year , upgrading to a Buy rating - after two prior Hold calls. Immunity stock is currently priced at $7.3 per share, and the San Diego, California based biotechs' market cap valuation is presently ~$7.9bn. Stock is now up >250% year-to-date, >180% on a six-month basis, and >140% on a one-year basis, although on a one-month basis, it is down nearly 30%, having reached highs of nearly $12 per share in late February. Let's remind ourselves of the company's core business, as per its 2025 annual report / 10-K submission : ANKTIVA is our lead biologic product and a first-in-class IL-15 receptor superagonist antibody-cytokine fusion protein. We are commercializing ANKTIVA for the treatment of BCG-unresponsive NMIBC CIS (non muscle invasive bladder cancer, carcinoma in situ) with or without papillary tumors. ANKTIVA has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for use in BCG-unresponsive NMIBC CIS in adult patients with or without papillary tumors. ANKTIVA is now approved in the U.S., UK, and Saudi Arabia for BCG-unresponsive NMIBC CIS with or without papillary tumors. In February 2026, the European Commission granted conditional marketing authorization in the EU for ANKTIVA for the same indication. Several positive pieces of news-flow have underpinned the stunning rise in the stock price over the past year. Immunity's Lung Cancer Data Triggers Bull Run At the end of 2025, shares traded ~$2, but on January 13th this year, the company shared some updates in relation to Anktiva as a potential therapy for non-small cell lung cancer ("NSCLC"), one of the largest indications in oncology. In combo with a checkpoint inhibitor, i.e., Merck's ( MRK ) PD-1 targeting Keytruda (pembrolizumab), or Bristol-Myers Squibb's ( BMY ) Opdivo (nivolumab), Anktiva demonstrated statistically significant immune rest...