Dougal Waters Bank of America’s global research team says the second week of earnings season delivered solid, but not great results, with overall trends holding steady rather than accelerating. After another relatively light slate of reports, the bank noted that 64 of the S&P 500 ( SP500 ) companies—about 18% of total index earnings—have released results. Performance metrics remain largely unchang...
Dougal Waters Bank of America’s global research team says the second week of earnings season delivered solid, but not great results, with overall trends holding steady rather than accelerating. After another relatively light slate of reports, the bank noted that 64 of the S&P 500 ( SP500 ) companies—about 18% of total index earnings—have released results. Performance metrics remain largely unchanged from the prior week. Roughly 70% of reporting companies exceeded earnings-per-share expectations, an improvement over the typical second-week average of 64%, but well below the 79% beat rate seen last quarter. BofA highlighted that aggregate earnings surprises have averaged about 7%, slightly under the 8% pace recorded at the same point in the previous reporting period. Consensus fourth-quarter earnings per share, using a blended measure of reported results and analyst estimates, are tracking toward year-over-year growth of approximately 7%, unchanged from last week. Bank of America expects final growth to land closer to 11%, noting that upside risks remain intact. The pace of reporting accelerates meaningfully this week. More than 100 S&P 500 companies, representing roughly one-third of index earnings, are scheduled to report, making it the second-busiest week of the season. Technology results will take center stage with Microsoft ( MSFT ), Meta Platforms ( META ), Tesla ( TSLA ), and Apple ( AAPL ) on deck. Market Tracking ETFs: ( DIA ), ( DDM ), ( DOG ), ( DXD ), ( SDOW ), ( SPY ), ( VOO ), ( IVV ), ( RSP ), ( SSO ), ( UPRO ), ( SH ), ( SDS ), ( SPXU ), ( QQQ ), ( QQQM ), ( TQQQ ), ( QID ), and ( SQQQ ). More on markets Silver and gold rally further as government shutdown fears intensify Government shutdown fears spike according to prediction markets Apollo points out S&P 500 profit growth concentrated in tech ahead of Mag 7 earnings Rick Rieder gains noticeable momentum in Fed Chair race, according to Polymarket Prediction markets keep Greenland in focus even as Wall...
Amazon, the leading e-commerce retailer, is planning another round of layoffs and could announce them as early as this week. Reuters previously reported that Amazon planned to eliminate around 30,000 white-collar jobs, about 10% of its corporate workforce. In October 2025, the tech giant laid off ...
Amazon, the leading e-commerce retailer, is planning another round of layoffs and could announce them as early as this week. Reuters previously reported that Amazon planned to eliminate around 30,000 white-collar jobs, about 10% of its corporate workforce. In October 2025, the tech giant laid off ...
Key Takeaways This year has started off with a mixed showing from America’s heavy-hitting “Magnificent 7” stocks. Their earnings, which kick off this week, could shed more light on how they’re approaching their challenges and breathe fresh enthusiasm into their shares. America’s heavy-hitting “Magnificent 7” stocks have driven years of market gains. That may not continue to be the case. This year ...
Key Takeaways This year has started off with a mixed showing from America’s heavy-hitting “Magnificent 7” stocks. Their earnings, which kick off this week, could shed more light on how they’re approaching their challenges and breathe fresh enthusiasm into their shares. America’s heavy-hitting “Magnificent 7” stocks have driven years of market gains. That may not continue to be the case. This year has started with a mixed showing from the grouping of some of America’s biggest tech stocks, which accounted for over 40% of the S&P 500’s roughly 18% total return in 2025. Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL) is up some 5% since 2026 began, while Amazon (AMZN) is up about 4%. Tesla (TSLA), Meta (Meta), and Nvidia (NVDA) are little changed. Microsoft (MSFT) and Apple (AAPL) are in negative territory. The Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (MAGS) which tracks the group, is about flat. A more “risk-off” stance as geopolitical events rattled markets earlier this month could be partly to blame, along with concerns about an AI bubble—though the stocks’ recent divergence suggests that some are having a harder time winning over investors than others. Magnificent 7 earnings, which kick off this week, could shed more light on how they’re approaching a range of challenges and, perhaps, breathe fresh enthusiasm into their shares. Why This Matters to Investors The Magnificent 7 have an outsized influence on major U.S. equity indexes, together accounting for about a third of the S&P 500’s weighting. Even if you don’t hold the stocks individually, their moves could still affect your portfolio if you’re exposed to funds that track them. For Tesla, which is set to report earnings after the bell Wednesday, that could mean sharing more about its developments in self-driving cars and robotics in the midst of an effort to reposition its business and the perception of the opportunity its stock offers. CEO Elon Musk, who’s previously suggested as much as 80% of the company’s value could eventually be dri...
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.27%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.33%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.07%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) are up +0.35%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) are up +0.15%. Stocks are seeing support today from lower T-note yields and the stronger-than-expected US durable goods orders report, which suggest...
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.27%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.33%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.07%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) are up +0.35%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) are up +0.15%. Stocks are seeing support today from lower T-note yields and the stronger-than-expected US durable goods orders report, which suggested a resilient US economy. However, stocks are being undercut by President Trump’s new threat of 100% tariffs on US imports from Canada, the possibility of a US government shutdown over ICE funding, lingering concerns about Greenland, and travel and grid disruptions from the massive storm that just crossed the US. There is also political uncertainty about the Fed, as the FOMC is expected to leave rates unchanged at its meeting this week, potentially drawing new threats from Mr. Trump for a refusal to cut interest rates further. Join 200K+ Subscribers: Stocks are being undercut today by increased trade uncertainty after President Trump on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs on US imports from Canada if Canada signs a trade agreement with China. Canada is looking for other trade partners due to President Trump’s tariff regime. The risk of another partial government shutdown is also weighing on stocks. Senate Democrats threatened to block a government funding deal over Department of Homeland Security/ICE funding after the ICE shooting of an ICU nurse in Minnesota on Saturday. There could be a partial government shutdown when the current stopgap funding measure expires this Friday. The dollar index today is down -0.5% and hit a 4-month low amid speculation that the US might coordinate with Japan to boost the yen, which would dovetail with Mr. Trump’s apparent view that a weak dollar is good for the US as a stimulus to US exports. US authorities reportedly contacted market participants last Friday to check dollar/yen prices, a possible precursor to intervention. The dollar is also ...
Meta Platforms旗下通讯平台WhatsApp的频道功能成为最新一个受到欧盟内容审查规则约束的大型科技服务,而特朗普政府将此类规则比作审查制度。 欧盟委员会周一表示已根据《数字服务法》将WhatsApp的公开频道指定为“超大型在线平台”,这意味着该功能必须满足在内容审核和透明度方面的高标准。所谓“频道”是关联新闻机构或公众人物的开放式信息流,其性质与社交媒体类似。 这一决定出台前不久,监...
Meta Platforms旗下通讯平台WhatsApp的频道功能成为最新一个受到欧盟内容审查规则约束的大型科技服务,而特朗普政府将此类规则比作审查制度。 欧盟委员会周一表示已根据《数字服务法》将WhatsApp的公开频道指定为“超大型在线平台”,这意味着该功能必须满足在内容审核和透明度方面的高标准。所谓“频道”是关联新闻机构或公众人物的开放式信息流,其性质与社交媒体类似。 这一决定出台前不久,监管机构启动了针对埃隆·马斯克旗下X平台的Grok人工智能机器人传播深度伪造色情图像的《数字服务法》调查。X平台已于去年12月因违反该法规被处以罚款。白宫方面认为,这项法律不公平地针对美国公司,并对言论自由构成审查。 彭博新闻社此前报道称,欧盟委员会已就这一指定决定通知Meta,而该公司旗下的Facebook和Instagram也被纳入同类监管范围。 责任编辑:李桐
Plug Power has made many changes over the past year. The past three years have been brutal for Plug Power (PLUG 6.09%) investors. The hydrogen pioneer has lost a crushing 85% of its value. It has experienced challenging market conditions and funding issues. The next few years could be a much different story for the hydrogen stock. Here's a look at where Plug Power expects to be in three years. Thr...
Plug Power has made many changes over the past year. The past three years have been brutal for Plug Power (PLUG 6.09%) investors. The hydrogen pioneer has lost a crushing 85% of its value. It has experienced challenging market conditions and funding issues. The next few years could be a much different story for the hydrogen stock. Here's a look at where Plug Power expects to be in three years. Three-year rewind Financial issues have plagued Plug Power in recent years. The hydrogen market hasn't developed as quickly as the company had expected, impacting demand and pricing. Despite that, the company has spent heavily to expand its business to support future demand. As a result, it has been burning through cash due to its steep operating losses. In 2024, Plug Power generated $629 million of revenue, down from $891 million in the prior year. Meanwhile, its net loss widened from nearly $1.4 billion to over $2.1 billion. Unfortunately, things haven't gotten much better over the past year. While Plug generated $485 million of revenue through the first nine months of the year (up from $437 million in the year-ago period), its net loss has increased from $769 million to $786 million. Expand NASDAQ : PLUG Plug Power Today's Change ( -6.09 %) $ -0.15 Current Price $ 2.35 Key Data Points Market Cap $3.5B Day's Range $ 2.33 - $ 2.50 52wk Range $ 0.69 - $ 4.58 Volume 53M Avg Vol 105M Gross Margin -7128.74 % As a result, Plug Power has had to secure additional capital from investors to help fund its operations and expansion. One way it has done that is by selling stock. These sales have caused its outstanding shares to balloon by 135% over the past three years. This significant share dilution is a big reason why its stock price crashed. The quantum leap forward The market challenges have taken a toll on Plug Power, forcing the company to alter its strategy. Last year, the company unveiled its "Project Quantum Leap," a series of changes aimed at focusing on certain markets, slowin...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. ET Call participants Chief Executive Officer — Dave Mosley Chief Financial Officer — Gianluca Romano Takeaways Revenue -- $2.17 billion, up 15% sequentially and 49% year over year, surpassing the midpoint of guidance due to stronger-than-expected mass capacity mix and pricing. -- $2.17 billion, up 15% sequentially and 49% year o...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. ET Call participants Chief Executive Officer — Dave Mosley Chief Financial Officer — Gianluca Romano Takeaways Revenue -- $2.17 billion, up 15% sequentially and 49% year over year, surpassing the midpoint of guidance due to stronger-than-expected mass capacity mix and pricing. -- $2.17 billion, up 15% sequentially and 49% year over year, surpassing the midpoint of guidance due to stronger-than-expected mass capacity mix and pricing. Non-GAAP Gross Profit -- $723 million, rising 24% quarter over quarter, with margins expanding by 240 basis points sequentially to 33.3%, the highest in over ten years, primarily led by the HDD segment. -- $723 million, rising 24% quarter over quarter, with margins expanding by 240 basis points sequentially to 33.3%, the highest in over ten years, primarily led by the HDD segment. Non-GAAP Operating Income -- $442 million, a 35% sequential increase, delivering a 20.4% non-GAAP operating margin. -- $442 million, a 35% sequential increase, delivering a 20.4% non-GAAP operating margin. Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share (EPS) -- $1.58 per diluted share, at the high end of guidance, supported by improved product mix and cost discipline. -- $1.58 per diluted share, at the high end of guidance, supported by improved product mix and cost discipline. HDD Exabyte Shipments -- 128 exabytes, up 20% sequentially, with nearline shipment reaching 109 exabytes versus 84 exabytes in the previous quarter. -- 128 exabytes, up 20% sequentially, with nearline shipment reaching 109 exabytes versus 84 exabytes in the previous quarter. Mass Capacity Revenue -- $1.7 billion, up 21% sequentially, now representing a record 93% of total HDD exabytes. -- $1.7 billion, up 21% sequentially, now representing a record 93% of total HDD exabytes. Legacy Products Revenue -- $270 million, contributing approximately 12% of total revenue, as expected declines were offset by mass capacity growth. -- $270 million, ...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Chief Executive Officer — Michael D. Hsu Chief Financial Officer — Nelson Urdaneta Vice President, Investor Relations — Christopher Jakubik TAKEAWAYS Organic Sales Growth -- Company organic sales were slightly below internal expectations, primarily due to softer weighted average category growth in the 1.5%-2% ...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Chief Executive Officer — Michael D. Hsu Chief Financial Officer — Nelson Urdaneta Vice President, Investor Relations — Christopher Jakubik TAKEAWAYS Organic Sales Growth -- Company organic sales were slightly below internal expectations, primarily due to softer weighted average category growth in the 1.5%-2% range and one less day of shipments, which represented a roughly 100 basis point headwind in the quarter. -- Company organic sales were slightly below internal expectations, primarily due to softer weighted average category growth in the 1.5%-2% range and one less day of shipments, which represented a roughly 100 basis point headwind in the quarter. Tariff Impact -- Nelson Urdaneta reported a new $300 million gross cost from tariffs, with about two-thirds related to US tariffs on China at 145%, 10% from new US reciprocal tariffs, and the remainder driven by retaliatory tariffs imposed on US products in other countries. -- Nelson Urdaneta reported a new $300 million gross cost from tariffs, with about two-thirds related to US tariffs on China at 145%, 10% from new US reciprocal tariffs, and the remainder driven by retaliatory tariffs imposed on US products in other countries. Profitability and Outlook -- CFO Urdaneta stated, "profitability was in line with what we expected, supported by strong productivity delivery both in costs and overheads," despite the organic sales coming in softer than anticipated. -- CFO Urdaneta stated, "profitability was in line with what we expected, supported by strong productivity delivery both in costs and overheads," despite the organic sales coming in softer than anticipated. Guidance Revision -- Updated company guidance for the year was described as "about flat in operating profit and EPS," reflecting an expected $200 million net headwind from tariffs and mitigations underway. -- Updated company guidance for the year was described as "about f...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 10 a.m. ET Call participants Chairman and Chief Executive Officer — Owen Thomas President — Douglas Linde Chief Financial Officer — Michael LaBelle Senior Executive Vice President — Ray Ritchie Executive Vice President, New York Region — Hilary Spann Executive Vice President, San Francisco Region — Rodney Diehl Executive Vice President,...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 10 a.m. ET Call participants Chairman and Chief Executive Officer — Owen Thomas President — Douglas Linde Chief Financial Officer — Michael LaBelle Senior Executive Vice President — Ray Ritchie Executive Vice President, New York Region — Hilary Spann Executive Vice President, San Francisco Region — Rodney Diehl Executive Vice President, Washington, DC Region — Jake Stroman Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] Takeaways Funds From Operations (FFO) Per Share -- $1.81, exceeding internal forecast by $0.01 and in line with market consensus. -- $1.81, exceeding internal forecast by $0.01 and in line with market consensus. Leasing Volume -- Over 1.1 million square feet completed, 5% higher than the comparable quarter in 2023. -- Over 1.1 million square feet completed, 5% higher than the comparable quarter in 2023. Year-to-Date Leasing Volume -- 3.3 million square feet through three quarters, 25% above the same period in 2023. -- 3.3 million square feet through three quarters, 25% above the same period in 2023. Weighted Average Lease Term -- 7.2 years for office leases signed during the quarter. -- 7.2 years for office leases signed during the quarter. Premier Workplace Outperformance -- Direct vacancy at 13.2% versus 18.7% for the broader market; net absorption for premier workplaces positive 6.5 million square feet over three years, versus negative 16.7 million square feet for the broader market. -- Direct vacancy at 13.2% versus 18.7% for the broader market; net absorption for premier workplaces positive 6.5 million square feet over three years, versus negative 16.7 million square feet for the broader market. CBD Asset Metrics -- 90.1% occupied and 92.1% leased as of quarter end; approximately 90% of BXP's NOI generated from CBD-based, premier workplace assets. -- 90.1% occupied and 92.1% leased as of quarter end; approximately 90% of BXP's NOI generated from CBD-based, premier wor...
As expected, this rare-earth company has a new dance partner. Bitter cold may be bearing down on much of the country this morning, but investors are warming up to USA Rare Earth (USAR +15.06%) stock in a big way. After much speculation, the company announced an equity deal with the United States government. As of 11:56 a.m. ET, shares of USA Rare Earth are up 12%, pulling back from their earlier 2...
As expected, this rare-earth company has a new dance partner. Bitter cold may be bearing down on much of the country this morning, but investors are warming up to USA Rare Earth (USAR +15.06%) stock in a big way. After much speculation, the company announced an equity deal with the United States government. As of 11:56 a.m. ET, shares of USA Rare Earth are up 12%, pulling back from their earlier 29.5% climb. The deets of the deal Signing a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with the U.S. Department of Commerce in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, USA Rare Earth will gain access to $1.6 billion of funding, representing $277 million in proposed federal funding and $1.3 billion in a proposed senior secured loan from the CHIPS Act. Expand NASDAQ : USAR USA Rare Earth Today's Change ( 15.06 %) $ 3.73 Current Price $ 28.50 Key Data Points Market Cap $3.7B Day's Range $ 26.39 - $ 32.00 52wk Range $ 5.56 - $ 43.98 Volume 2.2M Avg Vol 12M In return, USA Rare Earth will issue to the Department of Commerce 16.1 million shares of common stock and about 17.6 million warrants. Additionally, the company has signed a $1.5 billion Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) transaction, totaling 69.8 million shares issued at $21.50 per share, with Inflection Point and other investors. The provided capital will support USA Rare Earth in developing the Round Top project, where it plans to mine rare-earths and other critical minerals. USA Rare Earth expects the PIPE transaction to close this week. Funding from the CHIPS Act and the senior secured loan are both projected to close this quarter, subject to meeting the closing conditions. The company expects commercial operations at the Round Top project to begin in 2028. Is it too late to buy USA Rare Earth stock now? While access to capital will reduce some of the risk associated with an investment in the company, prospective investors must recognize that USA Rare Earth remains a speculative investment. Developing large-sc...
felixmizioznikov The restaurant sector is reeling after Winter Storm Fern impacted over 230 million people across two-thirds of the U.S. The storm brought heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain from Texas to the Northeast, causing at least nine deaths and up to 830,000 power outages nationwide. Major East Coast cities, including New York, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, recorded their heaviest snowfa...
felixmizioznikov The restaurant sector is reeling after Winter Storm Fern impacted over 230 million people across two-thirds of the U.S. The storm brought heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain from Texas to the Northeast, causing at least nine deaths and up to 830,000 power outages nationwide. Major East Coast cities, including New York, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, recorded their heaviest snowfall since 2016, with Pennsylvania's highest total reaching 23 inches. Many parts of the U.S. saw a nearly complete shutdown of dine-in restaurant traffic as the storm progressed. The slowdown over the weekend of restaurant activity will be a drag on first-quarter guidance for many chains, despite the comparison to a year ago that also included harsh winter weather. Restaurant stocks that have fallen notably over the last week include Sweetgreen ( SG ) -15.7%, Cracker Barrel ( CBRL ) -15.7%, CAVA ( CAVA ) -13.5%, ( BRCB ) -11.2%, Bloomin' Brands ( BLMN ) -11.2%, Kura Sushi ( KRUS ) -10.2%, Shake Shack ( SHAK ) -9.8%, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers ( RRGB ) -8.9%, Dine Brands Global ( DIN ) -8.5%, Darden Restaurants ( DRI ) -8.4%, Jack in the Box ( JACK ) -6.7%, and BJ's Restaurants ( BJRI ) -5.7%. Outliers in the restaurant sector were Starbucks ( SBUX ) +3.8% , Domino's Pizza ( DPZ ) +3.3% , and Portillo's ( PTLO ) +3.3% , which all managed gains over the last week. More on the restaurant sector The Ultimate Guide To The Restaurant Industry In 2026 2026 Market Outlook: Besides AI, Consumers Will Determine The Way The world's largest restaurant chain made its U.S. debut Closed on Sundays, closed to investors: Restaurant star Chick-fil-A continues to grow Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on AdvisorShares Restaurant ETF