Panuwat Dangsungnoen The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( DJI ) soared more than 1,000 points, or 2%, to about 49,600 as Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz open for commercial ships amid the ongoing ceasefire deal. The blue-chip index is now 3.3% year-to-date and has added 4.4% in the past five days. Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is now “completely open” for all commercial vessels for the rest...
Panuwat Dangsungnoen The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( DJI ) soared more than 1,000 points, or 2%, to about 49,600 as Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz open for commercial ships amid the ongoing ceasefire deal. The blue-chip index is now 3.3% year-to-date and has added 4.4% in the past five days. Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is now “completely open” for all commercial vessels for the rest of the Lebanon ceasefire timeline, after Israel and Lebanon announced a 10-day ceasefire on Thursday. U.S. President Donald Trump, however, said that the naval blockade on Iranian ports will remain in full force and effect. The reopening of the passageway was one of the conditions of the fragile two-week ceasefire that is currently in effect. Crude oil futures ( CL1:COM ) sank on Friday to $81, while Brent ( CO1:COM ) also dropped to $86 per barrel. Here are the top 10 stocks aiding the rise of the Dow: Sherwin-Williams ( SHW ) +5% Boeing ( BA ) +4.3% Home Depot ( HD ) +4.2% 3M ( MMM ) +3.6% American Express ( AXP ) +3.5% Caterpillar ( CAT ) +2.9% Honeywell International ( HON ) +2.8% Salesforce ( CRM ) +2.8% Goldman Sachs ( GS ) +2.8% Procter & Gamble ( PG ) +2.8% Dow ETFs: ( DIA ), ( DDM ), ( UDOW ), ( DOG ), ( DXD ), and ( SDOW ). More on Dow Jones Industrial Average Index Victoria Fernandez And Paul Hickey On S&P 500 Volatility, Midterms And The Fed's Next Move Reducing Risk As This Euphoric Rally Ensues Federal Reserve Watch: Fed Keeps Pressure On U.S. stocks rise to new highs as the Strait of Hormuz is declared open Wall Street jumps as Iran declares Strait of Hormuz open
Onto Innovation (NYSE:ONTO) stock just earned a strong endorsement from Stifel, which upgraded shares to Buy from Hold and raised its price target to $350 from $220. The catalyst isn’t a quarterly earnings beat or a splashy acquisition. Analyst Brian Chin flagged a qualification that the broader market appears to have overlooked: Onto’s new Gen5 ... Stifel Upgrades Onto Innovation to Buy With a Ma...
Onto Innovation (NYSE:ONTO) stock just earned a strong endorsement from Stifel, which upgraded shares to Buy from Hold and raised its price target to $350 from $220. The catalyst isn’t a quarterly earnings beat or a splashy acquisition. Analyst Brian Chin flagged a qualification that the broader market appears to have overlooked: Onto’s new Gen5 ... Stifel Upgrades Onto Innovation to Buy With a Massive New Price Target: Did the Market Miss a Huge Semiconductor Signal?
Costs for child care in the US are high and so is demand. So why are so many businesses in the child care industry still struggling to survive? Planet Money co-host Mary Childs and contributor to the podcast, Alex Mayassi, join Tracy Alloway and Joe Weisenthal to discuss how common complaints and concerns can be traced to specific economic phenomena or market structure issues. (Source: Bloomberg)
Costs for child care in the US are high and so is demand. So why are so many businesses in the child care industry still struggling to survive? Planet Money co-host Mary Childs and contributor to the podcast, Alex Mayassi, join Tracy Alloway and Joe Weisenthal to discuss how common complaints and concerns can be traced to specific economic phenomena or market structure issues. (Source: Bloomberg)
hapabapa Affirm Holdings ( AFRM ) stock surged 8.6% in Friday morning trading after Morgan Stanley named the company a top pick in the consumer finance sector. Moreover, news that Iran has opened the Strait of Hormuz is likely buoying fintech and consumer finance stocks, as lower gasoline prices may free up cash for consumers to spend in other areas or give them more confidence to borrow. Other fi...
hapabapa Affirm Holdings ( AFRM ) stock surged 8.6% in Friday morning trading after Morgan Stanley named the company a top pick in the consumer finance sector. Moreover, news that Iran has opened the Strait of Hormuz is likely buoying fintech and consumer finance stocks, as lower gasoline prices may free up cash for consumers to spend in other areas or give them more confidence to borrow. Other fintech and consumer finance stocks on the rise include Robinhood Markets ( HOOD ) +6.3% , SoFi Technologies ( SOFI ) +5.3% , LendingClub ( LC ) +5.8% , LoanDepot ( LDI ) +14% , and Rocket Companies ( RKT ) +7.5% . Morgan Stanley analyst James Faucette named Affirm ( AFRM ) his “Top Pick” on the prospects of upward earnings estimate revisions, the easing of private credit fears, and ahead of its May Investor Forum. In late March, the stock had dipped as low as $42.10 amid private credit fears and economic uncertainty as gasoline prices soared in response to the Middle East conflict. The analyst sees a "particularly attractive setup" for Affirm ( AFRM ) in the next six months. Faucette's overweight rating on Affirm ( AFRM ) aligns with the average SA Analyst rating of Strong Buy and the average Wall Street rating of Buy and contrasts with the SA Quant rating of Hold. More on Affirm, Robinhood, etc. Affirm: Contrarian Fintech Play Robinhood: Multiple Expansion Ahead As New Catalysts Hit SoFi Technologies: The Market Is Handing You A $17 Entry On A $4.7 Billion Revenue Machine Robinhood, Webull, eToro shares jump after SEC removes day-trading limit
akinbostanci/iStock via Getty Images This year, business development companies ( BIZD ) have been a centerpiece of my coverage. The turmoil in direct lending has caused widespread fears across the private credit sphere and it's no secret that some non-traded business development companies have run into trouble as investors head for the hills. I recently published an article outlining the contagion...
akinbostanci/iStock via Getty Images This year, business development companies ( BIZD ) have been a centerpiece of my coverage. The turmoil in direct lending has caused widespread fears across the private credit sphere and it's no secret that some non-traded business development companies have run into trouble as investors head for the hills. I recently published an article outlining the contagion effects in private credit that are beginning to weigh on publicly traded business development companies. Just as it went with REITs when rates increased, private capital quickly faces redemption gates which put market pressure on more liquid counterparts. This factor has pushed the sector median valuation for business development companies much lower over the past year. Data by YCharts In today's discussion, we will compare the MSC Income Fund ( MSIF ) against its own BDC manager, Main Street Capital ( MAIN ), and explain why MSIF may be the inferior pick. MSIF went public just a short while ago and appears to have hit the public markets at a tumultuous time. Today, I will initiate coverage of MSIF, provide my take on the fund, and explain why MAIN might be a superior choice for those looking for a BDC investment. A Short History Lesson Before we dive into MSIF, we need to understand the relationship between MAIN and MSIF. Over the years, I have covered MAIN as a centerpiece of the business development company sector. Aside from operating a top notch business, MAIN has outperformed the sector and market as a whole over a long time period. Data by YCharts MAIN is an internally managed business development company that went public in 2007. Over the years, the company has differentiated itself through an equity heavy portfolio strategy that has paid dividends over the years, quite literally. The fund has been one of the more unique business development companies in that net asset value has grown significantly over time allowing the company to grow its dividend and provide spe...
Bitcoin climbed to the highest level since early February after a flurry of comments from the US and Iran sparked optimism that the conflict in the Middle East may be heading toward a resolution. The original cryptocurrency broke through the higher bound of the narrow range its been trading in since the war broke out in late February, topping $78,000 for the first time since Feb. 3. Bitcoin rose a...
Bitcoin climbed to the highest level since early February after a flurry of comments from the US and Iran sparked optimism that the conflict in the Middle East may be heading toward a resolution. The original cryptocurrency broke through the higher bound of the narrow range its been trading in since the war broke out in late February, topping $78,000 for the first time since Feb. 3. Bitcoin rose as much as 3.8% to $78,155. Other digital assets also pushed higher, with Either strengthening 3.3% and XRP increasing 2.4% as part of a broader risk-on rally. Equities climbed after Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz is now “completely open” for commercial traffic, prompting traders to take on more risk. Oil and the dollar tumbled. “The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is the risk-on signal the global markets have been waiting for,” said Matt Mena , senior crypto research strategist at 21shares. “By removing one of the most significant geopolitical choke points in the world, Iran has effectively uncorked a massive wave of liquidity and investor confidence.” Still, the derivatives market show traders remain largely defensive. Funding rates for perpetual futures contracts, a key measure of whether leveraged traders are betting on higher or lower prices, were negative. Hefty premiums are also being paid for put options providing downside protections at $60,000 and $50,000, respectively. “Reality is that the market needs Hormuz clarity and sustained institutional buying to break this range with conviction. Until then, the direction remains unclear., said Jasper De Maere , OTC trader at crypto market maker Wintermute “A sustained ceasefire screams bullish, but each week the Strait remains disrupted from today probably brings an exponentially worse outcome as shocks will start to ripple through supply chains and the global economy.” At the same time, a growing number of catalysts are seen as emerging. Strategy Inc. has acquired $2.6 billion in Bitcoin in the past two weeks...
tiero/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis CoreWeave’s ( CRWV ) story has shifted in a way that the market is only beginning to recognize. Since my last coverage , CRWV is up ~50%, materially outperforming the broader market but this hasn’t been a typical AI-driven move. Rather, it marks a fundamental shift in how the company is regarded from being a speculative growth story to a more concret...
tiero/iStock via Getty Images Investment Thesis CoreWeave’s ( CRWV ) story has shifted in a way that the market is only beginning to recognize. Since my last coverage , CRWV is up ~50%, materially outperforming the broader market but this hasn’t been a typical AI-driven move. Rather, it marks a fundamental shift in how the company is regarded from being a speculative growth story to a more concrete and contractually based infrastructure provider. Enhanced liquidity, long-term customer deals such as its $21 billion deal with Meta and increasing enterprise penetration could represent a new narrative for the company. This Wasn't A Rally But a Systematic De-Risking of the Story It was not just a rally based on general bullish sentiment towards AI. The last month of performance from CoreWeave was driven by systematic risk removal. Although the price went from ~$69 to ~$120 in less than three weeks, every move can be linked directly to a particular development rather than a general uptick in AI stocks. The first leg of this rally happened in response to the announcement of a $8.5 billion loan. While this news may be perceived as a sign of increasing financing needs, it actually speaks for the ability to secure debt on favorable terms. Investment grade backing proves that financing is becoming increasingly easy and, hence, removes the potential threat of liquidity issues. Secondly, the $21 billion partnership with Meta made the market more confident about backlog reliability. The deal with such a big client guarantees a steady stream of income for quite a period of time ahead, improving future revenue expectations. Moreover, the announcement of additional clients, including Jane Street (a financial institution) and Anthropic, decreased the risks associated with client concentration. At the same time, valuation started to increase significantly even before financial results were announced and thus priced not on the basis of demand growth but on the basis of successful execu...
The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT:VOO) and the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) differ significantly in cost, sector exposure, yield, and risk, with QQQ leaning heavily into technology and delivering higher recent returns but at greater volatility and a higher fee. While both VOO and QQQ are among the most widely traded exchange-traded funds in the United States, they serve different goals: VOO is d...
The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT:VOO) and the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) differ significantly in cost, sector exposure, yield, and risk, with QQQ leaning heavily into technology and delivering higher recent returns but at greater volatility and a higher fee. While both VOO and QQQ are among the most widely traded exchange-traded funds in the United States, they serve different goals: VOO is designed to mirror the broader S&P 500 , offering exposure to 500 large-cap U.S. companies, while QQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100 , which is more tech-focused and excludes most financials and energy firms. This comparison explores which may appeal more, depending on investor priorities around cost, performance, risk, and sector tilt. Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Continue reading
On April 16, 2026, Matthew Goff Investment Advisor disclosed a new position in Invesco BulletShares 2026 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NASDAQ:BSJQ) , acquiring 486,104 shares in the first quarter. The estimated transaction value was $11.31 million based on quarterly average pricing. According to an SEC filing dated April 16, 2026, Matthew Goff Investment Advisor initiated a new position in the In...
On April 16, 2026, Matthew Goff Investment Advisor disclosed a new position in Invesco BulletShares 2026 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NASDAQ:BSJQ) , acquiring 486,104 shares in the first quarter. The estimated transaction value was $11.31 million based on quarterly average pricing. According to an SEC filing dated April 16, 2026, Matthew Goff Investment Advisor initiated a new position in the Invesco BulletShares 2026 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NASDAQ:BSJQ) during the first quarter. The fund bought 486,104 shares, with the estimated transaction value amounting to $11.31 million based on average closing prices for the quarter. The quarter-end value of the stake was $9.49 million, reflecting both trading activity and underlying price shifts. The Invesco BulletShares 2026 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF offers targeted exposure to high-yield U.S. corporate bonds with maturities in 2026, providing investors with a defined investment horizon and regular income distributions. The fund's strategy leverages a rules-based index approach, focusing on diversification and credit risk management within the high-yield segment. Its structure appeals to investors seeking a balance between yield enhancement and maturity-specific planning, distinguishing it from perpetual bond funds. Continue reading
elifilm/iStock Editorial via Getty Images With the Iran war still threatening to spark a bout of stagflation, trading conditions could get more difficult for Europe's consumer-facing businesses. That being the case, honing in on those firms with the strongest brands may not be the worst idea in the world. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC ( CCEP ) is one possible candidate. Few brands are as icon...
elifilm/iStock Editorial via Getty Images With the Iran war still threatening to spark a bout of stagflation, trading conditions could get more difficult for Europe's consumer-facing businesses. That being the case, honing in on those firms with the strongest brands may not be the worst idea in the world. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC ( CCEP ) is one possible candidate. Few brands are as iconic as its namesake, and while CCEP doesn't actually own it, its status as the largest Coke bottler in the world puts it on the front line in terms of consumer demand. I last covered CCEP in 2024. Downgrading it to "Hold", my major issue was with its valuation. As expected, CCEP's volumes had been holding up well following meaningful price hikes, but given the low-growth nature of its markets and beverage portfolio, I didn't want to pay more than 15x earnings for the shares. Returning around 35%, they have done well since then. Some of that is due to currency (the dollar has weakened), but re-rating has also played a role, with CCEP now trading for around 20x trailing earnings, up from 18.5x last time. Frankly, this remains a sticking point for me. With better value nearby in the Coca-Cola system, I continue to rate CCEP "Hold." Data by YCharts Brand Strength To quickly recap, CCEP is one of the largest bottlers in the Coca-Cola system. Its business model is pretty simple. The company buys ingredients and finished goods under license agreements from the better-known Coca-Cola Company ( KO ), turns them into end products, and then ships them to commercial customers in various channels (supermarkets, wholesalers, hotels, and so on). Last year, CCEP booked €21 billion in revenue. Around 75% came from Europe, where CCEP operates in mature northern and western markets. The rest was generated in Asia and Oceania, where CCEP has exposure to faster-growing emerging markets like Indonesia and the Philippines. Data Source: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners 2025 Results Unfortunately, the...
Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the iShares 0-1 Year Treasury Bond ETF (Symbol: SHV) where we have detected an approximate $306.4 million dollar outflow -- that's a 1.4% decrease week
Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the iShares 0-1 Year Treasury Bond ETF (Symbol: SHV) where we have detected an approximate $306.4 million dollar outflow -- that's a 1.4% decrease week
Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF (Symbol: BAI) where we have detected an approximate $397.0 million dollar inflow -- that's a 3.4% increase
Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF (Symbol: BAI) where we have detected an approximate $397.0 million dollar inflow -- that's a 3.4% increase
Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the ProShares Ultra Semiconductors (Symbol: USD) where we have detected an approximate $355.3 million dollar outflow -- that's a 14.5% decrease week ove
Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the ProShares Ultra Semiconductors (Symbol: USD) where we have detected an approximate $355.3 million dollar outflow -- that's a 14.5% decrease week ove
Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the SPYI ETF (Symbol: SPYI) where we have detected an approximate $275.1 million dollar inflow -- that's a 3.2% increase week over week in outstanding un
Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the SPYI ETF (Symbol: SPYI) where we have detected an approximate $275.1 million dollar inflow -- that's a 3.2% increase week over week in outstanding un