brebca/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Introduction The American manufacturing industry is seeing signs of a much-awaited rebound, with the ISM Manufacturing PMI in expansion territory since the start of the year. The causes are known: manufacturing reshoring has become a geopolitical need, and the data center buildout is driving the charge. Data by YCharts About a year ago, I wrote one of my mo...
brebca/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Introduction The American manufacturing industry is seeing signs of a much-awaited rebound, with the ISM Manufacturing PMI in expansion territory since the start of the year. The causes are known: manufacturing reshoring has become a geopolitical need, and the data center buildout is driving the charge. Data by YCharts About a year ago, I wrote one of my most successful articles on Seeking Alpha, where I compared Caterpillar Vs. Deere, saying that the former was going to deliver higher returns than the latter. Below, you see how the call played out, with Caterpillar now considered an AI stock as it is the leader in power generators. Deere, on the other hand, lagged behind, although it was able to deliver returns more or less at par with the market. As a result, I have held a neutral rating on the stock. Data by YCharts In a few days, Deere will report earnings, and I would like to share what I will be considering to see whether my rating still holds or not. Let me warn you right away: Deere has been a stock that has recently traded up after poor earnings because investors were excited about any news hinting that a trough might have been reached. This has gradually inflated Deere's multiples as investors expect a turnaround to come. So, grounding an analysis based on the fundamentals might not lead to the most lucrative short-term decision, especially when we consider the stock's volatility around earnings. Deere's Q2 FY26 Earnings Preview When Deere reported its last quarterly results , revenues were up 13% YoY to $9.6B, with $8B coming from equipment sales, and the EPS came in at $2.42, 27% above the consensus. The stock was up by over 13% on that day. However, looking beneath the surface, we saw that the company's net income was down 25% YoY with production and precision agriculture (PPA) reporting operating profits of only $139M, a 59% YoY decline that led to 4.4% margins. The causes were identified as the impact of tariff...
Bitcoin climbed past $80,000 after the Senate Banking Committee advanced a landmark US digital asset market structure bill after months of negotiations. The so-called Clarity Act would establish the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as the primary regulator for large parts of the crypto industry while the Securities and Exchange Commission would retain authority to oversee digital securities. T...
Bitcoin climbed past $80,000 after the Senate Banking Committee advanced a landmark US digital asset market structure bill after months of negotiations. The so-called Clarity Act would establish the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as the primary regulator for large parts of the crypto industry while the Securities and Exchange Commission would retain authority to oversee digital securities. The bill now heads to the Senate floor, where lawmakers will need to combine it with another version from the Agriculture Committee, which has jurisdiction over the CFTC. The bill advanced following a 15-to-9 vote. Read more: Long-Stalled Crypto Bill Wins Key Senate Committee Vote The largest digital asset had been locked in a relatively narrow trading range even as lawmakers moved ahead on the long-delayed legislation. At the same time, JPMorgan Chase & Co. is expanding its tokenized finance efforts. Charles Schwab Corp. is widening access to spot-Bitcoin and Ether trading. Large financial groups continue to back new crypto infrastructure bets. “There is still a lot of uncertainty about whether it will pass the full Senate, but this is still good news,” said Matt Maley, chief market strategist at Miller Tabak + Co. “Bitcoin has been bumping up against its 200-day moving average for two weeks now. So, if it can finally break above that line in any meaningful way, it will likely see the kind of breakout move that will shoot it considerably higher over the coming weeks.” The disconnect may reflect less a lack of enthusiasm than a shift in how investors express optimism about the sector. The more revealing signal is not in the spot market, but in derivatives, where traders appear unconvinced that any of this amounts to an immediate catalyst for Bitcoin itself. Short-dated Bitcoin options were trading near their lowest implied volatility levels of the year, according to crypto analytics firm Block Scholes, suggesting little appetite to pay for protection against sharp price swin...
Getty Images I previously rated Costco Wholesale Corporation ( COST ) as a Hold in February 2026, attributed to the risks from the prolonged macroeconomic normalization. In this article, I shall discuss why I am reiterating COST as a Hold before the FQ3'26 earnings call, with the likely to be outsized top-line performance already baked in. COST Faces Numerous Tailwinds/Headwinds Entering 2026 COST...
Getty Images I previously rated Costco Wholesale Corporation ( COST ) as a Hold in February 2026, attributed to the risks from the prolonged macroeconomic normalization. In this article, I shall discuss why I am reiterating COST as a Hold before the FQ3'26 earnings call, with the likely to be outsized top-line performance already baked in. COST Faces Numerous Tailwinds/Headwinds Entering 2026 COST 1Y Stock Price (Trading View) Since my last Hold rating, COST has mostly traded sideways at +0.3% compared to the wider market at +7.2%, with its warehouse club/commerce peers also delivering mixed performances thus far. 1. Tariff Uncertainties This development is unsurprising indeed, attributed to the numerous developments that may affect the sector, including: the Supreme Court striking down the IEEPA-based tariffs in February 2026, the US government consequently imposing a new, temporary tariff of 10% under section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, the US Court of International Trade striking down the new, temporary tariff in May 2026, and the ongoing lawsuits against COST on the refund of the original IEEPA tariffs, with the latter potentially attributed to COST intending "to return the value to members through lower prices and better value in the future" instead of a full refund. 2. Higher Oil Prices On the one hand, COST may face supply chain/ cost headwinds and consequently, lumpy bottom-line performances from the ongoing Iran conflict/higher oil prices. This is because their products are sourced globally with shipping costs likely to be more expensive, as their "gasoline business represented approximately 10% of total net sales in 2025" as well. On the other hand, readers may want to note that COST's gasoline business is a small extension of their $1.50 hot dog and soda combo loss leader, with the latter already allowing them to win "far more in membership renewals, loyalty, and priceless brand equity." It is unsurprising then, that their gasoline business "generally h...
gopixa/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Ford Motor Company ( F ) saw heavy options activity Thursday as the stock surged to a fresh 52-week high, putting the $15-a-share price level squarely in focus for traders. With shares trading near session highs around $14.90, up some 9% intraday, the $15 call emerged as the busiest contract in the May 15 options chain , with more than 34,700 contracts chan...
gopixa/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Ford Motor Company ( F ) saw heavy options activity Thursday as the stock surged to a fresh 52-week high, putting the $15-a-share price level squarely in focus for traders. With shares trading near session highs around $14.90, up some 9% intraday, the $15 call emerged as the busiest contract in the May 15 options chain , with more than 34,700 contracts changing hands against open interest of 8,166. The $14.50 call also attracted significant volume, with about 16,100 contracts traded, while the $14 call saw over 15,000 contracts trade against nearly 23,700 in open interest. The options market reflected expectations for continued volatility into Friday’s expiration. The $15 straddle was priced around $0.86, implying a one-day trading range from roughly $14.10 to $15.85. While put activity was visible below spot price, particularly in the $13 to $14.50 range, the notable signal across the chain pointed to upside momentum positioning as traders bet on whether Ford ( F ) can accelerate above the $15 mark. Ford ( F ) shares extended gains from the prior trading session as investors seized on the potential for the Detroit automaker to benefit from its relationship with CATL by offering battery energy storage systems for utility, data center, and commercial customers in the U.S. The stock was up 20% in the last five sessions and +11.4% this year. More on Ford Ford Motor Company (F) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript Ford Motor Company 2026 Q1 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation Ford's Highly Touted BEV Czar Leaves, His Exit Won't Quickly Change Things Ford leads auto stocks on valuation as shares test key resistance Ford rally pushes shares toward major resistance near $14
CandyRetriever /iStock via Getty Images Forgent Power Solutions ( FPS ) shares jumped 9.7% Thursday to an all-time high of $49.93, extending a sharp rally since its February IPO priced at $27, after the power infrastructure supplier delivered a blowout quarter on revenue and raised its outlook. The company reported fiscal third-quarter revenue of $379 million, up 103% year over year and comfortabl...
CandyRetriever /iStock via Getty Images Forgent Power Solutions ( FPS ) shares jumped 9.7% Thursday to an all-time high of $49.93, extending a sharp rally since its February IPO priced at $27, after the power infrastructure supplier delivered a blowout quarter on revenue and raised its outlook. The company reported fiscal third-quarter revenue of $379 million, up 103% year over year and comfortably ahead of the Wall Street consensus estimate of $342 million. “Demand for our products continues to outpace our expectations,” CEO Gary Niederpruem said in the earnings release. Forgent ( FPS ) designs and manufactures electrical distribution equipment used in data centers, power grids and energy-intensive industrial facilities. Its engineered-to-order systems, often customized for hyperscale data centers and large manufacturing campuses, have become increasingly critical as artificial intelligence and electrification trends drive surging power demand. Orders and backlog point to sustained momentum Beyond the headline revenue beat, underlying demand metrics painted an even stronger picture. Bookings surged 308% to $867 million, while backlog climbed to a record $1.98 billion, up 157% from a year earlier. The company’s book-to-bill ratio reached 2.3 times, signaling that new orders are arriving more than twice as fast as revenue is being recognized, a key indicator of continued growth ahead. That demand is being driven largely by data center expansion and grid upgrades, where customers are prioritizing speed-to-power and customized infrastructure solutions. Profitability improves Forgent ( FPS ) reported earnings of $0.08 a share for the post-IPO period, with no comparable figure a year earlier as the company was private. Net income, however, nearly tripled year over year to $24.5 million from $8.4 million a year earlier, according to a regulatory filing. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization came in at $85 million, up 96% year over year, w...
Wall Street’s chat rooms can’t stop talking about GameStop (NYSE:GME) after Ryan Cohen’s $56 billion offer for eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) sent the meme crowd into another frenzy. But here’s what you should actually be watching. The eBay bid is theater dressed up as strategy. Polymarket traders price the odds of GameStop actually closing the deal at ... Forget GameStop: This Stock Is A Much Better Buy
Wall Street’s chat rooms can’t stop talking about GameStop (NYSE:GME) after Ryan Cohen’s $56 billion offer for eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) sent the meme crowd into another frenzy. But here’s what you should actually be watching. The eBay bid is theater dressed up as strategy. Polymarket traders price the odds of GameStop actually closing the deal at ... Forget GameStop: This Stock Is A Much Better Buy
The iShares Residential and Multisector Real Estate ETF (NYSEARCA:REZ) targets income investors seeking exposure to apartments, healthcare facilities, and self-storage properties in a single ticker. One correction: REZ pays quarterly, not monthly. The most recent declaration was a $0.5188 per share distribution announced March 18, 2026, and the question this article answers is whether REZ ... Heal...
The iShares Residential and Multisector Real Estate ETF (NYSEARCA:REZ) targets income investors seeking exposure to apartments, healthcare facilities, and self-storage properties in a single ticker. One correction: REZ pays quarterly, not monthly. The most recent declaration was a $0.5188 per share distribution announced March 18, 2026, and the question this article answers is whether REZ ... Healthcare REITs and Storage Units Prop Up REZ While Residential Faces Headwinds
Vitol Group is offering Iraqi Basrah crude to customers, people with knowledge of the matter said, in a sign that some shipments may have successfully made it out of the Persian Gulf. Vitol has offered cargoes to refiners in the past few days, with Basrah Medium and Basrah Heavy available on a ship-to-ship transfer basis in waters off the UAE port of Fujairah, according to the people, who asked no...
Vitol Group is offering Iraqi Basrah crude to customers, people with knowledge of the matter said, in a sign that some shipments may have successfully made it out of the Persian Gulf. Vitol has offered cargoes to refiners in the past few days, with Basrah Medium and Basrah Heavy available on a ship-to-ship transfer basis in waters off the UAE port of Fujairah, according to the people, who asked not to be identified as negotiations are private. A spokesperson for Vitol declined to comment. If successful, this would be a rare instance of Iraqi crude being offered in the spot market and by traders since the war and blockade of the Strait of Hormuz began. For months, the bulk of Persian Gulf production has been stuck and unable to exit the region, with Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. — or Adnoc — being among the first to move its oil out through the strait. Read More: Aramco, Adnoc Sneak Oil Through Hormuz as Iran Menaces Strait Shipments of Iraqi crude are loaded from ports located deep inside the Persian Gulf, with most cargoes supplied to companies with equity stakes in the nation’s fields or long-term contracts with state-owned SOMO. The difficulties faced by buyers wanting to charter vessels to lift Basrah cargoes have prompted a plunge in exports, which in-turn affects SOMO’s revenue, prompting the state marketer to offer discounts for crude loading this month. This week, a vessel carrying Iraqi oil attempted to leave the Persian Gulf area, but abruptly cut short its journey toward Vietnam. The Agios Fanourios I was hauling 2 million barrels of Basrah crude when it U-turned near the US naval line outside the Gulf, tanker-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg showed. The Kiara M, meanwhile, exited the strait on May 10 after picking up an Iraqi cargo in late April, according to Kpler. She has since transferred her cargo onto another vessel via ship-to-ship transfer off Sohar.
MF3d Microbot Medical ( MBOT ) slumped 17% after the company reported Q1 results and following a short report from White Diamond Research. Microbot ( MBOT ) reported Q1 results of a loss of 5c vs a loss of loss 8c a year earlier, according to its 10-Q filing on Wednesday. Separately, the company said on Thursday that in Q2 it started the full market release of the LIBERTY system, and revenue mid-w...
MF3d Microbot Medical ( MBOT ) slumped 17% after the company reported Q1 results and following a short report from White Diamond Research. Microbot ( MBOT ) reported Q1 results of a loss of 5c vs a loss of loss 8c a year earlier, according to its 10-Q filing on Wednesday. Separately, the company said on Thursday that in Q2 it started the full market release of the LIBERTY system, and revenue mid-way through Q2 has already exceeded total Q1 revenue. White Diamond Research disclosed that it's short shares of Microbot ( MBOT ). Microbot ( MBOT ) didn't immediately respond to Seeking Alpha's email request for comment. Microbot has short interest of 12.8%. More on Microbot Medical Microbot Medical says no impact from geopolitical events Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on Microbot Medical Historical earnings data for Microbot Medical Financial information for Microbot Medical
Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE) is one of the cheap stocks to buy for the next 10 years. On April 20, Adobe expanded its partner ecosystem at Adobe Summit 2026, integrating its new agentic AI system, Adobe CX Enterprise, with major tech platforms including AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. This expansion enables businesses to deploy AI-driven, […]
Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE) is one of the cheap stocks to buy for the next 10 years. On April 20, Adobe expanded its partner ecosystem at Adobe Summit 2026, integrating its new agentic AI system, Adobe CX Enterprise, with major tech platforms including AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. This expansion enables businesses to deploy AI-driven, […]
Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) is one of the cheap stocks to buy for the next 10 years. On May 12, Micron announced the sampling of its 256GB DDR5 RDIMM server modules, built on the company’s advanced 1-gamma DRAM technology. These modules achieve speeds up to 9,200 MT/s, representing a 40% performance increase over current high-volume […]
Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) is one of the cheap stocks to buy for the next 10 years. On May 12, Micron announced the sampling of its 256GB DDR5 RDIMM server modules, built on the company’s advanced 1-gamma DRAM technology. These modules achieve speeds up to 9,200 MT/s, representing a 40% performance increase over current high-volume […]
For years, investors have been told the Federal Reserve was draining liquidity from the financial system. Higher interest rates, quantitative tightening, and tough inflation talk all pointed toward tighter money. Yet beneath the surface, something very different has been happening. U.S. money supply is climbing again — and it just reached $22.7 trillion, according to ... Is the Federal Reserve Qui...
For years, investors have been told the Federal Reserve was draining liquidity from the financial system. Higher interest rates, quantitative tightening, and tough inflation talk all pointed toward tighter money. Yet beneath the surface, something very different has been happening. U.S. money supply is climbing again — and it just reached $22.7 trillion, according to ... Is the Federal Reserve Quietly Fueling a Bubble? U.S. Money Supply Just Hit $22.7 Trillion