Rates stuck in a holding pattern, inflation still above target and the Fed hinting it may not be done yet. That mix keeps pressure on growth stories and puts steady cash payers back in the spotlight. Investors hunting for resilience and reliable income are watching this closely, because moments like this can reshape portfolios for years. This article walks through 3 dividend stocks exposed to this macro story.
The stocks covered next are just a sample to illustrate the idea. The full screen surfaced 18 more large-cap defensive dividend companies with income profiles and risk characteristics that also fit this tighter brief. If you want to identify and ******* yze your own shortlist of higher-conviction defensive payers right now, head straight into the Large-Cap Defensive Dividend Stocks (US) screener.
Overview: Consolidated Edison is a regulated utility that delivers electric, gas and steam services to customers across New York and parts of New Jersey.
Operations: Consolidated Edison generates almost all of its roughly US$17.7b revenue from US$12.1b CECONY electric, US$3.4b CECONY gas and US$872 million steam operations in the United States.

#edison #income

A Mean Girls star is showing off his incredible physical transformation in a set of shirtless snaps.
Daniel Franzese revealed on Threads that he lost 135 pounds over three years.
The 48-year-old comedian replied to a thread ****** led "Show your weight loss transformations. Let's motivate and inspire someone today" with a shirtless photo from 2023 and another from 2026.
In the caption, Franzese wrote that he had slimmed down his figure by giving up alcohol and sugar.
He also said he worked out at least four times a week and had started counting macros.

#star

Looks like Mean Girls star Daniel Franzese is going to need a brand-new pink shirt.
Franzese, 48 — who played Damian Leigh in the hit 2004 film — showed off his impressive 135-pound weight loss with a rare shirtless photo on September 24.
"Three years. Down 135lbs. No booze, no sugar, workout 4 times a week (or more) now counting macros," he captioned the post shared to Threads.
Fans flooded the comments section of his post with praise for his hard work.
"The progress is impressive😘," one follower wrote.

#mean #september

Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber turned a familiar dinner outing into a lesson in understated evening dressing.
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Zendaya sparks controversy after awkward encounter with First Lady Brigitte Macron

#kendall #hailey #venice #guggenheim

Several world-famous celebs gathered for the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2027 show during Paris Fashion Week. Among the stars in Paris was Zendaya, who not only turned heads with her look but also made headlines for a brief interaction she had with Brigitte Macron, the First Lady of France.
In a video shared by Alexandre Maras, editor-in-chief of Paris Match, you can see the exact moment Brigitte Macron walks over to greet the Dune actress. During this brief encounter in the Cour Carrée of the Louvre Museum, 30-year-old Zendaya remained seated. The president's wife leaned in slightly to shake the actress's hand. The Euphoria star returned the gesture, shook her hand, and said it was a pleasure to meet her.
Moments before 73-year-old Brigitte Macron approached Zendaya, Bernard Arnault, CEO of the luxury group LVMH, had also greeted the actress. The executive leads the luxury conglomerate that brings together more than 75 internationally renowned brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Fendi, Celine, Loewe, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Kenzo, among others.
Bernard Arnault and Zendaya at the Louis Vuitton fashion show (@ WWD via Getty Images)
Zendaya behaved the same way with Arnault; she greeted him, shook his hand, and stayed in her seat. Debate quickly erupted on social media. Some argued that the actress should have stood up out of courtesy and greeted them both on her feet—first, because of their positions as First Lady and top executive, and second, because they are older.

#louis

Kohl's is rolling out steep discounts for customers as it struggles to turn around its sales.
The department store chain revealed in its most recent earnings report that its comparable sales decreased 0.9% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, while recent Placer.ai data showed overall visits to Kohl's stores declined 1.4%.
Kohl's CEO Michael Bender said on the August earnings call that the company is "operating in a challenging macroeconomic environment" where customers are "experiencing persistent financial pressures from inflation in their everyday expenses, like gas and food."
Against this backdrop, Kohl's has taken several steps to make its merchandise more affordable. It introduced Deal Bar and Toy Towers in stores earlier this year, featuring products priced below $10. It also priced thousands of back-to-school items under $25 in July.
In its latest effort to win over price-conscious customers, Kohl's has made its annual Kohl's Deal Days savings event more generous this year.

#year #deal #recent #placer

Zendaya is facing backlash after a video of her meeting France's First Lady went viral. The clip, shared by Paris Match, shows the actress staying seated while Brigitte Macron stopped by to say ******* o at the Louis Vuitton show during Paris Fashion Week. The brief moment has caught everyone's attention online, with many debating whether she should have stood up.
Zendaya's seated ******* o to Brigitte Macron leaves social media divided. The 30-year-old actress sat in the front row at Louis Vuitton's Spring/Summer 2027 show on Tuesday. The show was held in the Cour Carrée of the Louvre.
In the video shared online, Macron, 73, walks through the front row, greeting guests like Pharrell Williams and Lisa of BLACKPINK. She then pauses to speak with Zendaya. At first glance, the exchange looks warm and friendly. But upon closer look, Zendaya never rises from her seat. Reportedly, she said ******* o, told Macron it was a pleasure to meet her, and shook her hand.
The clip quickly sparked debate online. Some viewers criticized Zendaya for remaining seated, with one viral reaction saying she "gotta get up" when the First Lady says ******* o. Many viewers agreed, saying standing would have been the polite thing to do. "When the Premier Dame from France Talks to You please get up," one Instagram user wrote. Another commenter, who said she loves Zendaya, noted that American culture seems more relaxed about formalities than others.
Others came to her defense. Some fans suggested she may have been caught off guard, pointing out that the greeting was quick and unplanned. A few added that a busy front row at a fashion show isn't exactly a formal setting, and that Zendaya came across as gracious and polite throughout. Neither Zendaya nor Macron has addressed the reactions yet. For the unversed, Zendaya is a Louis Vuitton ambassador and a regular at the brand's Paris shows.

#hello #louis #show #front

Macro investor Jordi Visser warns Bitcoin below $80,000 on October 31 signals "a problem," with BTC currently trading at $85,896.
Bitcoin gained 33% over three months but has slowed to 2.3% weekly growth and sits 31% below its year-ago price.
Investors from October 2025 remain down 32% from Bitcoin's all-time high of $126,080 regardless of whether Visser's benchmark holds.
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Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) trades at $85,896, leaving it 7.4% above the critical $80,000 mark that macro investor Jordi Visser emphasizes. In a September 19 episode of The Pomp Podcast, Visser stated, "If bitcoin is below 80,000 by the end of October, there's a problem."

#building

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across France on Tuesday, as unions and teachers joined high school students who for days have been demanding better learning conditions in protests punctuated by violent confrontations.
Students have blocked the entrances to hundreds of high schools for 15- to 17-year-olds since late September, complaining of missing teachers, overloaded timetables, dilapidated classrooms and buildings that cannot cope with rising temperatures.
Unions, rights groups and the children have accused the authorities of using disproportionate force -- a police stun grenade tore the hand off one teenager on Monday and another youngster had his teeth knocked out last week after police fired a grenade launcher at his head.
"I'm afraid for my future," Selma, 15, told AFP without giving her surname, among the thousands marching in the country's second largest city of Marseille.
The unrest has erupted with just months to go before the 2027 election to choose a successor to centrist President Emmanuel Macron, with far-right veteran candidate Marine Le Pen riding high in the polls despite a graft conviction.

#students #teachers #tens

Even famed "bond king" Bill Gross is warning investors about the risks of owning longer-term bonds, arguing that excessive debt and current macroeconomic conditions have made them increasingly risky. But his recommendation comes with one important exception.
In a Sept. 30 op-ed for the Financial Times, Gross, who co-founded ***** et management giant Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO), put it bluntly: "Don't own bonds."
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#gross #bill #bonds

"It just occurred to me that you were the second man in her life. I'm not quite sure how to take that."
That's how French President Emmanuel Macron opened the Legion of Honor ceremony Friday night honoring Nicolas Ghesquière, whose long, acclaimed tenure as artistic director of women's collections at Louis Vuitton was headlined by dressing First Lady Brigitte Macron.
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#legion #Friday #ghesqui #louis

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Group of Seven wealthy democracies said Friday that they plan to release 100 million barrels of oil and fuel products in the coming weeks, starting with "substantial" amounts of diesel after the fuel recently hit record high prices in the United States.
President Donald Trump said the diesel release would happen "immediately," echoing a G7 promise to start "immediately" with a "frontloaded substantial release" of diesel within the next 20 days and the rest over four months.
Trump and his Republican Party face pressure to address surging prices ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, and Trump announced the action Friday on social media. The president's approval ratings on the economy hit a new low, according to an AP-NORC poll, as the Iran war and his trade battles have increased U.S. prices for oil and other goods.
Gas prices in the U.S. and abroad have soared during the eight-month-long war, a cost Trump has repeatedly said is worth it for making sure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons. The national average for a gallon of diesel in the U.S. was $6.37 on Friday, according to AAA, after hitting a record $6.52 on Sept. 22. Diesel prices have hit records in Europe, too.
France holds the rotating presidency of the G7 group and made the announcement in a statement released after videoconference talks that Macron presided over. The G7 countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, ******* an, the U.K. and the U.S., plus EU representation.

#Diesel #prices #release #substantial

Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) investors are having a rough year, with the shares down more than 25%. Now Wall Street is divided over the company's outlook.
Morgan Stanley raised its price target on Accenture to $175 from $130 on September 14. Accenture shares soared more than 6% in afternoon trading following the price target increase, even though the firm reiterated its Equal weight rating on the stock.
Meanwhile, UBS recently maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a price target of $275. The bank pointed to confidence in the company's positioning around AI and, in separate notes, its acquisition strategy. However, Wells Fargo downgraded Accenture to Equal Weight. According to Wells Fargo, macroeconomic pressures could weigh on fiscal 2027 growth expectations.
The question is whether Accenture's expanding AI capabilities and acquisitions can translate into long-term growth.
Accenture's AI fortunes are tied to enterprise deployment of the technology. The company has formed a joint business group with Google Cloud to deploy AI engineers across enterprise clients. That arrangement gives Accenture another channel through which AI adoption can create demand for consulting, implementation, and integration services.

#fargo

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh has revealed himself. If not a card-carrying monetarist, he is at least a camp follower. This represents a dramatic change at the Fed, where the past Chairman Jerome Powell repeatedly rejected the basic tenets of monetarism.
This is a welcomed earthquake. After all, there are almost no monetarists left in the world (except for us, and we've been fighting a lonely rearguard action for over 40 years). The Federal Reserve has rejected monetarism consistently — and on the record — because it preferred other models for understanding the economy. In academia, monetarism has been out of fashion for decades. But by his own words, a monetarist is now leading the central bank.
Just what is monetarism? It's a doctrine which holds that money has a major influence on both the level of ***** et prices, economic activity, and the price level. Any discussion of national income determination must, therefore, center on the quantity of money and the banking system, since banks produce most of the money in modern economies. When it comes to monetary policy, its objectives are best met by targeting the rate of growth of the money supply.
Today, most economists pooh-pooh monetarism. Money and banking are nowhere to be found in their macroeconomic models, or their discourses about the course of ***** et prices, economic activity, and prices. Indeed, their forecasting exercises are typically based on elaborations of Keynesian income-expenditure models that exclude money and banking.
If that's not enough, we think that the Fed's backroom staff, mostly Keynesian-leaning Democrats, don't want alignment with a philosophy usually affiliated with Milton Friedman, but that's another story. Just look at what Joe Biden said in 2020 about how the dean of monetarism wasn't "running the show anymore."

#monetarist

During market uncertainty, cautious investors may feel compelled to sell everything while they wait for the dust to settle. But Ross Gerber believes that, to paraphrase Rudyard Kipling, if you can keep your head when everyone else is losing theirs, you'll reap even bigger rewards.
The Gerber Kawasaki CEO says that while inflation, higher bond yields, oil prices, and Federal Reserve rate hikes can pressure stocks, he does not think investors should abandon equities wholesale. Instead, he advocates for a more defensive approach.
He recommends investors trim holdings with valuations that look stretched relative to their growth, build reserves in cash and short-duration fixed income **** ets, and keep long-term positions in companies that he believes still have strong earnings support, such as Nvidia.
And for investors trying to navigate an environment where corporate earnings remain strong while macroeconomic risks pressure stock valuations, that distinction matters. Gerber's framework is less about calling the market's next move than deciding which risks a portfolio can absorb—and which positions still deserve capital.
Here is a closer look at Gerber's defensive-focused strategy.

#gerber #pressure #still

Consumer confidence decreased in August, according to The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index. This was the second straight month in decline. If September's report shows the same trend, investors might start looking for stocks that can prove resilient through tough economic times.
Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) fits the bill about as well as a company can. Let's have a look.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
P&G has raised its dividend for 70 consecutive years. Not many businesses can claim that. Among Dividend Kings, or companies that have raised dividends for 50 years straight, only P&G and five other members qualify for that ultra-elite group. The dividend is also well-funded, as P&G's earnings per share and free cash flow comfortably exceed the amount needed. The company's payout ratio is around 64%.
P&G is diversified within its products. Everything consumers need, ranging from diapers to toothpaste, razors, and detergents, is held within its portfolio of everyday household staples. These are products that people will continue to buy regardless of macroeconomic conditions.

#same

Updated Sept. 17, 2026 2:46 pm ET
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(3 min)
1443 ET – Precious metal futures settle higher in New York, recovering from a swoon in the wake of yesterday’s Federal Reserve interest-rate increase. “My sense is that they will lag while we’re in a rate-hiking cycle, and right now we’re fairly clearly in a rate-hiking cycle,” says David Russell, global head of market strategy at TradeStation. There are a lot of arguments in favor of gold, in terms of central bank buying and an alternative to the dollar, but the current macro environment “is not in any way textbook favorable for gold and silver,” he adds. Front-month gold settles up 0.3% to $4,360.20 a troy ounce, and silver rises 1.8% to $65.47 a troy ounce. (anthony.harrupwsj.com)
1118 ET – Gold futures recover losses that followed the Fed’s rate hike as Treasury yields move lower and the dollar slips, while oil prices extend their pullback to a second day. “Gold is rangebound with two-way risk, but the large bull market we had seen earlier in the year is considered on pause for now,” Pepperstone strategist Ahmad ******* iri says in a note. The bull market could continue at some stage with underlying drivers such as central bank demand, macro uncertainty, and fiscal concerns, he says. But “the path of oil prices and their transmission into Fed policy remains the single most important variable from now till year-end.” The December contract is up 0.4% in New York at $4,404.90 a troy ounce. Silver rises 2.3% to $66.44 a troy ounce. (anthony.harrupwsj.com)

#Gold #york #futures

Aristotle International Equity Fund, sub-advised by Aristotle Capital Management, LLC, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. Global equity markets reached record highs in Q2, with the MSCI ACWI Index rising 14.93%, while global fixed income grew modestly by 0.87%. Geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, affected energy markets and investor sentiment, highlighting volatility and fragility in global supply. Central banks reacted variably to inflationary pressures, with the ECB raising rates amidst concerns of stagflation, while the Fed and Bank of England held rates steady. Despite economic challenges, robust earnings continued in Europe and Asia, driven by AI infrastructure demand. The Aristotle International Equity Fund (Class I-2) recorded an 8.40% return in the quarter, underperforming both the MSCI EAFE Index, which returned 10.82%, and the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index, which returned 14.49%. Going forward, the fund remains focused on quality investments as geopolitical and macroeconomic complexities make forecasting returns challenging. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Aristotle International Equity Fund highlighted Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL). Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) is a British consumer goods giant, that sell products across food, homecare, beauty, and personal care categories. On September 17, 2026, Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) closed at $62.22 per share. Over the past month, Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) declined 2.99%, but its shares are down 5.09% over the past year. Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) has a market capitalization of $133.98 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $54.75 to $74.98.
Aristotle International Equity Fund stated the following regarding Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"We first invested in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL), the global consumer staples company, in the second quarter of 2013. We have long been attracted to the company's broad portfolio of leading personal care and food brands (such as Dove, Knorr and Axe), global scale, significant emerging markets exposure and strong position across everyday use categories. Over our more than decade-long holding period, Unilever strengthened and simplified its portfolio, divesting lower-growth food ***** ets, improving efficiency, increasing focus behind its largest brands and shifting the business toward faster-growing, higher-margin beauty, wellbeing, personal care and home care categories. More recently, the separation of the ice cream business and continued reshaping of the food portfolio have further narrowed Unilever's strategic focus. While we continue to view the remaining Unilever franchise as high quality, we believe the more compelling opportunity now resides in the independent ice cream business, where dedicated management and a category-specific strategy should provide a clearer pa

Fenimore ***** et Management, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. U.S. equity markets saw broad gains in Q2, driven by strong corporate earnings, economic resilience, and enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI). Major indices reached all-time highs, though the energy sector declined. Continued earnings growth, especially among AI-related investments, supported the rally. Technology, particularly semiconductors, led performance as demand for AI infrastructure surged. Despite macroeconomic uncertainties and interest rate influences, Fenimore remains committed to investing in high-quality businesses. The Fenimore Small Cap Strategy returned 9.51% in the quarter, lagging the Russell 2000 Index's 21.49% gain. The underperformance was largely driven by avoiding lower-quality tech stocks linked to data center expansions. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Fenimore ***** et Management highlighted Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN). Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) is a specialty insurance services company that provides distribution, underwriting, product development, administration, and risk management services. On September 17, 2026, Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) closed at $40.03 per share. The one-month return of Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) was -8.32%, and its shares lost 25.53% over the past 52 weeks. Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) has a market capitalization of $10.15 billion.
Fenimore ***** et Management stated the following regarding Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"We initiated a position in Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN), which we had previously owned after its initial public offering. The insurance industry has seen softness in rates. While RYAN's model differs from traditional retail brokerage, the company released results citing a volatile environment which led to a decrease in their earnings outlook for the year. We're encouraged by the business's long-term prospects and, in our opinion, its legendary leader Pat Ryan. He is also purchasing shares of RYAN's stock during this weakness."
Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 32 hedge fund portfolios held Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) at the end of the second quarter, compared to 35 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RYAN) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

Wall Street has spent years obsessing over when the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates, but billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller thinks investors may be asking the wrong question.
The senior macro investor argues that U.S. interest rates are already too low and that future rate cuts aren't essential, according to the Financial Times.
His argument comes at a critical period.
Treasury bonds have been under selling pressure amid inflation fears, growing U.S. public debt, and considerable bond issuance by artificial intelligence startups, CNBC noted. And it puts the focus of market chatter back on borrowing rates.
Druckenmiller's warning came at a Piper Sandler conference in New York, where he also targeted Federal Reserve officials who say current monetary policy is restrictive.

#reserve

York Water holds the longest dividend streak in US public markets at 27 consecutive years, while WTW's $1.775B operating cash flow dwarfs its $358M dividend obligation.
Amdocs and Ituran both run near-recession-proof revenue models, with DOX posting near-100% managed services renewal rates and ITRN carrying zero debt alongside $103.7M in net cash.
All five stocks fund dividends from contracted or recurring revenue streams such as regulated rates, fee income, or subscriptions, insulating payouts from economic cycles.
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Income investors heading into the fourth quarter want payouts that don't wobble with the business cycle. The five names below share one thing: dividends funded by recurring, contracted, or fee-based revenue streams that keep flowing whether or not the macro cooperates. Each has raised its payout recently, and each trades on Nasdaq. As a grounding data point, Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ:WTW) alone generated $360 million of first-half free cash flow, roughly double the prior-year period, giving the broker ample room to keep funding both dividends and buybacks.

#revenue #NASDAQ #Dividend

Billionaire Ray Dalio's Bridgewater ******* ociates and Cathie Wood's ARK Invest follow sharply different investment philosophies. Bridgewater generally runs a diversified, macro-driven portfolio that balances exposure across ******* ets, countries and economic environments. ARK concentrates on companies it believes can benefit from disruptive innovation.
Still, Insider Monkey's ******* ysis of their second-quarter 13F filings shows that the two firms shared exposure to several stocks. Among the largest common holdings were Eli Lilly (LLY) and Nvidia (NVDA).
Bridgewater held 87,023 Eli Lilly shares worth about $104.4 million at the end of the second quarter, after increasing its position by 16,211 shares. ARK held 77,254 shares valued at about $92.7 million, after adding 64,578 shares.
Bridgewater's Nvidia stake was much larger, comprising 3.87 million shares worth about $773.6 million. However, it reduced the position by 826,808 shares during the quarter. ARK moved in the other direction, adding 345,821 Nvidia shares to end the quarter with 1.38 million shares valued at about $276.4 million.
Let's focus on LLY.

#shares #quarter #exposure

On the September 11 episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer expressed strong optimism for Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) ahead of its upcoming **** yst presentation, as he said:
Thursday, we have two important **** yst meetings. Brinker... We have them all the time on the show. Brinker, you know, is Chili's, and the company never fails to wow me. I think this meeting will be no exception.
Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) continues to demonstrate operational strength across the casual dining sector, driven by sustained customer traffic and menu innovation at Chili's Grill & Bar. In its fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, the company generated $1.54 billion in total revenue, bringing full-year revenues to $5.81 billion. Adjusted earnings per share for the quarter reached $3.07, representing a 23% year-over-year increase.
Chili's reported a 5.6% increase in comparable store sales, marking its 21st consecutive quarter of positive same-store sales growth. The sustained momentum has been supported by the ongoing success of the $10.99 "3 for Me" everyday value platform as well as targeted menu launches, including the Big Crispy Chicken Sandwich, which helped support traffic as Chili's continued positioning its value proposition against fast-food offerings. According to the company's CEO Kevin Hochman, the Big Crispy Chicken Sandwich "overdelivered" on the management's estimates.
Despite consistent top-line momentum, Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) faces ongoing execution risks **** ociated with sticky cost inflation and broader macroeconomic pressures on consumer spending. Elevated wholesale prices for core commodities, especially beef and produce, continue to weigh on restaurant operating costs, while wage growth across regional markets keeps labor expenses elevated.

#elevated #analyst

As markets anxiously await the outcome of the current FOMC meeting, Treasury yields notched new 19-year highs in trading Tuesday. The closely watched 10-year surpassed 5.0% Tuesday morning in a high not seen since July 2007. Even the 30-year Treasury yield rose sharply, hitting 5.4%, its highest since June 2007.
In addition to worries over persistent, rising core inflation (one of the Fed's preferred inflation measurements), skyrocketing oil prices and shortages create further pressure on Treasuries. Currently, the rolling one-month correlation between the 10-year Treasury yield and front-month WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude sits at 0.96 per BMO Capital Markets ****** ysis.
Bond yields and oil prices have moved in tandem for much of this year as investors position for the longer-term inflationary impact of higher oil prices. And with major oil execs sounding the alarm on global supply cache shortages and strategic reserves depletion that help to temporarily soften spiking oil prices for consumers, these pricing pressures are likely to continue in the near-term. Saudi Arabia announced the closure of its East-West pipeline that bypassed the Strait of Hormuz after it came under attack late last week, and cancelled some shipments to Europe, reported Reuters.
"Normally, the relationship isn't as clean as it is now, but the geopolitical drivers behind the price of oil and global inflation are so prominent that the normally modest correlation has become much tighter," Steve Sosnick, Chief Strategist, Interactive Brokers told CNBC. "As long as oil prices remain firm and continue to drift higher, this will add pressure to interest rates."
As macro uncertainty continues and inflation persists, bonds and oil/energy will be categories to keep a weather eye towards and could see renewed ETF investor attention. Currently, investors are seizing the opportunity in longer-term bonds, with $9.7 billion flowing into the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) in the last three months though the fund is only up $3.4 billion net YTD according to FactSet data. It will be a category likely to see action in the wake of the FOMC rate decision. As bond yields climb, prices fall as they move inverse to each other, and should yields climb higher, investors may choose to scoop up longer duration bonds at depreciated prices for future gains. However, an exodus is more likely until the path of rate hikes becomes more certain.

#treasury #longer #higher

Last month, Strategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) founder and Executive Chairman Michael Saylor predicted that Bitcoin's token price would grow at a 30% compound annual rate over a 10-year period. At the time, the market-leading cryptocurrency was trading at roughly $64,500.
As of this writing, Bitcoin is already up roughly 20% since Saylor made his prediction. Could Saylor's prediction for average annualized returns over the next 30 years really hold up?
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Bitcoin hit an all-time high of roughly $126,200 per token in October 2025. It then began an extended downtrend that took it to a cyclical low of below $58,600 this summer. Even though the cryptocurrency has recently seen some strong bullish momentum, it's still down roughly 39% from its peak. It's possible that current macroeconomic dynamics will help the token continue regaining ground.
With concerns about rising bond yields, oil prices, and inflation recently shaping action across the stock market and weighing heavily on the broader macroeconomic outlook, the stage could be set for Bitcoin to continue coming back into favor with investors in the near term. Crypto bulls have long touted the token's ability to function as a store of value or "digital gold," and an inflationary environment that coincides with record national debt continuing to reach new highs seemingly reflects the kind of dynamics that Bitcoin has been championed as a bulwark against.

#saylor

NuScale Power Corporation (SMR) stands out as America's leading developer of small modular reactors (SMRs), building light-water nuclear systems designed to deliver reliable, carbon-free baseload power. Its core product, the NuScale Power Module, targets a wide range of applications, from traditional electricity generation to industrial decarbonization, AI data center power supply, and hydrogen production. Notably, NuScale remains the only SMR developer to secure Standard Design Approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a regulatory milestone that continues to anchor its competitive positioning in the emerging advanced nuclear industry.
NuScale's stock has been anything but stable. Over the past 52 weeks, shares have traded across an enormous range, from a low of $7.21 to a high of $57.42, before settling closer to $10.81. That volatility stems from a mix of factors: heavy retail investor interest, elevated short interest fueling sharp swings in both directions, and macroeconomic shifts in interest rates that disproportionately affect capital-intensive, pre-revenue growth companies. Compared to the Russell 2000, a benchmark of diversified, largely profitable small-cap stocks, NuScale carries a significantly higher beta and downside risk, reflecting its speculative, early-stage commercialization profile.
Goldman Sachs Expects Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to Raise Rates This Week — But Not Because of Oil Prices.
Crude Prices Soar as Global Oil Supplies Continue to Tighten
Middle East Supply Constraints Lift Crude Oil Prices

#nuclear #crude

Uniswap (UNI) has jumped by more than 6% in the past 24 hours, and it is the best-performing token in the top 20, as on-chain data shows that protocol fees have exploded in September.
In the past 30 days alone, this token has doubled its value, primarily amid the success of its launch on the Robinhood Chain.
Trading volumes in the past 24 hours have surged by 80%, to nearly $640 million. At those levels, they account for almost 15% of the ****** et's circulating market cap.
UNI has managed to defy a challenging macroeconomic backdrop marked by expectations of multiple upcoming rate hikes.
According to data from FedWatch, the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates by 25 basis points tomorrow. Meanwhile, it appears that ****** ysts are leaning toward a second rate increase in December, as high inflation in the United States persists.

#past #token #increase

Uniswap (UNI) has jumped by more than 6% in the past 24 hours, and it is the best-performing token in the top 20, as on-chain data shows that protocol fees have exploded in September.
In the past 30 days alone, this token has doubled its value, primarily amid the success of its launch on the Robinhood Chain.
Trading volumes in the past 24 hours have surged by 80%, to nearly $640 million. At those levels, they account for almost 15% of the **** et's circulating market cap.
UNI has managed to defy a challenging macroeconomic backdrop marked by expectations of multiple upcoming rate hikes.
According to data from FedWatch, the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates by 25 basis points tomorrow. Meanwhile, it appears that **** ysts are leaning toward a second rate increase in December, as high inflation in the United States persists.

#token #robinhood

Billionaire Ray Dalio's Bridgewater ****** ociates and Cathie Wood's ARK Invest follow sharply different investment philosophies. Bridgewater generally runs a diversified, macro-driven portfolio that balances exposure across ****** ets, countries and economic environments. ARK concentrates on companies it believes can benefit from disruptive innovation.
Still, Insider Monkey's ****** ysis of their second-quarter 13F filings shows that the two firms shared exposure to several stocks. Among the largest common holdings were Eli Lilly (LLY) and Nvidia (NVDA).
Bridgewater held 87,023 Eli Lilly shares worth about $104.4 million at the end of the second quarter, after increasing its position by 16,211 shares. ARK held 77,254 shares valued at about $92.7 million, after adding 64,578 shares.
Bridgewater's Nvidia stake was much larger, comprising 3.87 million shares worth about $773.6 million. However, it reduced the position by 826,808 shares during the quarter. ARK moved in the other direction, adding 345,821 Nvidia shares to end the quarter with 1.38 million shares valued at about $276.4 million.
Let's focus on LLY.

#lilly

On the September 11 episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer expressed strong optimism for Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) ahead of its upcoming **** yst presentation, as he said:
Thursday, we have two important **** yst meetings. Brinker... We have them all the time on the show. Brinker, you know, is Chili's, and the company never fails to wow me. I think this meeting will be no exception.
Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) continues to demonstrate operational strength across the casual dining sector, driven by sustained customer traffic and menu innovation at Chili's Grill & Bar. In its fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, the company generated $1.54 billion in total revenue, bringing full-year revenues to $5.81 billion. Adjusted earnings per share for the quarter reached $3.07, representing a 23% year-over-year increase.
Chili's reported a 5.6% increase in comparable store sales, marking its 21st consecutive quarter of positive same-store sales growth. The sustained momentum has been supported by the ongoing success of the $10.99 "3 for Me" everyday value platform as well as targeted menu launches, including the Big Crispy Chicken Sandwich, which helped support traffic as Chili's continued positioning its value proposition against fast-food offerings. According to the company's CEO Kevin Hochman, the Big Crispy Chicken Sandwich "overdelivered" on the management's estimates.
Despite consistent top-line momentum, Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) faces ongoing execution risks **** ociated with sticky cost inflation and broader macroeconomic pressures on consumer spending. Elevated wholesale prices for core commodities, especially beef and produce, continue to weigh on restaurant operating costs, while wage growth across regional markets keeps labor expenses elevated.

#NYSE