1 month ago
On September 2, 2026, Phreesia, Inc. (NYSE:PHR) reported second-quarter fiscal 2027 results for the period ended July 31, 2026. Revenue rose 10% to $129.5 million and adjusted EBITDA climbed to $32.9 million from $22.1 million a year earlier, a 25% margin. Net income reached $1.9 million, marking the company's fifth consecutive quarter of profitability. Management reaffirmed full-year revenue guidance of $510 million to $520 million and adjusted EBITDA of $125 million to $135 million.
The disagreement on Wall Street is about what that reaffirmation actually signals.
Wells Fargo found the highlight in Network Solutions, which grew 9% year-over-year, and pointed to the ProviderConnect pilot delivering a 4% prescription lift in a GLP-1 campaign that management says is generating follow-on business; the firm raised its target on Phreesia, Inc. (NYSE:PHR) to $10 from $9 while holding an Equal Weight rating.
DA Davidson stayed at Buy despite trimming its target on Phreesia, Inc. (NYSE:PHR) to $13 from $14, arguing the stock sold off on a reiterated guide even though network solutions activity is tracking more encouragingly than the prior outlook and AccessOne is opening a growing opportunity in alternative consumer payment options.
Baird ******* yst Joe Vruwink lifted his target to $11 from $10 at Neutral after updating his model.
#million #solutions
The disagreement on Wall Street is about what that reaffirmation actually signals.
Wells Fargo found the highlight in Network Solutions, which grew 9% year-over-year, and pointed to the ProviderConnect pilot delivering a 4% prescription lift in a GLP-1 campaign that management says is generating follow-on business; the firm raised its target on Phreesia, Inc. (NYSE:PHR) to $10 from $9 while holding an Equal Weight rating.
DA Davidson stayed at Buy despite trimming its target on Phreesia, Inc. (NYSE:PHR) to $13 from $14, arguing the stock sold off on a reiterated guide even though network solutions activity is tracking more encouragingly than the prior outlook and AccessOne is opening a growing opportunity in alternative consumer payment options.
Baird ******* yst Joe Vruwink lifted his target to $11 from $10 at Neutral after updating his model.
#million #solutions
2 months ago
On Aug. 27, 18-year-old Addisyn Baird was in Hartford, Connecticut, preparing to play in a hockey tournament when she received a life-changing phone call.
The call was from Justine Siegal, commissioner of the Women's Pro Baseball League (WPBL). The Los Angeles Queens needed another player after one of their outfielders left to play for Curaçao's national team and the team wanted to sign Baird as a replacement for the remainder of the season.
"How fast can you get here?" Siegal asked.
The next morning, Baird played in one hockey game. Then she and her dad jumped in the car and drove more than 20 hours to Springfield, Illinois, where the WPBL plays all its games. On Sept. 3, Baird made her professional debut for the Queens, whose roster includes former Little League World Series phenom Mo'ne Davis.
Baird is the only current high school student playing in the inaugural season of the WPBL, which launched in August with four teams. The WPBL playoffs are underway this month, with two best-of-three semifinal series preceding a best-of-five championship series scheduled to begin Sept. 16.
#wpbl #series #sept #call
The call was from Justine Siegal, commissioner of the Women's Pro Baseball League (WPBL). The Los Angeles Queens needed another player after one of their outfielders left to play for Curaçao's national team and the team wanted to sign Baird as a replacement for the remainder of the season.
"How fast can you get here?" Siegal asked.
The next morning, Baird played in one hockey game. Then she and her dad jumped in the car and drove more than 20 hours to Springfield, Illinois, where the WPBL plays all its games. On Sept. 3, Baird made her professional debut for the Queens, whose roster includes former Little League World Series phenom Mo'ne Davis.
Baird is the only current high school student playing in the inaugural season of the WPBL, which launched in August with four teams. The WPBL playoffs are underway this month, with two best-of-three semifinal series preceding a best-of-five championship series scheduled to begin Sept. 16.
#wpbl #series #sept #call
2 months ago
Cricket Australia (CA) has opened the door to private investment in the Big Bash League (BBL), with the Melbourne Renegades set to become the first franchise offered for sale from the 2027-28 season.
The decision comes after months of discussions between Cricket Australia and Australia's state cricket ***** ociations over the future of the domestic T20 competition.
At a press conference at the SCG on Tuesday afternoon, CA confirmed that the Renegades will be the first BBL franchise to enter the private ownership process. Other BBL and WBBL teams could also be offered for sale in the future under a "self-determination" model.
The governing body said the move is aimed at bringing private investment into the T20 competition and strengthening the financial position of Australian cricket as players and teams are increasingly being drawn towards lucrative leagues around the world.
"CA will invite bids from private owners for the Renegades with a view to them playing the 2027-28 season under new ownership," the governing body said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Beginning the sales process for the Renegades allows us to take the first step in a self-determination model for our members and represents a defining moment for the game," said Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird.
"This is a significant decision that has involved an enormous amount of ***** ysis, discussion and collaboration over many months."
CA said other franchises could be put on the market at a later stage.
"Pending the result of that process, CA will consider taking other clubs to market under a self-determination model that gives each state member the ability to ***** s the optimal pathway for its own club and community."
According to cricket.com.au, Hobart Hurricanes, Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars are among the other clubs believed to be interested in private investment.
The Renegades are owned by Cricket Victoria, which supported CA's original plan. They won the BBL ***** le in the 2018-19 season.
The move comes as CA looks to strengthen its finances. Despite a boost in revenue from hosting a five-Test series against India, the game's biggest financial market, CA reported a net deficit of A$11.3 million for the 2024-25 financial year.
"By opening the door to private investment in the Big Bash Leagues, Cricket Australia is taking a deliberate step to strengthen and secure the long-term future of the game," CA Chairman Mike Baird said in Tuesday's statement.
Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in July that December's BBL 2026-27 season opener between the Renegades and Perth Scorchers would take place in the Chennai.
While CA is allowing private ownership, it will continue to control key areas of the competition. Baird said the governing body will retain control over international scheduling, player availability, salary caps and media rights.
CA will also have the power to approve or veto investors and set a reserve price for
The decision comes after months of discussions between Cricket Australia and Australia's state cricket ***** ociations over the future of the domestic T20 competition.
At a press conference at the SCG on Tuesday afternoon, CA confirmed that the Renegades will be the first BBL franchise to enter the private ownership process. Other BBL and WBBL teams could also be offered for sale in the future under a "self-determination" model.
The governing body said the move is aimed at bringing private investment into the T20 competition and strengthening the financial position of Australian cricket as players and teams are increasingly being drawn towards lucrative leagues around the world.
"CA will invite bids from private owners for the Renegades with a view to them playing the 2027-28 season under new ownership," the governing body said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Beginning the sales process for the Renegades allows us to take the first step in a self-determination model for our members and represents a defining moment for the game," said Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird.
"This is a significant decision that has involved an enormous amount of ***** ysis, discussion and collaboration over many months."
CA said other franchises could be put on the market at a later stage.
"Pending the result of that process, CA will consider taking other clubs to market under a self-determination model that gives each state member the ability to ***** s the optimal pathway for its own club and community."
According to cricket.com.au, Hobart Hurricanes, Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars are among the other clubs believed to be interested in private investment.
The Renegades are owned by Cricket Victoria, which supported CA's original plan. They won the BBL ***** le in the 2018-19 season.
The move comes as CA looks to strengthen its finances. Despite a boost in revenue from hosting a five-Test series against India, the game's biggest financial market, CA reported a net deficit of A$11.3 million for the 2024-25 financial year.
"By opening the door to private investment in the Big Bash Leagues, Cricket Australia is taking a deliberate step to strengthen and secure the long-term future of the game," CA Chairman Mike Baird said in Tuesday's statement.
Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in July that December's BBL 2026-27 season opener between the Renegades and Perth Scorchers would take place in the Chennai.
While CA is allowing private ownership, it will continue to control key areas of the competition. Baird said the governing body will retain control over international scheduling, player availability, salary caps and media rights.
CA will also have the power to approve or veto investors and set a reserve price for
2 months ago
Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) seems to have attracted renewed attention from ***** ysts after an impressive rise in its stock so far this year. As of August 31, the stock gained more than 35%. On August 31, Baird upgraded its rating on Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) from Neutral to Outperform and lifted its price target from $640 to $800.
Bull Case
Baird sees a favorable setup for Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) because of its high exposure to North American row-crop equipment demand. The research firm expects the company to be among the first agricultural equipment companies to benefit when investors see a recovery in the agricultural sector.
The firm also noted that commentary on early order programs indicated that orders for planters and sprayers were up by a mid-single-digit percentage compared with last year's completed program. Baird believes that this suggests early order programs could end up higher by completion and this also provides early signs of a possible recovery in production and precision agriculture.
According to Baird, the current early order programs could be significantly underestimating the actual demand potential for production and precision agriculture in 2027 if its ***** sment of corn and soybean fundamentals proves correct. The firm noted that the potential recovery should continue into 2028.
#early
Bull Case
Baird sees a favorable setup for Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) because of its high exposure to North American row-crop equipment demand. The research firm expects the company to be among the first agricultural equipment companies to benefit when investors see a recovery in the agricultural sector.
The firm also noted that commentary on early order programs indicated that orders for planters and sprayers were up by a mid-single-digit percentage compared with last year's completed program. Baird believes that this suggests early order programs could end up higher by completion and this also provides early signs of a possible recovery in production and precision agriculture.
According to Baird, the current early order programs could be significantly underestimating the actual demand potential for production and precision agriculture in 2027 if its ***** sment of corn and soybean fundamentals proves correct. The firm noted that the potential recovery should continue into 2028.
#early
2 months ago
Baird's senior ******* yst Mircea Dobre believes an upcoming recovery cycle in agricultural equipment will drive Deere (DE) shares higher from current levels. In a research note yesterday, Dobre upgraded the NYSE-listed giant to "Outperform" and raised his price target to $800, indicating potential upside of about 23% from here.
His bullish call is particularly significant given Deere stock has been a major outperformer in 2026, currently up more than 40% year-to-date.
Dear Sandisk Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 31
Bill Gates Says 'We Need Time to Prepare' for an Economic Upheaval — Especially the $20-an-Hour Workers Being Replaced by $10-an-Hour Robots
Dear Palantir Stock Fans, Here's What Maven's Billion-Dollar ARR Means for PLTR
#deere #hour #mircea #outperform
His bullish call is particularly significant given Deere stock has been a major outperformer in 2026, currently up more than 40% year-to-date.
Dear Sandisk Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 31
Bill Gates Says 'We Need Time to Prepare' for an Economic Upheaval — Especially the $20-an-Hour Workers Being Replaced by $10-an-Hour Robots
Dear Palantir Stock Fans, Here's What Maven's Billion-Dollar ARR Means for PLTR
#deere #hour #mircea #outperform
2 months ago
Reddit (NYSE: RDDT)'s data licensing deals with Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)'s Google and OpenAI are set to expire next year, and Wall Street simply can't decide whether these deals are a windfall or a warning sign.
On September 2, Baird ***** yst Colin Sebastian reiterated a Neutral rating and $185.00 price target on the stock. The note implies the next big test for Reddit: deciding whether its massive archive of human conversations are still of use to artificial intelligence companies.
According to the firm's ***** sment, the current share price reflects an outcome near the firm's low-end case scenario.
Reddit made a 2024 Google deal that lets Google use its posts to train and power its AI models. Reportedly worth $60 million a year, the deal is set to expire after which Reddit may reportedly choose to block Google's AI from using its content. A similar deal between Reddit and OpenAI estimated around $70 million is also set to expire soon.
Some other publishers such as USA Today, Reuters, Politico are also re-evaluating whether to let Google crawl their pages as AI summaries reduce referral traffic.
#openai #next
On September 2, Baird ***** yst Colin Sebastian reiterated a Neutral rating and $185.00 price target on the stock. The note implies the next big test for Reddit: deciding whether its massive archive of human conversations are still of use to artificial intelligence companies.
According to the firm's ***** sment, the current share price reflects an outcome near the firm's low-end case scenario.
Reddit made a 2024 Google deal that lets Google use its posts to train and power its AI models. Reportedly worth $60 million a year, the deal is set to expire after which Reddit may reportedly choose to block Google's AI from using its content. A similar deal between Reddit and OpenAI estimated around $70 million is also set to expire soon.
Some other publishers such as USA Today, Reuters, Politico are also re-evaluating whether to let Google crawl their pages as AI summaries reduce referral traffic.
#openai #next
2 months ago
On August 31, Baird upgraded Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) to Outperform from Neutral and raised its price target to $800 from $640, implying meaningful upside from the share price cited in the report. The upgrade is based on an expected improvement in North American agricultural fundamentals in 2027.
Baird expects mid-2027 corn futures to move above farmer breakeven levels, while soybean economics are also improving. Deteriorating crop conditions and tighter projected stocks-to-use ratios could support higher crop prices and improve per-acre farmer margins.
That matters for Deere because stronger farm profitability typically gives farmers more room to purchase large tractors, combines, planters, and other equipment. The timing is important because Deere's management has previously indicated that 2026 should represent the bottom of the current agricultural equipment cycle. At the same time, the company's Production & Precision Agriculture business remains under pressure, showing that the expected recovery has not fully reached its results yet.
Photo by Sebastian Gómez on Unsplash
The biggest bullish argument is that higher corn and soybean prices could signal the start of a new agricultural equipment replacement cycle. Farmers have delayed major machinery purchases during the downturn, so sustained improvement in crop economics could unlock pent-up demand.
#baird
Baird expects mid-2027 corn futures to move above farmer breakeven levels, while soybean economics are also improving. Deteriorating crop conditions and tighter projected stocks-to-use ratios could support higher crop prices and improve per-acre farmer margins.
That matters for Deere because stronger farm profitability typically gives farmers more room to purchase large tractors, combines, planters, and other equipment. The timing is important because Deere's management has previously indicated that 2026 should represent the bottom of the current agricultural equipment cycle. At the same time, the company's Production & Precision Agriculture business remains under pressure, showing that the expected recovery has not fully reached its results yet.
Photo by Sebastian Gómez on Unsplash
The biggest bullish argument is that higher corn and soybean prices could signal the start of a new agricultural equipment replacement cycle. Farmers have delayed major machinery purchases during the downturn, so sustained improvement in crop economics could unlock pent-up demand.
#baird
2 months ago
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) reports earnings on Sept. 1, and Wall Street has high expectations. In the week before its quarterly release, almost every day an **** yst firm raised its price target for the company. Benchmark started the rally by raising its price target on Aug. 24. J.P Morgan raised its price target on Aug. 25. Robert W. Baird raised it on Aug. 27. And Jefferies did the same on Aug. 28. All these firms kept a "Buy" rating on the stock. The optimism helped push PANW stock higher, and shares jumped roughly 13% in a single trading session.
The optimism is for a good reason. For the July quarter, management guided to revenue of around $3.35 billion, which would be an increase of approximately 32% from a year ago. Its next-generation security business, the subscription-based AI and cloud products, is expected to grow close to 60%. This will also be the first full quarter that includes CyberArk, the $25 billion identity security company Palo Alto recently bought. Its newest AI security product, Prisma AIRS, has also been the fastest-growing product in the company's history.
Jeff Bezos' Heartfelt Tribute to Dolly Parton Drew Brutal Backlash: 'Nobody Wanted to Hear This From You' — He Once Gave Her $100 Million for Charity
Intel vs. AMD: Why the Market Share Number Is Misleading
A $100 Billion Buildout In Louisiana Is Planned for Starship. What This Means for SPCX Stock.
#price #palo
The optimism is for a good reason. For the July quarter, management guided to revenue of around $3.35 billion, which would be an increase of approximately 32% from a year ago. Its next-generation security business, the subscription-based AI and cloud products, is expected to grow close to 60%. This will also be the first full quarter that includes CyberArk, the $25 billion identity security company Palo Alto recently bought. Its newest AI security product, Prisma AIRS, has also been the fastest-growing product in the company's history.
Jeff Bezos' Heartfelt Tribute to Dolly Parton Drew Brutal Backlash: 'Nobody Wanted to Hear This From You' — He Once Gave Her $100 Million for Charity
Intel vs. AMD: Why the Market Share Number Is Misleading
A $100 Billion Buildout In Louisiana Is Planned for Starship. What This Means for SPCX Stock.
#price #palo
2 months ago
Billie Eilish stood between her brother Finneas and Claudia Sulewski as they exchanged vows Saturday, taking on a considerably bigger wedding ****** ignment than simply showing up for the family photos.
Eilish officiated the Aug. 29 outdoor ceremony at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California, where Finneas and Sulewski married after nearly eight years together. Photos published by Page Six show the 24-year-old singer standing between the bride and groom as Finneas read his vows.
The couple's rescue dogs, Peaches and Moose, had jobs of their own. They joined the celebration as "flower dogs," wearing custom bows made from the same silk faille used for Sulewski's wedding gown. Finneas and Eilish's parents, Maggie Baird and Patrick O'Connell, were also there to watch their son get married.
The guest list included Justin and Hailey Bieber, Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard, Emma Chamberlain, Rachel Sennott, Rebecca Black and Jason Sudeikis. Sulewski turned the weekend into a fashion project of its own with four custom Oscar de la Renta looks, while Finneas wore a black suit and Eilish chose an off-the-shoulder green dress for her role at the altar.
TMZ footage and photographs show her facing Finneas and Sulewski during the ceremony and confirm that Peaches and Moose were part of the celebration. The dogs' participation had been planned down to their outfits. During Sulewski's final fitting, Oscar de la Renta designer Grace McCoy revealed two silk faille bows cut from the same material as the ceremony gown. Sulewski explained that Moose would walk ahead of Peaches when the pair went down the aisle as flower dogs.
#dogs #peaches #moose
Eilish officiated the Aug. 29 outdoor ceremony at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California, where Finneas and Sulewski married after nearly eight years together. Photos published by Page Six show the 24-year-old singer standing between the bride and groom as Finneas read his vows.
The couple's rescue dogs, Peaches and Moose, had jobs of their own. They joined the celebration as "flower dogs," wearing custom bows made from the same silk faille used for Sulewski's wedding gown. Finneas and Eilish's parents, Maggie Baird and Patrick O'Connell, were also there to watch their son get married.
The guest list included Justin and Hailey Bieber, Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard, Emma Chamberlain, Rachel Sennott, Rebecca Black and Jason Sudeikis. Sulewski turned the weekend into a fashion project of its own with four custom Oscar de la Renta looks, while Finneas wore a black suit and Eilish chose an off-the-shoulder green dress for her role at the altar.
TMZ footage and photographs show her facing Finneas and Sulewski during the ceremony and confirm that Peaches and Moose were part of the celebration. The dogs' participation had been planned down to their outfits. During Sulewski's final fitting, Oscar de la Renta designer Grace McCoy revealed two silk faille bows cut from the same material as the ceremony gown. Sulewski explained that Moose would walk ahead of Peaches when the pair went down the aisle as flower dogs.
#dogs #peaches #moose
2 months ago
Gold surged to $4,602 and crypto rallied on U.S. Treasury buyback plans while Monday futures traded lower entering the final week of August.
Baird cut both CMG and DPZ to Neutral while UBS upgraded CLS to Buy, lifting its target price to $430 from $410.
Jersey Mike's Subs received Outperform or Overweight initiations from three firms following its recent IPO. Those firms were Piper Sandler, Baird, and RBC Capital.
Act now: the ***** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and AstraZeneca didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Futures are trading lower as we enter the final week of August, after a big risk-on Friday when traders and investors shook off a rough Thursday and all major indices finished the session higher. Financial media cited strong earnings, some positive economic numbers, and surging cryptocurrency strength as major reasons. The Dow Jones Industrials led the charge, closing up 0.98% at 53,277, and despite the solid bounce-back, the legacy index still posted back-to-back weekly losses. The small-cap Russell 2000 also had a strong session on Friday, closing up 0.85% at 3,017, and still leads all of the major indices up 21% in 2026. The S&P 500 closed Friday at 7,674, up 0.43%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq closed out the day at 26,180, up 0.44%.
#futures #firms
Baird cut both CMG and DPZ to Neutral while UBS upgraded CLS to Buy, lifting its target price to $430 from $410.
Jersey Mike's Subs received Outperform or Overweight initiations from three firms following its recent IPO. Those firms were Piper Sandler, Baird, and RBC Capital.
Act now: the ***** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and AstraZeneca didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Futures are trading lower as we enter the final week of August, after a big risk-on Friday when traders and investors shook off a rough Thursday and all major indices finished the session higher. Financial media cited strong earnings, some positive economic numbers, and surging cryptocurrency strength as major reasons. The Dow Jones Industrials led the charge, closing up 0.98% at 53,277, and despite the solid bounce-back, the legacy index still posted back-to-back weekly losses. The small-cap Russell 2000 also had a strong session on Friday, closing up 0.85% at 3,017, and still leads all of the major indices up 21% in 2026. The S&P 500 closed Friday at 7,674, up 0.43%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq closed out the day at 26,180, up 0.44%.
#futures #firms
2 months ago
The tax man is coming for ETFs… eventually. This week's ETF Zoo digs into the recent action from the Treasury looking into newer ETF structures that include box spreads and 351 exchanges, what Goldman Sach's acquisition of NEOS says about the broader options income category, and why the struggling consumer matters less and less to markets. ETF.com hosts Dave Nadig, President and Director of Research, and Sumit Roy, Senior ETF ***** yst, are joined this week by Brent Sullivan, Editor of Tax Alpha Insider and Todd Sohn, Chief ETF Strategist at Baird Strategas.
You can also find this episode on our YouTube channel, as well as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Goldman Sachs just dropped $2.3 billion on NEOS, its second major ETF acquisition after Innovator, vaulting the bank into the top ten issuers with roughly $130 billion on platform. The Zoo crew believes it's a straight-up bet on retiring boomers hungry for income and downside protection. But the real intrigue is under the hood, where NEOS's covered-call funds lean heavily on return-of-capital distributions (untaxed, tax-efficient income) via 1256 contracts, a structure that's genuinely different from rivals like JEPI/JEPQ. While they're great products, tune in to find out what concerns the crew had.
From there the conversation zooms out to the bigger income-obsession story eating the market. Options income ETFs are going parabolic even as the S&P grinds higher and 30-year Treasury yields sit near multi-decade highs. Todd Sohn's theory: these products are quietly stealing market share from boring old dividend ETFs, especially with younger investors looking to add something more dynamic to their portfolios. Meanwhile, there's something strange happening in the market. Consumer stocks have practically vanished from index influence, with tech (and AI subscriptions) soaking up the wallet share that used to go to staples and discretionary names. Equal-weight and small-/mid-cap stocks are having a surprise moment, potentially riding the AI wave's downstream productivity gains rather than getting crushed by it.
The back half got spicier on taxes: Brent Sullivan previewed a coming reckoning as Treasury scrutinizes aggressive structures, including 351 exchanges, box spreads, dividend-avoidance ETFs. When the cards are on the table, we'll find out who's been bluffing. He expects enforcement to start with the most public, most obviously aggressive cases, though a timeline is anyone's guess. The group also piled on a Bloomberg feature that used Cliff Asness as the poster child for tax-aware long/short strategies, finding a strange scapegoat in Asness and the criticism unnecessarily pointed. Things then close on a cautionary tale of a Market Wizards-famous manager's ETF that's down a brutal 96-97% year-to-date after leaning into short-dated QQQ options. Investors would do well to remember that in this corner of the ETF world, someone's always selling you something.
#etfs #market #neos #brent
You can also find this episode on our YouTube channel, as well as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Goldman Sachs just dropped $2.3 billion on NEOS, its second major ETF acquisition after Innovator, vaulting the bank into the top ten issuers with roughly $130 billion on platform. The Zoo crew believes it's a straight-up bet on retiring boomers hungry for income and downside protection. But the real intrigue is under the hood, where NEOS's covered-call funds lean heavily on return-of-capital distributions (untaxed, tax-efficient income) via 1256 contracts, a structure that's genuinely different from rivals like JEPI/JEPQ. While they're great products, tune in to find out what concerns the crew had.
From there the conversation zooms out to the bigger income-obsession story eating the market. Options income ETFs are going parabolic even as the S&P grinds higher and 30-year Treasury yields sit near multi-decade highs. Todd Sohn's theory: these products are quietly stealing market share from boring old dividend ETFs, especially with younger investors looking to add something more dynamic to their portfolios. Meanwhile, there's something strange happening in the market. Consumer stocks have practically vanished from index influence, with tech (and AI subscriptions) soaking up the wallet share that used to go to staples and discretionary names. Equal-weight and small-/mid-cap stocks are having a surprise moment, potentially riding the AI wave's downstream productivity gains rather than getting crushed by it.
The back half got spicier on taxes: Brent Sullivan previewed a coming reckoning as Treasury scrutinizes aggressive structures, including 351 exchanges, box spreads, dividend-avoidance ETFs. When the cards are on the table, we'll find out who's been bluffing. He expects enforcement to start with the most public, most obviously aggressive cases, though a timeline is anyone's guess. The group also piled on a Bloomberg feature that used Cliff Asness as the poster child for tax-aware long/short strategies, finding a strange scapegoat in Asness and the criticism unnecessarily pointed. Things then close on a cautionary tale of a Market Wizards-famous manager's ETF that's down a brutal 96-97% year-to-date after leaning into short-dated QQQ options. Investors would do well to remember that in this corner of the ETF world, someone's always selling you something.
#etfs #market #neos #brent
3 months ago
Wall Street is increasingly betting the latest jobs report will take a Fed rate hike off the table and give stocks room to climb.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' July labor market report showed the economy lost 23,000 jobs, far short of expectations. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% as labor force participation dropped to a near-pandemic low.
"The report suggests that the economy is seemingly slipping back toward the 'no hire, no fire' narrative that characterized the labor market through much of 2025," said Jim Baird, chief investment officer with Plante Moran Financial Advisors, in a note on Friday.
The latest report shows the three-month rolling average of job gains has fallen to just 20,000, while the six-month average has declined to a weak 44,000, noted Ameriprise chief economist Russell Price.
"There were many moving parts, but very little to like about this report," said Price on Friday. "If the job market falters, consumers and the economy might not be far behind."
#labor #latest
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' July labor market report showed the economy lost 23,000 jobs, far short of expectations. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% as labor force participation dropped to a near-pandemic low.
"The report suggests that the economy is seemingly slipping back toward the 'no hire, no fire' narrative that characterized the labor market through much of 2025," said Jim Baird, chief investment officer with Plante Moran Financial Advisors, in a note on Friday.
The latest report shows the three-month rolling average of job gains has fallen to just 20,000, while the six-month average has declined to a weak 44,000, noted Ameriprise chief economist Russell Price.
"There were many moving parts, but very little to like about this report," said Price on Friday. "If the job market falters, consumers and the economy might not be far behind."
#labor #latest
3 months ago
Gold (GC=F) just posted its best week since February. The investors who once crowded into the trade have mostly left.
The metal gained nearly 7% for the week, reclaiming its 50-day moving average and breaking the downtrend that had controlled prices since March. Wednesday's 4% surge was its biggest one-day jump since February and carried gold futures to a seven-week high.
That breakout arrived after a spectacular investor retreat.
The rolling 125-day total for precious-metals ETF flows peaked at nearly $40 billion in February. By Monday, it had fallen to nearly negative $20 billion — a reversal of more than $55 billion and the lowest reading in data going back to 2015, according to Baird Strategas.
The January gold rush did not merely cool. It emptied out.
#since #march
The metal gained nearly 7% for the week, reclaiming its 50-day moving average and breaking the downtrend that had controlled prices since March. Wednesday's 4% surge was its biggest one-day jump since February and carried gold futures to a seven-week high.
That breakout arrived after a spectacular investor retreat.
The rolling 125-day total for precious-metals ETF flows peaked at nearly $40 billion in February. By Monday, it had fallen to nearly negative $20 billion — a reversal of more than $55 billion and the lowest reading in data going back to 2015, according to Baird Strategas.
The January gold rush did not merely cool. It emptied out.
#since #march
3 months ago
Palantir (PLTR) will report second-quarter results on Aug. 3, and the ******* ysts covering PLTR stock cannot seem to agree on what is coming. PLTR stock fell about 6% after Cleveland Research flagged signs of weak spending among Palantir's commercial customers. The note was a rare cautious voice on a stock that has mostly drawn praise, and it was enough to worry investors. Baird ******* yst William Power pushed back the same day, however, reiterating an "Outperform" rating and a $200 price target. A day before that, Oppenheimer ******* yst Param Singh also kept an "Outperform" rating and a $200 target. Singh expects revenue to grow roughly 85% in Q2. For reference, Palantir's own Q2 guidance points to revenue of about $1.8 billion, which would mean growth of roughly 80%. So, the ******* yst believes Palantir will beat its own forecast, something it has done quarter after quarter.
That pattern is why the bulls feel confident. Last quarter, Palantir raised its full-year revenue guidance by its largest amount ever, and management said the real problem is not demand but keeping up with it. CEO Alex Karp noted that U.S. growth is being limited because the company has been unable to fulfill demand. This goes directly against Cleveland's warning about commercial spending softening.
CoreWeave Just Scored a Leidos Partnership. What That Means for CRWV Stock Here.
Palantir Is Set to Deliver Strong Q2. ******* ysts See 60% Upside Potential for PLTR Stock.
Earnings, PMI and Other Key Things to Watch this Week
#analyst
That pattern is why the bulls feel confident. Last quarter, Palantir raised its full-year revenue guidance by its largest amount ever, and management said the real problem is not demand but keeping up with it. CEO Alex Karp noted that U.S. growth is being limited because the company has been unable to fulfill demand. This goes directly against Cleveland's warning about commercial spending softening.
CoreWeave Just Scored a Leidos Partnership. What That Means for CRWV Stock Here.
Palantir Is Set to Deliver Strong Q2. ******* ysts See 60% Upside Potential for PLTR Stock.
Earnings, PMI and Other Key Things to Watch this Week
#analyst
3 months ago
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)'s Big Boy 4014, the world's largest operating steam locomotive, has been touring the country this summer, and grown adults keep tearing up when they see it. CEO Jim Vena said the tour east of the Mississippi wouldn't have been possible without one thing: the railroad operating firm's pending merger with Norfolk Southern, since Union Pacific's own tracks run west of the river. In part, the nostalgia tour is a goodwill campaign for the biggest deal in the company's history.
On the business itself, Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) reported a strong quarter. Revenue rose 12% to $6.86 billion, beating the $6.71 billion expected, and adjusted earnings came in at $3.41 a share versus $3.24 expected. The company raised its full-year guidance to high-single-digit earnings growth, up from mid-single digits. The stock rose about 2% in premarket trading. Costs rose too; operating expenses climbed 13% to $4.1 billion, mostly from a 63% jump in fuel costs linked to the Iran war.
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) is trying to buy Norfolk Southern in a deal now valued around $71.5 billion, down from an earlier $85 billion price tag as terms have moved with Union Pacific's stock. It would create the first coast-to-coast U.S. railroad. The day before earnings, Union Pacific settled with Canadian National Railway, a major opponent that had been pushing regulators to demand more information. CN will drop its opposition in exchange for expanded Midwest access and a stake in two jointly owned terminal railroads. Vena called it proof the firm is "ready to move forward in the regulatory process." The deal still isn't approved, though. The Surface Transportation Board (STB) paused its review in May and just this week ordered Union Pacific to make employee-impact data public. Rivals BNSF and Canadian Pacific Kansas City are still lobbying against it, and some shippers and state attorneys general remain opposed. The companies still expect to close the deal in the first half of 2027.
That raises a real question. Is this merger clearing its last real hurdles, or did the CN settlement just remove one opponent out of several?
The core business (Union Pacific's actual railroad operations) is performing well on its own, guidance beat and rose, and pricing power held up despite surging fuel costs. The CN settlement removes a credible opponent and comes with political tailwinds too: Trump has publicly backed the merger and replaced a regulator who could have opposed it. Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) and Norfolk Southern say the deal would save shippers $3.5 billion a year and remove 2.1 million trucks from the road. Wall Street responded fast: Baird, RBC, and JPMorgan all raised price targets this week, with RBC citing the CN deal directly as strengthening the merger's case.
#union #deal
On the business itself, Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) reported a strong quarter. Revenue rose 12% to $6.86 billion, beating the $6.71 billion expected, and adjusted earnings came in at $3.41 a share versus $3.24 expected. The company raised its full-year guidance to high-single-digit earnings growth, up from mid-single digits. The stock rose about 2% in premarket trading. Costs rose too; operating expenses climbed 13% to $4.1 billion, mostly from a 63% jump in fuel costs linked to the Iran war.
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) is trying to buy Norfolk Southern in a deal now valued around $71.5 billion, down from an earlier $85 billion price tag as terms have moved with Union Pacific's stock. It would create the first coast-to-coast U.S. railroad. The day before earnings, Union Pacific settled with Canadian National Railway, a major opponent that had been pushing regulators to demand more information. CN will drop its opposition in exchange for expanded Midwest access and a stake in two jointly owned terminal railroads. Vena called it proof the firm is "ready to move forward in the regulatory process." The deal still isn't approved, though. The Surface Transportation Board (STB) paused its review in May and just this week ordered Union Pacific to make employee-impact data public. Rivals BNSF and Canadian Pacific Kansas City are still lobbying against it, and some shippers and state attorneys general remain opposed. The companies still expect to close the deal in the first half of 2027.
That raises a real question. Is this merger clearing its last real hurdles, or did the CN settlement just remove one opponent out of several?
The core business (Union Pacific's actual railroad operations) is performing well on its own, guidance beat and rose, and pricing power held up despite surging fuel costs. The CN settlement removes a credible opponent and comes with political tailwinds too: Trump has publicly backed the merger and replaced a regulator who could have opposed it. Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) and Norfolk Southern say the deal would save shippers $3.5 billion a year and remove 2.1 million trucks from the road. Wall Street responded fast: Baird, RBC, and JPMorgan all raised price targets this week, with RBC citing the CN deal directly as strengthening the merger's case.
#union #deal
3 months ago
By Karen Brettell and Sruthi Shankar
July 28 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were mixed on Tuesday ahead of key corporate earnings releases and the Federal Reserve's highly anticipated interest rate decision on Wednesday.
World stocks had earlier fallen to a one-month low as investors dumped chipmakers on concerns about Chinese competition and the funding of the AI boom, but pared the drop during New York trading hours.
Gains in Boeing and Coca-Cola helped offset tumbling chip stocks ahead of quarterly reports from Apple and other tech companies this week, though the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ended lower on the day.
"What has been behind the move into these non-tech names? Part of it is value," said Ross Mayfield, investment strategy ****** yst at Baird in Louisville, Kentucky. "GDP is solid, the labor market continues to churn along and, in a lot of places, there's evidence that consumer spending is reaccelerating."
#Tech #sruthi
July 28 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were mixed on Tuesday ahead of key corporate earnings releases and the Federal Reserve's highly anticipated interest rate decision on Wednesday.
World stocks had earlier fallen to a one-month low as investors dumped chipmakers on concerns about Chinese competition and the funding of the AI boom, but pared the drop during New York trading hours.
Gains in Boeing and Coca-Cola helped offset tumbling chip stocks ahead of quarterly reports from Apple and other tech companies this week, though the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ended lower on the day.
"What has been behind the move into these non-tech names? Part of it is value," said Ross Mayfield, investment strategy ****** yst at Baird in Louisville, Kentucky. "GDP is solid, the labor market continues to churn along and, in a lot of places, there's evidence that consumer spending is reaccelerating."
#Tech #sruthi
3 months ago
Baird initiated Vertiv with a buy and $370 price target, implying 21% upside as liquid cooling demand surges from next-gen AI hardware launches.
Vertiv's ThermoKey acquisition bolsters its heat rejection capabilities, adding a competitive edge beyond liquid cooling as data centers scale up.
Trading at 47x forward earnings, Loop Capital's Baruah still calls Vertiv a tech company in disguise, suggesting shares may not yet be expensive enough.
Don't wait: the ******* yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
Shares of cooling infrastructure play Vertiv (NASDAQ:VRT) have been that much harder to hang onto since the shares peaked out back in May. Despite the pick-up in turbulence and the plunge into bear market territory, a number of ******* ysts have not soured on the name. The AI data center buildout hasn't gone anywhere; if anything, things could get even more intense as companies look to get AI compute where it needs to be to roll out the red carpet for that agentic AI blast-off.
#cooling #trading
Vertiv's ThermoKey acquisition bolsters its heat rejection capabilities, adding a competitive edge beyond liquid cooling as data centers scale up.
Trading at 47x forward earnings, Loop Capital's Baruah still calls Vertiv a tech company in disguise, suggesting shares may not yet be expensive enough.
Don't wait: the ******* yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
Shares of cooling infrastructure play Vertiv (NASDAQ:VRT) have been that much harder to hang onto since the shares peaked out back in May. Despite the pick-up in turbulence and the plunge into bear market territory, a number of ******* ysts have not soured on the name. The AI data center buildout hasn't gone anywhere; if anything, things could get even more intense as companies look to get AI compute where it needs to be to roll out the red carpet for that agentic AI blast-off.
#cooling #trading
3 months ago
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:CRNX) is one of the 10 affordable biotech stocks to buy right now.
On July 6, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:CRNX) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced that both companies have agreed to a definitive agreement, according to which Vertex will acquire Crinetics Pharmaceuticals. The deal is priced at $85 a share in cash consideration, effectively valuing the acquisition at around $10 billion or $8.8 billion after accounting for the cash.
Romaset/Shutterstock.com
The Boards of both companies approved the transaction unanimously, with completion projected for the third quarter of this year. Vertex plans to finance the acquisition through cash on hand and $4.5 billion in bridge financing from Bank of America and Morgan Stanley.
Following the announcement, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:CRNX) garnered a lot of attention from **** ysts, who shared mixed opinions and revised their models based on this acquisition. On July 7, Baird increased its target price on the stock from $62 to $85, leading to an adjusted upside of more than 102%. The firm reiterated an Outperform rating on the stock.
On July 6, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:CRNX) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced that both companies have agreed to a definitive agreement, according to which Vertex will acquire Crinetics Pharmaceuticals. The deal is priced at $85 a share in cash consideration, effectively valuing the acquisition at around $10 billion or $8.8 billion after accounting for the cash.
Romaset/Shutterstock.com
The Boards of both companies approved the transaction unanimously, with completion projected for the third quarter of this year. Vertex plans to finance the acquisition through cash on hand and $4.5 billion in bridge financing from Bank of America and Morgan Stanley.
Following the announcement, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:CRNX) garnered a lot of attention from **** ysts, who shared mixed opinions and revised their models based on this acquisition. On July 7, Baird increased its target price on the stock from $62 to $85, leading to an adjusted upside of more than 102%. The firm reiterated an Outperform rating on the stock.
4 months ago
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is one of the Best Monopoly Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. On June 30, Baird initiated coverage on the company's stock with an "Outperform" rating, setting a price objective of $121.00. The firm sees Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)'s portfolio as delivering steady top-line and earnings growth over the upcoming several years. As per the firm, the company's medical device segment is expected to see an above-peer growth trajectory.
The company's diagnostics, nutrition, and established pharmaceutical offerings enhance Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)'s reach throughout the healthcare spectrum. As per the firm, there is a clearer path to upside in FY 2027 and FY 2028, with new products and indication opportunities layering in, and Exact Sciences integration and synergies contributing to the results.
In a different update, Evercore ISI **** yst Vijay **** ar reduced the firm's price objective on Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)'s stock to $112 from $120 and maintained an "Outperform" rating. The firm's Q2 preview for MedTech, Life Sciences Tools, and Diagnostics demonstrates healthy procedure volumes as well as capex trends throughout the sector.
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is engaged in discovering, developing, manufacturing, and selling health care products.
While we acknowledge the potential of ABT 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.
The company's diagnostics, nutrition, and established pharmaceutical offerings enhance Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)'s reach throughout the healthcare spectrum. As per the firm, there is a clearer path to upside in FY 2027 and FY 2028, with new products and indication opportunities layering in, and Exact Sciences integration and synergies contributing to the results.
In a different update, Evercore ISI **** yst Vijay **** ar reduced the firm's price objective on Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)'s stock to $112 from $120 and maintained an "Outperform" rating. The firm's Q2 preview for MedTech, Life Sciences Tools, and Diagnostics demonstrates healthy procedure volumes as well as capex trends throughout the sector.
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is engaged in discovering, developing, manufacturing, and selling health care products.
While we acknowledge the potential of ABT 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.
4 months ago
On Thursday, an ******* yst's rather bullish initiation of coverage on Cohu (NASDAQ: COHU) stock clearly resonated with the market. Investors took that pundit's advice to heart, pushing the semiconductor diagnostics company's shares to an almost 6% share price gain that trading session.
Just after Wednesday's market close, Baird's Quinn Fredrickson initiated his tracking of Cohu stock by ******* ouncing it an outperform (i.e., buy). He also set a price target of $65 per share for the highly specialized tech stock, anticipating nearly 18% upside to its current level.
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 »
Fredrickson's optimistic stance is based largely on Cohu's enviable potential as a participant in the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, according to reports. The ******* yst believes the company could draw numerous revenue streams from this, thanks to its involvement in a wide range of activities. These include, but aren't limited to, software ******* ytics, power management, and hardware testing.
The ******* yst added that even if the broader semiconductor market were to soften, Cohu would still be quite a viable medium to long-term play, as it's a go-to company in its specialized segment.
Just after Wednesday's market close, Baird's Quinn Fredrickson initiated his tracking of Cohu stock by ******* ouncing it an outperform (i.e., buy). He also set a price target of $65 per share for the highly specialized tech stock, anticipating nearly 18% upside to its current level.
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 »
Fredrickson's optimistic stance is based largely on Cohu's enviable potential as a participant in the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, according to reports. The ******* yst believes the company could draw numerous revenue streams from this, thanks to its involvement in a wide range of activities. These include, but aren't limited to, software ******* ytics, power management, and hardware testing.
The ******* yst added that even if the broader semiconductor market were to soften, Cohu would still be quite a viable medium to long-term play, as it's a go-to company in its specialized segment.
4 months ago
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) is one of the Best AI and Technology Stocks to Buy Now. On June 24, ****** yst Shrenik Kothari of Robert W. Baird maintained a "Buy" rating on the company's stock, retaining the price objective of $320.00. The ****** yst's rating is backed by several factors that are related to Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW)'s strategic positioning and product relevance amidst the evolving cybersecurity landscape.
The ****** yst believes that the new partnership with IBM and Red Hat's Project Lightwell demonstrates a meaningful validation of Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW)'s virtual patching technology. Furthermore, the ****** yst opines that the collaboration bolsters the company's platform integration. This is done by linking network security, threat intelligence, and exposure management into a more unified remediation workflow, with AI-driven tools accelerating vulnerability discovery.
Even though the near-term revenue contribution from the single agreement remains uncertain, the architectural role and long-term demand tailwinds are expected to support continued growth and profitability.
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) is a leading cybersecurity company that provides a variety of products, like firewalls, malware protection, and cloud security.
While we acknowledge the potential of PANW 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.
The ****** yst believes that the new partnership with IBM and Red Hat's Project Lightwell demonstrates a meaningful validation of Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW)'s virtual patching technology. Furthermore, the ****** yst opines that the collaboration bolsters the company's platform integration. This is done by linking network security, threat intelligence, and exposure management into a more unified remediation workflow, with AI-driven tools accelerating vulnerability discovery.
Even though the near-term revenue contribution from the single agreement remains uncertain, the architectural role and long-term demand tailwinds are expected to support continued growth and profitability.
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) is a leading cybersecurity company that provides a variety of products, like firewalls, malware protection, and cloud security.
While we acknowledge the potential of PANW 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.
4 months ago
This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.
The Pittsburgh Pirates got their earliest start in 31 years on Saturday, July 4, but their offense didn’t have any trouble waking up on time in a 7-1 win over the Nationals in Washington. The Pirates (45-45) scored five runs over the first two innings and coasted to victory on the strength of 5.2 strong innings from right-hander Braxton Ashcraft.
Pittsburgh made the most of their bases-loaded opportunity in the second inning, leaping back in front after their lead evaporated the previous frame.
Braxton Ashcraft churned through 5.2 innings and allowed just one run, a homer on the first pitch he threw. Ashcraft fanned seven batters across 94 pitches (62 strikes).
With two steals on Saturday, Konnor Griffin has 19 steals through his first 58 MLB games. The fastest Pirate to reach 20 career steals in the Modern Era was Doug Baird, who achieved the feat in his 60th game in 1915.
The Pittsburgh Pirates got their earliest start in 31 years on Saturday, July 4, but their offense didn’t have any trouble waking up on time in a 7-1 win over the Nationals in Washington. The Pirates (45-45) scored five runs over the first two innings and coasted to victory on the strength of 5.2 strong innings from right-hander Braxton Ashcraft.
Pittsburgh made the most of their bases-loaded opportunity in the second inning, leaping back in front after their lead evaporated the previous frame.
Braxton Ashcraft churned through 5.2 innings and allowed just one run, a homer on the first pitch he threw. Ashcraft fanned seven batters across 94 pitches (62 strikes).
With two steals on Saturday, Konnor Griffin has 19 steals through his first 58 MLB games. The fastest Pirate to reach 20 career steals in the Modern Era was Doug Baird, who achieved the feat in his 60th game in 1915.
4 months ago
Dave Nadig, President & Director of Research at ETF.com and Sumit Roy, Senior ETF ******* yst at ETF.com, are joined this week by Cinthia Murphy, Director of Research at TMX VettaFi; Jeffrey Ptak, Managing Director at Morningstar; and Todd Sohn, Senior ETF & Technical Strategist at Baird Strategas. Together the group digs into mid-year flows, the impending Nasdaq-100 buy-in of ******* eX, and more.
Halfway through 2026, and the ETF industry is having an absolutely wild year, with over a trillion dollars flowing into ETFs already, putting the industry on pace to potentially crack two trillion by year's end. But the real story isn't just the mega-funds like VOO and SPY hoovering up cash; it's how deep the enthusiasm runs, according to Sumit Roy. Dozens of ETFs are pulling in billions each, spanning everything from leveraged single-stock bets to total market funds. Meanwhile, Morningstar's Jeff Ptak brought some Washington color to the conversation, fresh off testifying before the House Capital Markets Subcommittee. His message to lawmakers: low-cost, transparent products are winning, and that's great for investors but as the industry pushes into murkier territory like private ******* ets, the same disclosure standards need to follow.
Performance-wise, it's an AI world and everyone's just trading in it. The S&P 500 is up a very respectable 10% at the midpoint, but that barely registers next to leveraged Micron ETFs up near 1,000%, or the parade of semiconductor and AI-adjacent funds dominating the leaderboard. And then there's ******* eX, the topic the panel apparently can't escape. With the company's IPO shares about to unlock for trading in the Nasdaq 100 complex, Ptak walked through his tracker of the four vehicles that have offered ******* eX exposure and how they held up post-IPO. Cinthia Murphy summed it up as less a performance story and more about getting as close to direct exposure as possible but the second real single-stock access became available, people bailed on the proxy.
Murphy also flagged a fascinating quirk in factor investing: Micron, despite rocketing roughly 800% in a year, is technically cheap enough on forward earnings to qualify as a value stock. That means it's become a massive holding in value-labeled ETFs like iShares' MSCI Value fund, essentially because the index methodology forces flat sector weighting. The group also tackled the leveraged and inverse ETF boom, now a hefty 17% of all ETF trading volume, or roughly $500 billion in notional exposure once multipliers are counted. The discussion covered everything from counterparty risks to the new issuer in town that's shaking up the leveraged ******* e with low-cost fees.
Permalink | © Copyright 2026 etf.com. All rights reserved
Halfway through 2026, and the ETF industry is having an absolutely wild year, with over a trillion dollars flowing into ETFs already, putting the industry on pace to potentially crack two trillion by year's end. But the real story isn't just the mega-funds like VOO and SPY hoovering up cash; it's how deep the enthusiasm runs, according to Sumit Roy. Dozens of ETFs are pulling in billions each, spanning everything from leveraged single-stock bets to total market funds. Meanwhile, Morningstar's Jeff Ptak brought some Washington color to the conversation, fresh off testifying before the House Capital Markets Subcommittee. His message to lawmakers: low-cost, transparent products are winning, and that's great for investors but as the industry pushes into murkier territory like private ******* ets, the same disclosure standards need to follow.
Performance-wise, it's an AI world and everyone's just trading in it. The S&P 500 is up a very respectable 10% at the midpoint, but that barely registers next to leveraged Micron ETFs up near 1,000%, or the parade of semiconductor and AI-adjacent funds dominating the leaderboard. And then there's ******* eX, the topic the panel apparently can't escape. With the company's IPO shares about to unlock for trading in the Nasdaq 100 complex, Ptak walked through his tracker of the four vehicles that have offered ******* eX exposure and how they held up post-IPO. Cinthia Murphy summed it up as less a performance story and more about getting as close to direct exposure as possible but the second real single-stock access became available, people bailed on the proxy.
Murphy also flagged a fascinating quirk in factor investing: Micron, despite rocketing roughly 800% in a year, is technically cheap enough on forward earnings to qualify as a value stock. That means it's become a massive holding in value-labeled ETFs like iShares' MSCI Value fund, essentially because the index methodology forces flat sector weighting. The group also tackled the leveraged and inverse ETF boom, now a hefty 17% of all ETF trading volume, or roughly $500 billion in notional exposure once multipliers are counted. The discussion covered everything from counterparty risks to the new issuer in town that's shaking up the leveraged ******* e with low-cost fees.
Permalink | © Copyright 2026 etf.com. All rights reserved
4 months ago
Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA) is one of the 10 Interest Rate Sensitive Stocks to Buy Now.
On June 12, 2026, RBC Capital lowered its price target on Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA) to $85 from $92 and kept an Outperform rating. RBC Capital updated its retail unit cohort model to gauge market share gain expectations embedded in Street estimates. The firm said its main takeaway is that the Street's implied FY26 and FY27 market share gains appear a bit more aggressive than in prior years.
Last month, Baird ******* yst Craig Kennison raised the firm's price target on Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA) to $88 from $80 previously and kept an Outperform rating on the shares. Kennison updated Baird's model following Carvana's 5:1 stock split.
Copyright: antonioguillem / 123RF Stock Photo
Also in May, Barclays ******* yst John Babcock adjusted the firm's price target on Carvana to $93 from $475 and kept an Overweight rating. Barclays cited the company's stock split for the target change. Babcock said Carvana is still growing retail volumes at a solid pace, although below the 40% growth achieved in the last six quarters.
On June 12, 2026, RBC Capital lowered its price target on Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA) to $85 from $92 and kept an Outperform rating. RBC Capital updated its retail unit cohort model to gauge market share gain expectations embedded in Street estimates. The firm said its main takeaway is that the Street's implied FY26 and FY27 market share gains appear a bit more aggressive than in prior years.
Last month, Baird ******* yst Craig Kennison raised the firm's price target on Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA) to $88 from $80 previously and kept an Outperform rating on the shares. Kennison updated Baird's model following Carvana's 5:1 stock split.
Copyright: antonioguillem / 123RF Stock Photo
Also in May, Barclays ******* yst John Babcock adjusted the firm's price target on Carvana to $93 from $475 and kept an Overweight rating. Barclays cited the company's stock split for the target change. Babcock said Carvana is still growing retail volumes at a solid pace, although below the 40% growth achieved in the last six quarters.
4 months ago
Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA) is one of the 10 Interest Rate Sensitive Stocks to Buy Now.
On June 12, 2026, RBC Capital lowered its price target on Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA) to $85 from $92 and kept an Outperform rating. RBC Capital updated its retail unit cohort model to gauge market share gain expectations embedded in Street estimates. The firm said its main takeaway is that the Street's implied FY26 and FY27 market share gains appear a bit more aggressive than in prior years.
Last month, Baird ******* yst Craig Kennison raised the firm's price target on Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA) to $88 from $80 previously and kept an Outperform rating on the shares. Kennison updated Baird's model following Carvana's 5:1 stock split.
Copyright: antonioguillem / 123RF Stock Photo
Also in May, Barclays ******* yst John Babcock adjusted the firm's price target on Carvana to $93 from $475 and kept an Overweight rating. Barclays cited the company's stock split for the target change. Babcock said Carvana is still growing retail volumes at a solid pace, although below the 40% growth achieved in the last six quarters.
On June 12, 2026, RBC Capital lowered its price target on Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA) to $85 from $92 and kept an Outperform rating. RBC Capital updated its retail unit cohort model to gauge market share gain expectations embedded in Street estimates. The firm said its main takeaway is that the Street's implied FY26 and FY27 market share gains appear a bit more aggressive than in prior years.
Last month, Baird ******* yst Craig Kennison raised the firm's price target on Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA) to $88 from $80 previously and kept an Outperform rating on the shares. Kennison updated Baird's model following Carvana's 5:1 stock split.
Copyright: antonioguillem / 123RF Stock Photo
Also in May, Barclays ******* yst John Babcock adjusted the firm's price target on Carvana to $93 from $475 and kept an Overweight rating. Barclays cited the company's stock split for the target change. Babcock said Carvana is still growing retail volumes at a solid pace, although below the 40% growth achieved in the last six quarters.
4 months ago
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) is one of the best low volatility stocks to buy under $50. Stephens resumed coverage of Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) with an Overweight rating on June 15 and set a price target of $59. The firm resumed coverage of nine super-regional banks and stated that it is "broadly constructive" around the setup for the group. It also noted that the operating leverage has improved over the past year, while the capital return for 2026 is forecasted at levels not seen since 2019 and could accelerate pending the Basel 3 Endgame proposals.
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) also received a rating update from Baird on May 1. The firm downgraded the stock to Neutral from Outperform and kept the price target unchanged at $55 while citing valuation for the downgrade, with the shares up 17% off the March lows. Baird further stated that it sees other banks with better pre-provision net revenue growth trajectories and earnings growth potential, and told investors in a research note that Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) "has one of the most attractive franchises in banking, but feels like a sale is unlikely in the near term".
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) is a financial holding company that provides banking services to individuals, businesses, and municipalities. The company's operations are divided into the following segments: Consumer Banking and Wealth, Corporate and Commercial Banking, and Other, Treasury and Corporate.
While we acknowledge the potential of TFC 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.
READ NEXT: 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years AND 12 Best Stocks That Will Always Grow.
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) also received a rating update from Baird on May 1. The firm downgraded the stock to Neutral from Outperform and kept the price target unchanged at $55 while citing valuation for the downgrade, with the shares up 17% off the March lows. Baird further stated that it sees other banks with better pre-provision net revenue growth trajectories and earnings growth potential, and told investors in a research note that Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) "has one of the most attractive franchises in banking, but feels like a sale is unlikely in the near term".
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) is a financial holding company that provides banking services to individuals, businesses, and municipalities. The company's operations are divided into the following segments: Consumer Banking and Wealth, Corporate and Commercial Banking, and Other, Treasury and Corporate.
While we acknowledge the potential of TFC 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.
READ NEXT: 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years AND 12 Best Stocks That Will Always Grow.
4 months ago
Gavin Lauridsen, a transfer pitcher from Southern Cal, committed to Vanderbilt baseball.
Lauridsen, who made the announcement on social media, was a freshman in 2026. He finished fifth on the team with 45⅔ innings. He was 3-1, with a 4.73 ERA and three saves, striking out 40 and walking 27.
Lauridsen's fastball has been up to 96 mph and shows both a curveball and changeup, but to see a significant role with the Commodores, he will need to throw more strikes and miss more bats.
He should be another young pitcher on the staff with upside but who isn't a sure thing, along with returners like Connor Hamilton, Tyler Baird, Wyatt Nadeau and Aiden Stillman.
In 2026, Vanderbilt missed the NCAA Tournament after putting up a team ERA of 5.23. Its 4.9 walks per nine innings were the third-worst in the SEC, and its pitchers were second in the SEC in hit batters.
Lauridsen, who made the announcement on social media, was a freshman in 2026. He finished fifth on the team with 45⅔ innings. He was 3-1, with a 4.73 ERA and three saves, striking out 40 and walking 27.
Lauridsen's fastball has been up to 96 mph and shows both a curveball and changeup, but to see a significant role with the Commodores, he will need to throw more strikes and miss more bats.
He should be another young pitcher on the staff with upside but who isn't a sure thing, along with returners like Connor Hamilton, Tyler Baird, Wyatt Nadeau and Aiden Stillman.
In 2026, Vanderbilt missed the NCAA Tournament after putting up a team ERA of 5.23. Its 4.9 walks per nine innings were the third-worst in the SEC, and its pitchers were second in the SEC in hit batters.
4 months ago
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) is one of the best low volatility stocks to buy under $50. Stephens resumed coverage of Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) with an Overweight rating on June 15 and set a price target of $59. The firm resumed coverage of nine super-regional banks and stated that it is "broadly constructive" around the setup for the group. It also noted that the operating leverage has improved over the past year, while the capital return for 2026 is forecasted at levels not seen since 2019 and could accelerate pending the Basel 3 Endgame proposals.
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) also received a rating update from Baird on May 1. The firm downgraded the stock to Neutral from Outperform and kept the price target unchanged at $55 while citing valuation for the downgrade, with the shares up 17% off the March lows. Baird further stated that it sees other banks with better pre-provision net revenue growth trajectories and earnings growth potential, and told investors in a research note that Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) "has one of the most attractive franchises in banking, but feels like a sale is unlikely in the near term".
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) is a financial holding company that provides banking services to individuals, businesses, and municipalities. The company's operations are divided into the following segments: Consumer Banking and Wealth, Corporate and Commercial Banking, and Other, Treasury and Corporate.
While we acknowledge the potential of TFC 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.
READ NEXT: 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years AND 12 Best Stocks That Will Always Grow.
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) also received a rating update from Baird on May 1. The firm downgraded the stock to Neutral from Outperform and kept the price target unchanged at $55 while citing valuation for the downgrade, with the shares up 17% off the March lows. Baird further stated that it sees other banks with better pre-provision net revenue growth trajectories and earnings growth potential, and told investors in a research note that Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) "has one of the most attractive franchises in banking, but feels like a sale is unlikely in the near term".
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC) is a financial holding company that provides banking services to individuals, businesses, and municipalities. The company's operations are divided into the following segments: Consumer Banking and Wealth, Corporate and Commercial Banking, and Other, Treasury and Corporate.
While we acknowledge the potential of TFC 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.
READ NEXT: 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years AND 12 Best Stocks That Will Always Grow.
4 months ago
Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL) is one of the 12 High Quality Stocks to Buy for the Long Term.
On June 18, 2026, Baird ***** yst Luke Junk raised the firm's price target on Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL) to $440 from $355 and maintained an Outperform rating on the shares. Junk updated Baird's model following Jabil's Q3 results.
Also on June 18, Goldman Sachs raised the firm's price target on Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL) to $482 from $384 and maintained a Buy rating on the shares. Goldman Sachs said Jabil delivered a strong quarter, with results modestly above expectations and guidance implying upside from accelerating AI-related revenue growth and expanding margins through FY27. The firm said this reinforced confidence in Jabil's positioning across secular growth markets, despite a muted initial stock reaction tied to elevated expectations.
On June 17, 2026, Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL) reported Q3 core EPS of $3.16, compared with consensus of $3.12, and revenue of $8.8B, compared with consensus of 8.66B. CEO Mike Dastoor said AI infrastructure demand remains extremely strong and that the company's full-year AI-related revenue outlook is now meaningfully higher. Dastoor also said Jabil saw better-than-expected performance in areas that had previously been under pressure, particularly Automotive and Connected Living, while raising its fiscal 2026 outlook for revenue, core operating margins, core EPS, and free cash flow.
Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL) provides engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions worldwide through its Regulated Industries, Intelligent Infrastructure, and Connected Living and Digital Commerce segments.
On June 18, 2026, Baird ***** yst Luke Junk raised the firm's price target on Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL) to $440 from $355 and maintained an Outperform rating on the shares. Junk updated Baird's model following Jabil's Q3 results.
Also on June 18, Goldman Sachs raised the firm's price target on Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL) to $482 from $384 and maintained a Buy rating on the shares. Goldman Sachs said Jabil delivered a strong quarter, with results modestly above expectations and guidance implying upside from accelerating AI-related revenue growth and expanding margins through FY27. The firm said this reinforced confidence in Jabil's positioning across secular growth markets, despite a muted initial stock reaction tied to elevated expectations.
On June 17, 2026, Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL) reported Q3 core EPS of $3.16, compared with consensus of $3.12, and revenue of $8.8B, compared with consensus of 8.66B. CEO Mike Dastoor said AI infrastructure demand remains extremely strong and that the company's full-year AI-related revenue outlook is now meaningfully higher. Dastoor also said Jabil saw better-than-expected performance in areas that had previously been under pressure, particularly Automotive and Connected Living, while raising its fiscal 2026 outlook for revenue, core operating margins, core EPS, and free cash flow.
Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL) provides engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions worldwide through its Regulated Industries, Intelligent Infrastructure, and Connected Living and Digital Commerce segments.
4 months ago
Zscaler Inc. (NASDAQ:ZS) is one of the 7 Worst Cloud Stocks To Buy According to Short Sellers. On June 10, Shrenik Kothari, an ****** yst at Robert W. Baird, reiterated a Buy rating on Zscaler Inc. (NASDAQ:ZS) and set a price target of $230. The firm's price target offers an additional 79% upside from here. Similarly, on June 1, Guggenheim upgraded Zscaler Inc. (NASDAQ:ZS) to Buy from Neutral and ****** igned a target price of $214. The positive ****** yst sentiment followed the company's Q3 2026 earnings report.
The quarterly report came out on May 26. Zscaler Inc. (NASDAQ:ZS) reported revenue of $850.48 million, up 25% year over year. The earnings per share came in at $1.08, which comfortably beat the Wall Street consensus of $1.01.
For Q4 2026, the company has raised its revenue guidance to between $875 million and $878 million. This translates to an EPS of $1.08 to $1.09. Guggenheim believes Zscaler is in a good position in cloud-based security, such as SASE and SSE. As a result, it could generate more revenue in the coming years.
Zscaler Inc. (NASDAQ:ZS) is a cloud-based internet security platform provider. The company is located in San Jose, California, and was founded in September 2007 by Jay Chaudhry and K. Kailash.
While we acknowledge the potential of ZS 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.
The quarterly report came out on May 26. Zscaler Inc. (NASDAQ:ZS) reported revenue of $850.48 million, up 25% year over year. The earnings per share came in at $1.08, which comfortably beat the Wall Street consensus of $1.01.
For Q4 2026, the company has raised its revenue guidance to between $875 million and $878 million. This translates to an EPS of $1.08 to $1.09. Guggenheim believes Zscaler is in a good position in cloud-based security, such as SASE and SSE. As a result, it could generate more revenue in the coming years.
Zscaler Inc. (NASDAQ:ZS) is a cloud-based internet security platform provider. The company is located in San Jose, California, and was founded in September 2007 by Jay Chaudhry and K. Kailash.
While we acknowledge the potential of ZS 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.
