Investors are worried. CNN's Fear and Greed Index is at "extreme fear." Inflation remains persistently high, with the ongoing Iran war and tariffs not helping matters. Stock market valuations are frothy by most metrics.
In times of uncertainty, many investors look to safe havens. Utility stocks rank high on the list. But if the stock market crashes, will utility stocks really protect your portfolio?
Missed AI's "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 16x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our ***** ysts, we're only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
Arguments for buying utility stocks as a defensive portfolio move make sense. Consumers don't stop using electricity, natural gas, or water during an economic downturn or stock market sell-off.
There's also historical precedent for utility stocks protecting against a market crash. For example, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) sank almost 50% from its peak in early 2000 by October 2002 when the dot-com bubble burst. The Nasdaq-100 index plunged more than 80%. Meanwhile, shares of NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) and The Southern Company (NYSE: SO), both large electric utility providers, jumped more than 20% during the same period.

#utility #Stock #fear #high

LONDON (AP) — World leaders who have sparred with the "America first" President Donald Trump greeted the rout of his Republican Party in the U.S. midterm elections with a measure of relief Wednesday, allowing themselves to hope for a less combative U.S. foreign policy.
But that hope was seasoned with the expectation that American voters' rebuke would not necessarily end the U.S. conflict with Iran or change Trump's policies on tariffs or his lukewarm-at-best support for Ukraine and America's European allies.
Progressive politicians cast the results as part of a trend of liberal comebacks around the world, following recent defeats for populists on the right in Hungary, Brazil and Serbia.
Spain's social democratic Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on X that Americans had voted "Against hate. Against machismo. Against climate denialism and against the privileges of the elites."
"It happened in Brazil. It just happened in the US. And it will happen soon in Spain," wrote Sánchez, who faces an election Nov. 29.

#nchez #wrote #happened #donald

Voters in seven states weighed in on property tax relief measures on Tuesday, part of an ongoing property tax revolt that has developed in recent years as home prices and **** sed values soared while incomes have largely failed to keep up. The outcomes were mixed, with voters in Florida and North Carolina overwhelmingly approving amendments designed to cut or cap taxes, while Wyoming and Oklahoma voters rejected tax-limiting measures.
The split results reflect the complicated trade-offs between limiting unpopular and fast-rising taxes and funding public services.
"Property tax bills are rising far faster than inflation and even home valuations," said Nicole Fox, a policy **** yst at the Tax Foundation. "People are noticing."
Read more: Democrats win Congress, eye healthcare, tariffs, and Trump's allies
The most sweeping effort to lower taxes came in Florida, where 62% of voters approved a major property tax cut that will increase the amount of a home's value that can be exempted from non-school homestead property taxes, effectively eliminating those taxes entirely in some parts of the state.

#measures #rising #tuesday

Democrats retook power in Washington on Tuesday, flipping key House and Senate seats to command majorities in both chambers of Congress.
The power shift creates a new platform for Democrats to launch investigations of President Trump's economic allies — Elon Musk, to name one — and pass bills that may be unlikely to become law but will mark a sharp change in the political climate for business leaders and economic issues after two years of unified Republican control.
The change also appears set to elevate figures like Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren and others to prominent positions with oversight over economic policy.
Read more: What a Democratic sweep means for stocks
Democrats are planning "a shock-and-awe legislative sprint," the New York Times reported, on issues like healthcare subsidies and Trump's tariffs, which could prompt a wave of bills to pass the House but stall against the 60-vote threshold in the Senate. Even in the minority, Senate rules mean Republicans retain the power to stop legislation.

#issues

BUFFALO Funds, an actively managed mutual fund advised by Kornitzer Capital Management, released its third-quarter 2026 investor letter for "Buffalo Growth Fund". The letter can be downloaded here. The Buffalo Growth Fund advanced 4.57% in Q3, significantly outperforming the Russell 3000® Growth Index's 0.45%. The primary driver of this outperformance was stock selection in Information Technology, particularly among hyperscaler stocks that benefited from higher cloud revenue. However, rising oil prices and inflation challenged the market, prompting the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates for the first time since July 2023 and prompting caution within the Fund. The fund has reduced some positions, noting the cost of capital's impact on business models. There is optimism for hyperscalers following the upcoming Anthropic IPO, which could provide investor transparency for future capex. Also, check the Fund's top five holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its Q3 2026 investor letter, Buffalo Growth Fund noted that it sold its position in SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) during the quarter. SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) is a US-based semiconductor company that provides data storage devices and solutions using NAND flash technology for AI developers and enterprise workloads. On November 03, 2026, SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) closed at $1,126.52, with a $160.29 billion market capitalization. Driven by strong momentum, SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) has surged 335.83% year-to-date, trading within a 52-week range of $164.56 to $2,354.39.
Buffalo Growth Fund stated the following regarding Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) in its Q3 2026 investor letter:
"In the previous quarter we determined the portfolio was lacking exposure to the memory ***** e and initiated small positions in both Micron and Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK). Unfortunately, the timing on Sandisk was poor as the stock advanced rapidly through the end of June and then experienced the bottom drop out with nasty momentum unwind in July. We decided to take losses on Sandisk and move on from a ***** e that has historically been incredibly cyclical. Typically, cyclical businesses like this aren't where we focus our time and this experience reminded us of that."
Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 128 hedge fund portfolios held Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) at the end of the second quarter which was 114 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) 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.

#Growth

Democrats retook power in Washington on Tuesday, flipping key House and Senate seats to command majorities in both chambers of Congress.
The power shift creates a new platform for Democrats to launch investigations of President Trump's economic allies — Elon Musk, to name one — and pass bills that may be unlikely to become law but will mark a sharp change in the political climate for business leaders and economic issues after two years of unified Republican control.
The change also appears set to elevate figures like Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren and others to prominent positions with oversight over economic policy.
Read more: What a Democratic sweep means for stocks
Democrats are planning "a shock-and-awe legislative sprint," the New York Times reported, on issues like healthcare subsidies and Trump's tariffs, which could prompt a wave of bills to pass the House but stall against the 60-vote threshold in the Senate. Even in the minority, Senate rules mean Republicans retain the power to stop legislation.

#senate #change

It was a blue wave big enough to become a blue tsunami.
On Tuesday, the Democratic Party shattered a series of decades-long Republican winning streaks, notched several historic firsts and flipped both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives as Americans in states and districts that voted to reelect President Trump just two years ago delivered a harsh judgment on the steep tariffs, rising gas prices, aggressive immigration raids and unresolved war in Iran that have so far dominated his second term.
"We didn't win this race by alienating our neighbors or shaming our neighbors or ridiculing our neighbors," Democrat James Talarico said after winning the Senate election in Texas. "We embodied a new kind of politics. A politics rooted in a deep love for our state, for our country and, most importantly, for all of our neighbors."
U.S. Sen.-elect James Talarico speaks during a midterm election night event at the Long Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas.
Votes were still being tallied and key races remained uncalled as Election Day came to an end. But as of 1 a.m. ET on Wednesday, when the last polls closed in Alaska, Democrats were projected to gain more than three dozen seats in the House and as many as nine seats in the Senate — far beyond the three and four seats, respectively, that they needed to retake each chamber. They were also on track to win the majority of governorships for the first time since 2011.

#election

President Donald Trump has been in the White House for nearly six years, spanning two nonconsecutive terms. Over that time, the iconic Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES:^DJI), benchmark S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC), and growth-dependent Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) have delivered well-above-average annual returns, compared to most other presidents since the late 1890s.
One of the key catalysts powering Wall Street's bull market, the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure build-out, was well underway before Trump's second term began. But make no mistake about it: Wall Street and investors have also benefited immensely from the president's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (signed into law in December 2017), which lowered the peak marginal corporate income tax rate to 21% (the lowest rate since 1939), fueling record S&P 500 share buybacks.
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 »
President Trump's tariff and trade policy may be doing more harm than good. Image source: Official White House Photo by Molly Riley.
President Trump has also made tariffs a huge part of his economic growth plan. Said Trump,

#Trump #NVIDIA #white #House

WASHINGTON — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers appears to be breaking with President Donald Trump on another key issue less than a month before Election Day.
"Drinking a Labatt and watching the Red Wings, man, it just doesn't get any more Michigan than that," Rogers said in a new ad released Oct. 7. "Here in Michigan, we know that Canada is not our enemy. We need to end this tariff war now."
The statement marks the second time in recent weeks that Rogers spoke out — without criticizing Trump by name — against one of the president's unpopular initiatives. This time, Rogers is calling for an end to Trump's widespread trade war against Canada, America's second-biggest trading partner, while drinking a Canadian beer that's banned from import under the president's latest trade restrictions.
The Republican Senate nominee also split with Trump on the Iran war in late September, saying it "needs to end and end quickly."
Rogers' public shift on tariffs comes amid mounting opposition in Michigan to Trump's tariffs and GOP concerns that voters will reject their candidates up and down the ballot for failing to address cost-of-living concerns. Election Day is Nov. 3, though more than 200,000 Michiganians have already cast absentee ballots.

#Trump #election #drinking

The US trade deficit jumped to more than $100 billion in August as importers wrestled with a new round of President Trump's tariffs and continued to bring in billions of dollars' worth of components for AI data centers.
The total gap: $105.6 billion, a 13.8% increase from July's revised $92.8 billion deficit, the highest level since early 2025, when importers stocked up ahead of Trump's "Liberation Day" and a later four-month surge in imports that pushed average monthly trade deficits north of $120 billion.
Imports rose in August by 4.3%, compared with a 1.4% increase in exports. The US brought in $420.8 billion in total imports in August against $315.2 billion in exports.
In an **** ysis, Capital Economics said the "sharp rise in imports suggests third quarter GDP growth will be well below our current forecast of 4.0%," suggesting that the final annualized figure could be closer to 2.5%."
"The relatively broad-based rise in goods imports mean net trade was still a drag overall," the group added.

#billion #imports #total #increase

The Supreme Court begins its latest term on Monday with a docket full of high-stakes cases that touch on some of the most contentious issues in American politics, including guns, voting and transgender rights.
This will be the second full term for the nation's highest court since President Trump returned to the White House. The previous term, which wrapped up in June, was packed with landmark rulings in a long list of major cases, including Trump's tariffs, birthright citizenship and a slate of key immigration decisions.
The justices will likely take on additional cases over the course of the term, but there are already plenty of pivotal cases for the court to consider in the coming months.
Here's a rundown of the big cases headed to the Supreme Court this term and what their eventual rulings might mean for the country.
Over the past two decades, the Supreme Court has issued a series of decisions that have significantly expanded gun rights. It could go even further next term when it considers whether laws banning certain semiautomatic rifles, like the AR-15, violate the Second Amendment.

#court #term #full #rights

Vera Bradley, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRA) reported on September 15 that fiscal 2027 second-quarter revenue from continuing operations increased 1.1% to $71.6 million. For the quarter ended August 1, 2026, GAAP operating income from continuing operations reached $4.2 million, compared with a $4.6 million loss a year earlier.
However, gross profit included a $7.7 million tariff refund relating to prior-period imports. Subtracting that benefit from reported operating income, with all other items unchanged, produces an illustrative operating loss of approximately $3.5 million and an operating margin of negative 4.9%.
The quarter therefore shows improving customer demand alongside an earnings recovery that still depends heavily on refunds.
Direct-channel performance gives Vera Bradley, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRA) tangible evidence of customer traction. Direct revenue increased 8.0% to $65.4 million, while comparable sales rose 9.2%. Management attributed the comparable-sales improvement to better e-commerce conversion and higher average transaction values across direct channels.
That combination matters because stronger conversion means more shoppers complete purchases, while larger transactions support revenue without requiring equivalent growth in customer traffic. Continued momentum could help spread store, distribution, and corporate costs across a larger sales base.

#bradley

Volkswagen announced a steep cut to its full-year profit outlook on Friday, citing roughly €10 billion ($11.5 billion) in one-time charges concentrated at its troubled Porsche division, amid mounting pressure from U.S. tariffs and a weakening Chinese auto market on the world's second-largest automaker.
The company said it now expects an operating return on sales of up to 1% for 2026, down from its previous guidance of 4% to 5.5%. Volkswagen also said full-year revenue is expected to fall to about €315 billion, from €321.9 billion in 2025.
The bulk of the charges — about €6 billion — stem from revised mid-term ******* umptions for Porsche, in which Volkswagen holds a 75.4% stake. The sports car brand has been hit by U.S. tariffs and a collapse in demand for foreign luxury vehicles in China. On top of that, Volkswagen said it would book a further €2 billion in impairments in the second half of the year, covering China-related writedowns as well as restructuring charges such as costs from early-retirement schemes and the pending divestiture of its Osnabrück plant in Germany, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Volkswagen stock closed down 5.6% following the announcement. Shares of Porsche and Volkswagen's top shareholder Porsche SE fell 3.3% and 4.9%, respectively.
The company cautioned that "further deterioration in the market environment, especially in China, as well as an accelerated shift in demand in favour of battery-electric vehicles" would drag down results, with its Audi and Volkswagen passenger car brands bearing the brunt. Volkswagen noted that its outlook ******* umes tariffs remain unchanged and does not account for possible future effects from the war in the Middle East.

#charges #tariffs #full

MILAN — Italy's tanning industry has yet to emerge from a downturn that has dragged on for four years. During the Lineapelle trade show which ran Tuesday to Thursday, UNIC, Italy's tanners' ***** ociation reported a 6.4 percent decline in turnover and a 5.2 percent drop in production volumes in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year.
The situation, UNIC said, continues to reflect geopolitical uncertainty and persistent inflation, which is tightening consumer spending on fashion, furniture and automotive products.
More from WWD
Trump Threatens Tariffs as Canada Explores Deeper Trade Partnership With EU
Fashion Is Not a Contact Sport: H&M Holds the Line in London as PETA Protesters Crash Runway Show

#percent #lineapelle #thursday #Trump

Trump signed the legislation into law on Friday, the White House said.
LONDON -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday thanked President Donald Trump for signing into law a bill championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, which allows for the expansion of sanctions on Russia related to Moscow's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Trump signed the bill on Friday, the White House said in a statement, after the legislation passed both the House and Senate with strong bipartisan backing. The legislation "authorizes and expands statutory sanctions, tariffs and prohibitions on Russia and extends existing sanctions on Iran," the White House said.
The bill's passage came about two months after Graham died suddenly following a tear in his aorta. Graham had long been an advocate of U.S. support for Kyiv and more stringent measures on Russia and the regime headed by President Vladimir Putin. In 2024, Russia's state financial monitoring agency added Graham to its list of alleged "terrorists and extremists."
In a post to Telegram on Friday night, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for signing what he called "critically important legislation," extending his thanks to "all the senators and members of the House of Representatives who supported it."

#legislation #white #Russia #zelenskyy

On August 18, Amer Sports (NYSE:AS) reported second-quarter results that beat its own guidance and then raised the bar for the rest of the year. Revenue climbed 32% to $1.63 billion, adjusted operating profit nearly tripled, and every region and segment posted double-digit growth. Diluted earnings per share reached $0.18, up from a much smaller figure a year earlier. What stands out about August 18 is not just the size of the beat but how broad it was.
Technical Apparel grew 32% to $674 million, led by Arc'teryx and backed by a 17% omni-comp gain across owned stores and e-commerce. Outdoor Performance grew even faster, up 37% to $569 million, driven by Salomon Softgoods. Ball & Racquet Sports rose 24% to $390 million on the strength of Wilson Tennis 360. CEO James Zheng pointed to strong double-digit growth across every segment, geography, and channel as the reason for confidence in the outlook.
That confidence showed up in the numbers: Amer Sports raised full-year 2026 guidance to roughly 24% reported revenue growth, a gross margin of 60.5% to 61.0%, an operating margin of 14.2% to 14.5%, and diluted EPS of $1.27 to $1.30. The balance sheet backs up the reinvestment CFO Andrew Page described, with $573 million in net cash and $720 million in cash and equivalents at quarter-end.
Some of the second quarter's biggest numbers lean on a one-time tailwind. Gross margin expanded 710 basis points to 65.6%, but 390 of those points came from net tariff refunds. Operating margin's 820 basis point jump included the same 390-point benefit. The effect is largest in Ball & Racquet Sports, where adjusted segment operating margin rose 1,300 basis points to 17.2%, yet 970 of those points came from tariff refunds alone. Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 30% to $909 million, and on an adjusted basis SG&A grew 33%, faster than revenue itself.
Inventories climbed 19% year over year to $1,897 million. The guidance for the next quarter also points to a slower pace: third quarter revenue growth is guided at 18% to 20%, well below the 32% just reported, with gross margin guided down to about 59.0% and net finance cost alone guided to $15 million to $20 million, against roughly $85 million for the entire year.

#revenue #basis

Vertiv (VRT) supplies the power and cooling systems inside AI data centers, and its stock sits near $240, about 64% of its 52-week high. It is still up about 73% over the past twelve months. The open question is delivery, after some revenue from large projects slipped out of the second quarter of 2026. Even so, Vertiv's operating margin has widened in each of the last three years.
How Far Has Vertiv's Operating Margin Climbed?
Vertiv's operating margin was 9.6% three years ago. It rose to 15.1%, then 17.4%, and reached 19.4% over the last twelve months. That is roughly twice as much operating profit from every dollar of sales.
For the adjusted margin gain in the second quarter of 2026, management cites productivity and pricing that ran ahead of costs. Tariffs took back part of it. The company expects price to stay ahead of cost across 2026, tariffs included.
Does The Delivery Slip Show Up In Vertiv's Profits?

#Margin

On September 10, 2026, The Lovesac Company (NASDAQ:LOVE) reported second-quarter fiscal 2027 results for the period ended August 2, 2026. Net sales rose 0.4% to $161.2 million, a record for the quarter, and the company swung to net income of $7.4 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, from a loss of $6.7 million a year earlier. Inside that $0.51 sits $0.86 of net benefit from IEEPA tariff refunds. Omni-channel comparable sales fell 1.9%.
Canaccord's Maria Ripps read the quarter as in line, with revenue and adjusted EBITDA both landing within guidance and near consensus while tariff refunds pushed gross margin and earnings above expectations; she cut the firm's target on The Lovesac Company (NASDAQ:LOVE) to $20 from $22 but held the Buy rating.
Roth Capital's Matt Koranda also called the quarter in line with consensus, though he flagged omni-channel comps trending modestly negative on soft lower-end consumer demand. He lowered the firm's target on The Lovesac Company (NASDAQ:LOVE) to $20 from $22 as well, keeping a Buy rating, and noted that management reset full-year guidance lower on a tough demand environment and modest product launch delays.
DA Davidson offered a similar interpretation of the lower guidance, arguing that the reset reflects the new CFO's approach more than a deterioration in the underlying business. The firm said the CFO, who joined during the quarter, appears to be establishing more conservative expectations that could restore a beat-and-raise pattern the stock had lacked. DA Davidson lowered its target on The Lovesac Company (NASDAQ:LOVE) to $18 from $20 while maintaining its Buy rating.
The operating case rests on the high end: configurations above $6,000 grew double digits against a tough comparison, showroom net sales rose 4.6% to $114.1 million on 14 net new locations, and Snugg helped push other products revenue up 198.2%. Lovesac ended the quarter with $68.8 million in cash and no debt.

#quarter

The Children's Place, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLCE) reported on September 14 that fiscal second-quarter net sales declined 18.9% year over year to $241.8 million. Reported gross margin rose to 34.4% from 34.0% a year earlier for the quarter ended August 1, 2026.
The apparent margin improvement depended heavily on $39 million of tariff refunds recognized as a reduction of cost of sales. That benefit was equivalent to nearly 47% of reported gross profit of $83.3 million.
Management said gross margin excluding the refunds declined 1,550 basis points, or 15.5 percentage points, year over year. This non-GAAP comparison removes the cost-of-sales benefit. The central question is whether inventory cleanup can establish a healthier operating base.
The Children's Place, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLCE) reduced inventory to $340.2 million, down 23.2% from $442.7 million a year earlier. A smaller inventory position allows management to improve the merchandise mix and reduce future exposure to aging products.
Clearing excess stock can release working capital and create room for products better aligned with demand. The eventual benefit depends on rebuilding sales with less discounting, but reducing the stock burden is a useful starting point.

#reported #Margin

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.

Lululemon fell 18% after Meghan Frank delivered a second guidance cut, dropping the full-year EPS outlook to roughly $9.60 from last year's $13.26.
Nike fell 10% and On Holding dropped 14% over the same month, suggesting athletic-apparel sector headwinds extend well beyond Lululemon alone.
An 86-cent tariff refund inflated Q2 EPS but won't recur, making Lululemon's reported profit look cleaner than the challenge facing incoming CEO Heidi O'Neill.
Just released. Our ***** ysts combed the entire stock market and named the ten best stocks to buy right now, and Lululemon didn't make the cut. Enter your email to see the names that beat LULU. The report is free. Enter your email and see if any of your stocks made the cut.
Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ:LULU) stock is under sustained pressure after a September earnings update that lowered management's outlook for the year. Retail broadly softened alongside it, and the broad market held up better, which frames the question of how much of the damage is company-specific and how much is sector-wide. Peer moves are part of that same picture, since athletic-apparel names moved lower together across the past month.

#lululemon #enter #outlook

GPC's unbroken dividend streak since 1999 yields 3%, while LKQ's 5% yield trades below book value with a Goldman-led strategic review pending.
Gentex runs a nearly debt-free balance sheet, with $1.89 trailing EPS covering its $0.48 annual dividend and aggressive buybacks shrinking the share count.
Read More: Avoid these 13 retirement mistakes before they derail your future (sponsor)
Repair demand is the quiet defensive layer inside a cyclical industry. Americans are keeping cars longer, and every mile driven eventually needs a filter, a mirror, a ***** per cover, or a brake caliper. That reality is why a small group of US-listed auto parts names have been able to send cash to shareholders through recessions, tariff scares, and new-vehicle slumps. The three names below all pay a verified dividend, span both aftermarket distribution and original-equipment supply, and range from a 2.13% yield backed by a debt-free balance sheet to a 5.05% yield trading below book value.
Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC) is the NAPA owner and the closest thing this bundle has to an income staple. The stock yields 3.13% at a recent price of $131.45, with a quarterly payout of $1.0625 per share and an annualized run rate of $4.25.

#free

On September 14, Radiant Logistics (NYSEAMERICAN:RLGT) held its fourth fiscal quarter earnings call, and the headline numbers landed harder than a typical logistics update. Net income jumped 53.1% to $7.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, while revenue climbed 18.5% to $261.4 million. Look past that one quarter, though, and the picture gets more complicated, because full-year adjusted profitability actually fell. That gap between a blowout quarter and a softer year is what makes this name worth a closer look.
The fourth fiscal quarter was strong from top to bottom. Adjusted EBITDA rose 31.6% to $10.4 million, margin expanded 240 basis points to 15.5%, and adjusted net income climbed 34.5% to $7.4 million, all against organic revenue growth of 8%. Management credited the acceleration to US forwarding operations and international airfreight, including work supporting disaster relief after typhoon activity hit the Western Pacific earlier this year, plus airfreight demand tied to capital flows into global data center buildouts.
The balance sheet backs up the story. Radiant enters fiscal 2027 with zero net debt, $25.6 million in cash as of June 30, and a $200 million senior credit facility that was extended and restated in August, pushing maturity out to August 7, 2031, while its acquisition-focused accordion grew to $100 million from $75 million. On the domestic side, capacity has been exiting the truckload and intermodal markets, and spot rates and tender rejections moved higher late in the quarter. Radiant also launched a new independent agent program at Radiant Road & Rail during the quarter, extending its freight forwarding agent network into truck brokerage and intermodal, while Navegate is gaining traction, with one enterprise customer now managing more than 1,400 vendors on the platform.
The full-year numbers tell a different story than the quarter does. Revenue rose just 3.5% to $934.4 million from $902.7 million, a fraction of the fourth quarter's 18.5% pace, and full-year net income grew a modest 8.7% to $18.8 million. Full-year adjusted EBITDA actually fell 5.4% to $36.7 million from $38.8 million, and that figure included a $1.3 million First Brands adjustment. Strip that out and normalized adjusted EBITDA comes in at $35.4 million, an even steeper decline than the headline number suggests.
The operating backdrop stays complicated too. Ocean shipping routes remain disrupted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and continued Houthi activity affecting Suez Canal transits, keeping capacity tight on key trade lanes. US tariff policy is generating elevated IEEPA-related filing activity, and Canada put new retaliatory tariff measures into effect in early September, adding fresh complexity for shippers moving goods across that border. Management itself acknowledged that the domestic truck brokerage improvement seen late in the fourth quarter is not yet fully reflected in the reported results.

#quarter #revenue

Parnassus Investments, an investment management company, released the "Parnassus Growth Equity Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. During the quarter, the Fund (Investor Shares) returned 17.49% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index's 16.74%. Holdings in Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary sectors boosted relative returns, while Communication Services and Financials holdings detracted. For the year-to-date period, the Fund returned 6.17% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth's 5.33%. The firm remains constructively bullish on U.S. equities and continues to be selective, valuation-sensitive, and focused on disruptive growth opportunities through active stock selection. Growth stocks advanced during the second quarter, as the Russell 1000 Growth Index generated strong double-digit returns driven by increased confidence in the durability of the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure build-out. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Parnassus Growth Equity Fund highlighted Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) as a newly added position. Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) develops, manufactures, and sells data storage devices and solutions using NAND flash technology in the United States and internationally. On September 15, 2026, Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) closed at $1,530.90 per share. Over the past month, Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) declined 2.32%, but its shares are up 1,530.74% over the past year. Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) has a market capitalization of $224.15 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $90.22 to $2,354.39.
Parnassus Growth Equity Fund stated the following regarding Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Other positions added during the quarter included Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), a leader in flash memory solutions; Comfort Systems, a mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractor. Sandisk makes NAND flash memory, which is seeing a surge in demand from data centers and AI workloads. While NAND remains cyclical, we believe the combination of accelerating AI-driven storage demand and constrained supply provides an attractive opportunity to participate in the current upcycle."
Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) is on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 128 hedge fund portfolios held Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) at the end of the second quarter which was 114 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) 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 fre

Alluvium ******* et Management, an ******* et management company, released its "Conventum – Alluvium Global Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The second quarter reflected a sharp shift from geopolitical uncertainty and oil market volatility to a powerful equity rally led by semiconductor companies. Despite the broader market strength, the Fund declined 1.4% in EUR terms, 2.2% in USD terms, and 3.9% in AUD terms. Portfolio results were mixed, with Alphabet benefiting from strong Cloud growth, while Robert Half, H&R Block, and other holdings posted solid gains. However, cable businesses and several healthcare and consumer holdings weighed on performance. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Conventum – Alluvium Global Fund highlighted McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK). McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) is a leading healthcare services company headquartered in Irving, Texas. On September 15, 2026, McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) closed at $899.56 per share. Over the past month. McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) returned 5.37% and its shares gained 29.95% over the past 52 weeks. McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) has a market capitalization of $106.21 billion, and its stock has traded with a range of $687.68 and $999.00.
Conventum – Alluvium Global Fund stated the following regarding McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Our two healthcare companies had a poor quarter (in terms of share price performance, not business fundamentals). McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK), the drug distributor (down 12.6%), reported its full year results which were perfectly in-line with our expectations. Management provided strong guidance for its next year's earnings, and reiterated its 13%-16% long term growth expectations. After feeding the numbers through our model, our valuation increased by 18%, and with the share price trading below it, we bought a little more such that it accounts for 6.8% of the Fund."
McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 77 hedge fund portfolios held McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) at the end of the second quarter which was 73 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) 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.

#mckesson #alluvium #global

Parnassus Investments, an investment management company, released the "Parnassus Growth Equity Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. During the quarter, the Fund (Investor Shares) returned 17.49% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index's 16.74%. Holdings in Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary sectors boosted relative returns, while Communication Services and Financials holdings detracted. For the year-to-date period, the Fund returned 6.17% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth's 5.33%. The firm remains constructively bullish on U.S. equities and continues to be selective, valuation-sensitive, and focused on disruptive growth opportunities through active stock selection. Growth stocks advanced during the second quarter, as the Russell 1000 Growth Index generated strong double-digit returns driven by increased confidence in the durability of the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure build-out. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Parnassus Growth Equity Fund highlighted Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO). Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) is a leading insurance brokerage firm operating through Retail and Specialty Distribution segments. On September 15, 2026, Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) closed at $67.23 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $22.5 billion. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) posted a one‑month return of -6.29%, while its shares lost 27.35% over the past 52 weeks.
Parnassus Growth Equity Fund stated the following regarding Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"We sold Brown & Brown Inc. during the quarter. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) remains a high-quality business, but we see rising near term risks as the company navigates an industry downturn, integrates a large acquisition and works to close an AI capability gap versus larger peers."
Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 44 hedge fund portfolios held Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) at the end of the second quarter, compared to 41 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) 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.

#quarter #letter

Parnassus Investments, an investment management company, released the "Parnassus Growth Equity Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. During the quarter, the Fund (Investor Shares) returned 17.49% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index's 16.74%. Holdings in Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary sectors boosted relative returns, while Communication Services and Financials holdings detracted. For the year-to-date period, the Fund returned 6.17% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth's 5.33%. The firm remains constructively bullish on U.S. equities and continues to be selective, valuation-sensitive, and focused on disruptive growth opportunities through active stock selection. Growth stocks advanced during the second quarter, as the Russell 1000 Growth Index generated strong double-digit returns driven by increased confidence in the durability of the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure build-out. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Parnassus Growth Equity Fund highlighted Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) as a new position. Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) is a leading mechanical and electrical installation, renovation, maintenance, repair, and replacement services provider to commercial, industrial, and institutional customers. On September 15, 2026, Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) closed at $1,576.78 per share. Over the past month, Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) declined 5.15% and its shares gained 110.86% over the past 52 weeks. Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) has a market capitalization of $55.49 billion.
Parnassus Growth Equity Fund stated the following regarding Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Other positions added during the quarter included Comfort Systems, a mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractor. Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) is a mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractor that provides the skilled labor that's essential for building increasingly complex data centers, where demand continues to accelerate alongside AI investment."
Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 83 hedge fund portfolios held Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) at the end of the second quarter which was 80 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) 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.

#systems #parnassus

Parnassus Investments, an investment management company, released the "Parnassus Growth Equity Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. During the quarter, the Fund (Investor Shares) returned 17.49% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index's 16.74%. Holdings in Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary sectors boosted relative returns, while Communication Services and Financials holdings detracted. For the year-to-date period, the Fund returned 6.17% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth's 5.33%. The firm remains constructively bullish on U.S. equities and continues to be selective, valuation-sensitive, and focused on disruptive growth opportunities through active stock selection. Growth stocks advanced during the second quarter, as the Russell 1000 Growth Index generated strong double-digit returns driven by increased confidence in the durability of the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure build-out. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Parnassus Growth Equity Fund highlighted Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM). The Fund exited its position in Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops and commercializes therapies for patients with serious and rare diseases, during the quarter. On September 15, 2026, Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) closed at $119.92 per share. Over the past month, Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) declined 7.49%, but its shares are down 16.51% over the past year. Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) has a market capitalization of $26.19 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $90.39 and $212.75.
Parnassus Growth Equity Fund stated the following regarding Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM)shares fell after sales of the biopharmaceutical company's new lung drug Brinsupri fell short of ****** ysts' expectations. We exited the position during the quarter. Insmed's thesis had largely played out following positive TPIP data and upward revisions to Brinsupri sales. We redeployed capital to Twist Bioscience, which offers a longer runway for growth."
Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 88 hedge fund portfolios held Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) at the end of the second quarter, compared to 67 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) 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.

#Growth #parnassus

Parnassus Investments, an investment management company, released the "Parnassus Growth Equity Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. During the quarter, the Fund (Investor Shares) returned 17.49% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index's 16.74%. Holdings in Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary sectors boosted relative returns, while Communication Services and Financials holdings detracted. For the year-to-date period, the Fund returned 6.17% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth's 5.33%. The firm remains constructively bullish on U.S. equities and continues to be selective, valuation-sensitive, and focused on disruptive growth opportunities through active stock selection. Growth stocks advanced during the second quarter, as the Russell 1000 Growth Index generated strong double-digit returns driven by increased confidence in the durability of the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure build-out. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Parnassus Growth Equity Fund highlighted Medline Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLN). Medline Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLN) manufactures med-surg products serving hospitals, surgery centers, physician offices, post-acute facilities, and nursing home sites of care. On September 15, 2026, Medline Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLN) closed at $36.59 per share. Over the past month, Medline Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLN) declined 4.23%, and YTD its shares lost 22.68%. Medline Inc. has a market capitalization of $42.22 billion.
Parnassus Growth Equity Fund stated the following regarding Medline Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLN) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Medline Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLN) shares declined as medical technology stocks broadly came under pressure. The company also faced near term concerns surrounding tariffs and higher transportation costs, though we remain confident in its long-term competitive positioning."
Medline Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLN) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 52 hedge fund portfolios held Medline Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLN) at the end of the second quarter which was 65 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Medline Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLN) 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.

#medline #NASDAQ #fund #parnassus

Parnassus Investments, an investment management company, released the "Parnassus Growth Equity Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. During the quarter, the Fund (Investor Shares) returned 17.49% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index's 16.74%. Holdings in Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary sectors boosted relative returns, while Communication Services and Financials holdings detracted. For the year-to-date period, the Fund returned 6.17% (net of fees), outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth's 5.33%. The firm remains constructively bullish on U.S. equities and continues to be selective, valuation-sensitive, and focused on disruptive growth opportunities through active stock selection. Growth stocks advanced during the second quarter, as the Russell 1000 Growth Index generated strong double-digit returns driven by increased confidence in the durability of the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure build-out. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Parnassus Growth Equity Fund highlighted Lumentum Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:LITE). Lumentum Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:LITE) is a leading technology company that manufactures and sells optical and photonic products. On September 15, 2026, Lumentum Holdings Inc. closed at $838.96 per share. Over the past month, Lumentum Holdings Inc. gained 6.57%, and its shares are up 439.98% over the past year. Lumentum Holdings Inc. has a market capitalization of $75.25 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $144.52 to $1,085.68.
Parnassus Growth Equity Fund stated the following regarding Lumentum Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:LITE) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Lumentum Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:LITE) offers exposure to a key bottleneck in AI infrastructure, optical networking, as rising data demand drives a shift away from copper-based systems. Its components enable faster, more efficient data transfer and benefit from strong competitive advantages, including deep technical expertise and high switching costs once embedded in customer platforms."
Lumentum Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:LITE) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 111 hedge fund portfolios held Lumentum Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:LITE) at the end of the second quarter, down from 123 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Lumentum Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:LITE) 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.

#Growth #fund #quarter #parnassus