Decentralized exchange token Aster (ASTER) jumped Wednesday, defying the overall weakness in the cryptocurrency market. ASTER Steals Spotlight ASTER was up over 4% in the last 24 hours, reaching an all-time high of $2.42.
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers has criticized the idea of eliminating quarterly earnings reports, a policy proposal floated by President Donald Trump in a Truth Social post last week.
FedEx’s third quarter performance reflected steady execution in the face of persistent global trade volatility and structural industry shifts. Management credited U.S. domestic parcel growth and disciplined cost management as key drivers, with CEO Rajesh Subramaniam highlighting “profitable share growth in the U.S. domestic market” and improved pricing discipline. Despite headwinds from reduced international export demand and the expiration of a major U.S. Postal Service contract, the company maintained operating margin stability. Management emphasized ongoing transformation initiatives, including network optimization and new business wins in high-value verticals, as supporting factors for the quarter.
Scholastic’s third quarter results were met with a significant negative reaction from the market. Management attributed the underperformance to persistent headwinds in its Education Solutions segment, where delayed and cancelled federal grants weighed on sales. CEO Peter Warwick described the quarter as “reflecting the normal seasonality of our business,” but acknowledged that ongoing funding uncertainty and reduced spending by schools contributed to the revenue decline. The company also highlighted operational improvements and strong performance in its Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution segment, with continued demand for key franchises like Hunger Games and Harry Potter bolstering trade sales.
FactSet’s third quarter was met with a negative market reaction, reflecting investor disappointment in light of strong revenue growth but lower-than-expected non-GAAP earnings. Management pointed to broad-based demand for analytics and data solutions, especially in wealth and asset management, as key drivers of growth. CEO Sanoke Viswanathan described FactSet’s client relationships as “deeply embedded,” emphasizing the company’s expanding role in supporting complex workflows for both buy-side and wealth clients. The company credited recent wins and product enhancements, particularly those related to AI integration, for improving client retention and driving new business.
Darden’s third quarter results were met with a negative market reaction, with shares falling after the company delivered sales growth but missed Wall Street’s profit expectations. Management attributed the quarter’s performance to strong same-restaurant sales gains at Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, supported by menu innovation and the growing adoption of first-party delivery. CEO Ricardo Cardenas highlighted the positive impact of new menu items and promotional campaigns, noting, “Olive Garden’s advertising featuring 1 million free deliveries concluded in the first quarter with all the free deliveries being redeemed.” However, executives also acknowledged margin pressures from higher beef costs and increased investment in affordability initiatives.
We finally got a little bit of a sell-off today in the gold and silver markets after a furious rally had pushed the gold futures over $3,800 and the silver futures over the $44 level.
Intel shares are rising after reports of potential investment discussions with Apple, as the company seeks strategic partnerships amid growing competition in AI semiconductors.
Markets continued to press pause this week after a nice run following the Fed decision a week ago to lower interest rates by 25 basis points (bps), with more cuts to come.
"You get what you pay for" often applies to expensive stocks with best-in-class business models and execution.
While their quality can sometimes justify the premium, they typically experience elevated volatility during market downturns when expectations change.
Most consumer discretionary businesses succeed or fail based on the broader economy. This volatility leads to big swings in stock prices that have worked in their favor recently -
over the past six months, the industry has returned 19.6% and beat the S&P 500 by 4.8 percentage points.
Consumer staples stocks are solid insurance policies in frothy markets ripe for corrections. The flip side is that they frequently fall behind growth industries when times are good,
and this perception became a reality over the past six months as the sector was down 2.8% while the S&P 500 was up 14.9%.
Industrials businesses quietly power the physical things we depend on, from cars and homes to e-commerce infrastructure. Their momentum is also rising as lower interest rates have incentivized higher capital spending.
As a result, the industry has posted a 21.4% gain over the past six months, beating the S&P 500 by 6.5 percentage points.
Insurance providers use their expertise in risk assessment to help protect assets while offering consumers peace of mind through comprehensive coverage options. But concerns about claims severity and tightening regulations have tempered enthusiasm,
capping the upside for insurance stocks lately - over the past six months, the industry’s flat return has trailed the S&P 500’s 14.9% gain.
A company that generates cash isn’t automatically a winner.
Some businesses stockpile cash but fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their ability to expand.
A company that generates cash isn’t automatically a winner.
Some businesses stockpile cash but fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their ability to expand.
A highly volatile stock can deliver big gains - or just as easily wipe out a portfolio if things go south.
While some investors embrace risk, mistakes can be costly for those who aren’t prepared.
The biggest names in tech, e-commerce, and digital transformation are in the Nasdaq 100 (^NDX), but only a few are leading the pack.
Some companies in this index are proving their resilience and expanding their competitive advantages.
While profitability is essential, it doesn’t guarantee long-term success.
Some companies that rest on their margins will lose ground as competition intensifies - as Jeff Bezos said, "Your margin is my opportunity".
Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages.
Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.
A stock with low volatility can be reassuring, but it doesn’t always mean strong long-term performance.
Investors who prioritize stability may miss out on higher-reward opportunities elsewhere.
From fast food to fine dining, restaurants play a vital societal role. But the side dish is that they’re quite difficult to operate because high inventory and labor costs generally lead to thin margins at the store level.
This leaves little room for error if demand dries up, and it seems like the market has some reservations as the industry has tumbled by 7.1% over the past six months. This drop is a noticeable divergence from the S&P 500’s 14.9% return.
Wall Street is overwhelmingly bullish on the stocks in this article, with price targets suggesting significant upside potential.
However, it’s worth remembering that analysts rarely issue sell ratings, partly because their firms often seek other business from the same companies they cover.
Market swings can be tough to stomach, and volatile stocks often experience exaggerated moves in both directions.
While many thrive during risk-on environments, many also struggle to maintain investor confidence when the ride gets bumpy.
Even if a company is profitable, it doesn’t always mean it’s a great investment.
Some struggle to maintain growth, face looming threats, or fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their future potential.
Companies with more cash than debt can be financially resilient, but that doesn’t mean they’re all strong investments.
Some lack leverage because they struggle to grow or generate consistent profits, making them unattractive borrowers.
Large-cap stocks have the power to shape entire industries thanks to their size and widespread influence.
With such vast footprints, however, finding new areas for growth is much harder than for smaller, more agile players.
Wall Street has set ambitious price targets for the stocks in this article.
While this suggests attractive upside potential, it’s important to remain skeptical because analysts face institutional pressures that can sometimes lead to overly optimistic forecasts.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:HIVE) shares rallied after Wednesday’s market close after the data center reported that it had reached 2% of global Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) mining capacity.
Build-a-Bear Workshop just crossed a $1 billion valuation—a surprising milestone in today’s market. The move raises eyebrows and invites questions about the underlying fundamentals versus market hype.
