The numbers: Pending-home sales ticked up 0.2% in November, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. What happened: NAR's index of pending home sales tracks real-estate transactions in which a contract has been signed, but the deal hasn't closed. November's increase missed the consensus forecast of a 0.5% monthly gain from economists surveyed by Econoday. The index reading was 109.5...Read More
A number of retail stocks have found new life toward the end of 2017, including Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU). The shares enjoyed their highest close in over a year yesterday, thanks to their strong push up the charts in the second half of the year. By the numbers, LULU stock has surged 67.5% since the end of May, with a solid chunk of these gains coming after an impressive earnings relea...Read More
Wireless technology stock Energous Corp (NASDAQ:WATT) received some good news this morning, after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted certification for the company's WattUp Mid Field wireless charging transmitter. This marks the first FCC certification for power-at-a-distance wireless charging, per a company press release.The FCC milestone has sent WATT up an astounding 83.1% to t...Read More
Oppenheimer analyst Hartaj Singh weighed in bullishly today on Sarepta Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:SRPT), calling the biopharmaceutical stock "a key SMID-cap pick in our coverage universe." In a note to clients, Singh said, "We do not see any meaningful competition to SRPT's [Duchenne muscular dystrophy] franchise for another 3-5 years," and reiterated both his "outperform" rating and a $76 price tar...Read More
Footwear stock Deckers Outdoor Corp (NYSE:DECK) has vaulted to a gain of 43% year-to-date, roughly doubling the percentage gain of the S&P 500 Index (SPX) over this same time frame. That stock recently muscled above the $78 level, which had previously marked DECK's highs since a big bear gap in early 2015. With this technical hurdle in the rearview, the next major zone of resistance for DECK is as...Read More
The shares of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) retreated yesterday, even after CEO Elon Musk teased plans for an electric pickup truck, which he promised to make "right after the Model Y." However, analysts at KeyBanc are more concerned about Tesla's Model 3, and today lowered their fourth-quarter delivery estimates for the vehicle to 5,000 from 15,000. Below, we'll take a closer look at TSLA stock and tod...Read More
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are trading modestly above fair value this morning. Stocks will try to bounce back from yesterday's bearish session, where a pullback from Apple (AAPL) stock pressured the tech sector. Traders will also have some economic data to sift through today, namely stats on consumer confidence and pending home sales. Plus, blockchain stocks could remain in focus,...Read More
With only a few days left of 2017, I decided to compare some key stats from this year to other years. Also, I looked back historically to find the years most like 2017, and see how stocks performed after these extremely low-volatility grinds higher. 2017 Key Statistics: Positive Days and Low VolatilityBelow is a table looking at some key stats for each year since 2000. With a few days left in the...Read More
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) finished lower today, dragged down by Apple's (AAPL) worst session since August. Both the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) also finished in the red, despite a solid day from retail stocks. Energy stocks also had a good day, after a pipeline explosion in Libya sent oil prices to a two-and-a-half-year high. Still, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX...Read More
Retail stocks are higher today, as traders celebrate signs of a strong holiday shopping season. Specifically, the latest data from Mastercard SpendingPulse indicates that year-end domestic retail sales surged 4.9% in 2017, marking the biggest year-over-year increase in six years. As such, theSPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) is flirting with fresh annual highs, and set for its best quarter since late 2014...Read More
Stocks are mostly lower so far today. Among the names making the biggest moves are retail stock Macy's, Inc. (NYSE:M), drugmaker Insys Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:INSY), and semiconductor specialist Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU). Here's a quick look at what's moving shares of M, INSY, and MU. Retail Rally Lifts Rebounding Macy's StockMacy's stock is pacing for its highest close since early Ma...Read More
Last week, we highlighted Dow stock Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) as a potential winner from the recently passed tax bill. Today, however, Verizon stock finds itself on a more nefarious list: the worst performing stocks the week of New Year's. Below is a list of stocks that tend to struggle next week, as well as a closer look at VZ.The 25 S&P 500 Index (SPX) stocks below have been the wor...Read More
U.S. stocks are lower at midday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Nasdaq Composite (IXIC), and S&P 500 Index (SPX) all trading below breakeven. Much of the pullback can be accredited to Apple stock, which is down after reports surfaced of lackluster shipments for the iPhone X. On the flip side, retail stocks are higher after the Mastercard SpendingPulse report pointed to the biggest...Read More
Earlier we dug into two Dow stocks that could outperform next week, based on historical returns. While not as well known, another stock to buy New Year's week could be natural gas concern ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE). That's because OKE shares have finished the week higher 90% of the time over the past 10 years, according to Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White -- the best of any S&P 500...Read More
It's hard to believe that we have less than a week left in 2017, yet here we are. While the past year has been a bit rocky politically, it's been a banner year for the U.S. stock market. What's more, below we've listed 25 stocks that could start 2018 with a bang, if past is prologue, including two blue chips: Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) and Boeing Inc (NYSE:BA). Let's take a closer look at G...Read More
Apple (AAPL) stock is falling today amid reports of disappointing iPhone X demand. This in turn is putting pressure onstocks of companies that work with the tech giant, including semiconductor concerns Cirrus Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS) and Broadcom(NASDAQ:AVGO). Below we'll take a closer look at shares of CRUS and AVGO amid this pullback.CRUS Stock Slides AgainStarting with Cirrus Logic, the securi...Read More
Dow component Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is in focus this morning, after reports surfaced of lower-than-expected iPhone X shipments in the company's fiscal first quarter. This report has pushed Apple suppliers such as Finisar (FNSR) and Skyworks Solutions (SWKS) lower, and has AAPL trading down 3% at $169.80 in early action.Apple stock has been ramping higher lately, punctuated by a record high of...Read More
Drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (NYSE:TEVA) has had a rocky year, culminating in drastic cuts to its workforce and suspended dividend payments. Today, the stock is generating buzz amid reports that Israel's biggest pharmacy chain, Super-Pharm, isin talks to buy a Teva plant. Below, wetake a closer look at TEVA stock.Super-Pharm will reportedlypay between $17 - $23 million for the Ashd...Read More
Infrastructure stocks were expected to be a key beneficiary of the Trump administration's business-friendly agenda, and -- though the exchange-traded fund (ETF) features a broad international mix of companies, rather than a U.S.-focused lineup -- the price action in the iShares Global Infrastructure ETF (IGF) reflected this post-election optimism. From its pre-election close at $40.14, IGF went on...Read More
Stocks are set to pull back today, with Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures trading below fair value following the long Christmas weekend. Though this has historically been a bullish time for stocks, weakness from the tech sector could pressure U.S. markets today, mainly due to an expected pullback in Apple (AAPL) stock. Specifically, a Taiwan newspaper has reported the tech giant will cut...Read More