Articles for category: Investing

March 29, 2025

Ron Finklestien

Exploring Resilient Human Capital Management Stocks During Market Volatility

HCM Stocks Draw Investor Interest Amid Market Volatility As trade war concerns and unexpectedly high Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data triggered a drop in broader market indexes on Friday, human capital management (HCM) stocks are notably garnering investor interest. Companies like Paychex PAYX and Automatic Data Processing ADP, particularly those offering payroll services, could remain insulated from tariff impacts due to sustained demand driven by an unemployment rate near pre-pandemic levels at about 4%. Image Source: Federal Reserve Economic Data Insights from Paychex CEO on Labor Dynamics John Gibson, CEO of Paychex, appeared on CNBC’s Mad Money this week to

March 28, 2025

Ron Finklestien

Why Now is the Time to Invest in MarketAxess: Key Factors to Consider

MarketAxess Holdings Inc. Thrives Despite Rising Expenses MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (MKTX) is currently benefitting from increasing commissions, strategic acquisitions, and partnerships, along with a solid financial foundation that supports growth and shareholder returns. Current Zacks Rank and Stock Performance MarketAxess holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at this time. Over the last month, the stock has risen by 12.9%, contrasting with the industry average, which has declined by 4.4%. During the same period, the Zacks Finance sector and the S&P 500 index saw decreases of 1.4% and 2.8%, respectively. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Strong Growth Projection for MarketAxess The

March 28, 2025

Ron Finklestien

“VST Stock: Is it Worth the Premium Valuation of 19.38X Compared to Industry Peers?”

Vistra Corp: Premium Valuation Analysis amid Strategic Growth Plans Vistra Corp (VST) is currently trading at a premium valuation compared to its Zacks Utility Electric Power industry, with its forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio at 18.63X. In contrast, the industry averages a 14.27X P/E ratio, while the broader Zacks Utilities Sector sits at 15.23X. Vistra aims to enhance its business by investing strategically in appealing retail, renewable, and energy storage assets. This strategy also focuses on reducing its carbon footprint, fostering sustainability, and creating enduring value for its stakeholders. Compared to another operator in the industry, Duke Energy Corporation (DUK),

March 27, 2025

Ron Finklestien

“Investment Insight: Should You Buy Alphabet Shares with Its Intent to Acquire Cybersecurity Firm WIZ?”

Alphabet’s $32 Billion Acquisition of Wiz Enhances Cloud Security Position Shares of Alphabet GOOGL have remained largely unchanged following the announcement of their $32 billion acquisition of New York-based cybersecurity startup Wiz last Tuesday. This acquisition will strengthen Alphabet’s position in cloud security and AI-driven solutions. Wiz specializes in cloud detection and response security (CDR), utilizing AI to identify vulnerabilities within cloud environments. The deal is set to finalize next year, pending regulatory approval. If completed, it will mark Alphabet’s largest acquisition to date, surpassing the $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility in 2012, which enhanced Google’s hardware capabilities and

March 27, 2025

Ron Finklestien

KEYS Launches Innovative Network Interconnect Testing Solution: Will This Boost Stock Performance?

Keysight Technologies Launches Advanced Testing Solutions for High-Speed Networks Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS) recently unveiled the Interconnect Test System (“ITS”), along with the Interconnect and Network Performance Tester 1600GE (INPT-1600GE) hardware traffic emulator and an innovative software solution. This integrated offering is specifically developed to validate network interconnects supporting speeds from 200 GE to 1600 GE. The growing reliance on high-bandwidth applications across various sectors has heightened the complexity of validating high-speed Ethernet infrastructures, AI systems, and data center connections. Traditional manual validation methods often demand significant programming expertise, leading to time-consuming processes that are prone to errors. Additionally, the

March 27, 2025

Ron Finklestien

Arkema and ENGIE Forge Long-Term Biomethane Partnership with New 8-Year Supply Agreement

Arkema Signs Key Biomethane Supply Agreement with ENGIE Arkema S.A. (ARKAY) has established an eight-year contract with ENGIE to provide biomethane to its Bostik plants in France, marking a significant move toward sustainable industrial practices. Key Financial Details of the Agreement This innovative agreement, worth 25 GWh per year, will supply roughly 85% of the annual gas needs for four Bostik facilities located in Coubert, Privas, Ribécourt, and Venette. This deal is a crucial advancement in Arkema’s strategy to decarbonize its energy supply. It complements the long-term biomethane contract that Arkema secured with ENGIE earlier in 2023, which encompasses a

March 26, 2025

Ron Finklestien

NVIDIA vs. Palantir: Which AI Stock Offers the Greatest Growth Potential?

NVIDIA vs. Palantir: Analyzing AI Stocks with Growth Potential Over the past year, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have driven NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) and Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) to become top trading stocks on Wall Street. As AI enters an early expansionary phase, we will examine which company offers greater growth potential and investment appeal. Strong Financial Performance Boosts NVIDIA’s Favorability NVIDIA reported impressive financial results for fiscal 2025, which ended in January. The company’s revenues soared 114% to $130 billion, while adjusted earnings surged 130% to $2.99 per share. Its dominance in the data center graphics processing unit (GPU)

March 26, 2025

Ron Finklestien

Dollar Tree Q4 Earnings Fall Short, Stock Rises Following Family Dollar Acquisition

Dollar Tree Reports Disappointing Q4 Results Amid Family Dollar Sale Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) has released its fourth-quarter fiscal 2024 results, revealing disappointing earnings and sales below the Zacks Consensus Estimate, alongside a year-over-year decline. The weaker performance stems mainly from categorizing Family Dollar as discontinued operations following the decision to sell the business during a strategic review. For the latest EPS estimates and surprises, visit Zacks Earnings Calendar. On March 25, 2025, Dollar Tree entered a definitive agreement to sell its Family Dollar division to Brigade and Macellum for $1.007 billion, subject to adjustments related to working capital and

March 26, 2025

Ron Finklestien

FDA Greenlights Sanofi’s Submission for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Tolebrutinib

Sanofi’s Tolebrutinib Receives FDA Priority Review for MS Treatment Sanofi (SNY) announced that the FDA has accepted its regulatory filing for approval of the investigational BTK inhibitor tolebrutinib. This drug aims to treat non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (nrSPMS) and slow disability accumulation independent of relapse activity in adults. The FDA’s decision to grant priority review has reduced the review period by four months. A final decision on the approval is expected by September 28, 2025. Clinical Support and Significance This regulatory filing is backed by data from three late-stage studies: one study (HERCULES) focused on nrSPMS, while the other

March 25, 2025

Ron Finklestien

Market Correction Driven by Declining Valuations Rather Than Earnings

Market Selloff Drives Mag 7 Down Amidst Earnings Resilience Mag 7 Led Selloff in Q1 as All Caps Indexes Enter Correction Last week, we discussed how tariffs and ongoing policy uncertainty negatively impacted small business and consumer sentiment, contributing to the recent market selloff. In the time since, several key developments have emerged: The reciprocal tariffs scheduled for April 2 are expected to be more targeted than initially anticipated. Consumer expectations have plummeted to a 12-year low, driven by concerns over tariffs and the stock market. Consumer worries regarding the stock market are justified. From mid-February, both Large Caps, Mid