Nasdaq Stocks

The dollar index has edged higher from the level in late February 2024. However, other markets are screaming the dollar index is losing value even though it has posted a slight gain.

In Wednesday’s trading, there were 16 unusually active call options with 611 days to expiration. Three of them just happened to be gold miners. Here’s why you might want to buy one or more of them.

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX ) (SPY ) is down -0.03%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI ) (DIA ) is up +0.02%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX ) (QQQ ) is down -0.09%. US stock indexes are moderately lower this afternoon, after the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrials,...

The best performing sector as of midday Thursday is the Consumer Products sector, up 0.5%. Within the sector, Archer Daniels Midland Co. (Symbol: ADM) and Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (Symbol: EL) are two large stocks leading the way, showing a gain of 3.0% and 2.2%, respectively. A

The worst performing sector as of midday Thursday is the Materials sector, showing a 0.4% loss. Within that group, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (Symbol: MLM) and Vulcan Materials Co (Symbol: VMC) are two large stocks that are lagging, showing a loss of 5.0% and 3.9%, respecti

In trading on Thursday, shares of Compass Diversified's 7.875% Series B Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares (Symbol: CODI.PRB) were yielding above the 8% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.9688), with shares changing hands as low as $24.57 on t

In this series, we look through the most recent Dividend Channel ''DividendRank'' report, and then we cherry pick only those companies that have experienced insider buying within the past six months. The officers and directors of a company tend to have a unique insider's view of

Soybeans are slipping lower on Thursday following dull Export Sales data. Contracts are steady to 4 cents lower in the nearbys, with July slightly higher. Soymeal futures are down $1.70 to $2.30/ton. Soy Oil is extending the bounce with 80 point gains. Weekly Export Sales data tallied soybean bookings at...

Corn futures are hitting the copy/paste button on the Thursday trade, as future are again fading the early session gains. Midday losses are totaling 4 to 7 cents as a planting window is open of areas across the Corn Belt this weekend. Weather through the weekend shows much of the...

Live cattle are trading the Thursday session with $1 to $1.20 gains across most contracts at midday. Cash action has been quiet this week. The Central Stockyards Fed Cattle Exchange saw no bids or sales on the 1,352 head listed this morning, with asks in the $185-186 range. Very light...

The wheat complex is heading lower at midday. They again quickly faded the early session gains today. Chicago contracts are down 5 to 8 cents across the front months. Kansas City futures are steady to 5 cents lower. MPLS spring wheat is trading with 3 to 6 cent losses. The...

Lean hogs are posting a $1.02 to $1.45 rally in the front months on Thursday. USDA’s National Average Base Hog negotiated price was up 40 cents on Thursday AM at 89.36. The CME Lean Hog Index was back up 47 cents on May 14 at $91.76. Pork sales in the...

The cotton market is trading with 131 to 176 point gains on Thursday’s midday. The outside market factors are a mixed bag, with crude oil up another 48 cents and the US dollar index back 113 points higher. USDA’s Export Sales report showed a 38.32% wk/wk drop in old crop...

Looking at options trading activity among components of the S&P 500 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Costco Wholesale Corp (Symbol: COST), where a total volume of 54,032 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approx

The Zacks Broadcast Radio and Television Industry is currently in the top 20% of over 250 Zacks industries and Nexstar Media Group NXST is one of the dominant companies to invest in.

The increased need for online marketing and sales following the pandemic led to higher demand for IT services but the frenzy is beginning to slow and it may be time to sell ASGN’s ASGN stock.

The consumer packaged goods (CPG) scene is home to some pretty steady retail cash cows — like POST, BRBR, UTZ — that can hold their own through rocky and inflationary economic environments. Undoubtedly, brand power still means a great deal in the world of CPG products, even as inflation has pushed some to “trade down” to private labels to help reduce the magnitude of sticker shock at checkout. Though sticky inflation could keep most consumers in that cost-saving mode for a while, the following CPG brands have a value proposition and reputation of quality that will be tough for generics to top, even if consumer pressures worsen. Therefore, let’s check in with TipRanks’ Comparison Tool below to stack up three Strong-Buy-rated CPG companies to see which holds the most year-ahead upside. Post Holdings ( NASDAQ:POST) Post Holdings is a CPG heavyweight that’s best known for its popular cereal brands, from Pebbles to Honey Comb. Despite its reputation as a play on cereals, the firm has really made massive strides over the years to diversify into other CPG product categories via strategic acquisitions. Undoubtedly, M&A moves tend to yield mixed-to-somewhat decent results at best. But not for Post. The company is a master of unlocking value through deal-making. The results have already spoken for themselves, with the prior acquisition of pet food deals starting to give results a nice growth jolt. It’s not just smart deal-making that makes Post worthy of a long-term bet while shares are close to all-time highs. Management has also been incredibly effective at driving operating efficiencies. Undoubtedly, beating inflation is more about just jacking up prices. It’s about finding ways to save money across the supply chain. And though price increases have played a role, it’s clear that Post has many levers it can pull to withstand inflationary hailstorms. All things considered, I can’t help but stay bullish on the stock because of its caliber of management and still-modest valuation. With a knack for beating earnings estimates handsomely ( earnings topped estimates by fairly wide margins in the last six quarters, as you can see below), Post is clearly one of the best-run CPG plays out there. At 20.3 times trailing price-to-earnings (P/E), the stock trades in line with the packaged-foods industry average of around 20.7 times. What Is the Price Target for POST Stock? POST stock is a Strong Buy, according to analysts, with six Buys and two Holds assigned in the past three months. The  average POST stock price target of $119.00 implies 13% upside potential. BellRing Brands ( NYSE:BRBR) Since spinning off from Post, active nutrition CPG firm BellRing Brands has been faring incredibly well. The company is behind such mass-appealing brands as PowerBar and Premier Protein, as well as the protein isolate Dymatize, a brand popular with weightlifters. Over the past year, the stock surged 62%. Though there have been a handful of corrections endured over the past six months, shares have found a way to drive higher. Today, the stock’s just 6% away from all-time highs after rallying 11% from its year-to-date trough. For a CPG firm, BRBR stock seems expensive again at 41.9 times trailing P/E, well above the packaged food industry average. That said, I am bullish and believe BRBR deserves to trade at a premium given “health and wellness” tailwinds. Recently, analysts over at TD Cowen praised BellRing Brands as a potential takeover target. Indeed, with some of the most well-known protein products in the CPG industry, I bet any firm would love to scoop up the firm to jolt its growth profile. With a $7.8 billion market cap, BellRing Brands certainly seems like a bite-sized deal. In any case, it’s clear the company is faring well as an agile and lean standalone entity. More than a month ago, Hedgeye (an investment research company) suggested that the company “may have a new market opportunity with GLP-1 patients,” many of whom would shed a great deal of muscle mass in addition to fat. That’s a massive market that aims not only to lose weight but also to stay fit and strong. I think Hedgeye is spot-on to have BRBR stock as a long idea. What Is the Price Target for BRBR Stock? BellBring stock is a Strong Buy, according to analysts, with 10 Buys and two Holds assigned in the past three months. The  average BRBR stock price target of $65.73 implies 11.6% upside potential. UTZ Brands ( NYSE:UTZ) From nutrition to snacking, we have UTZ Brands, a company behind a line of savory but rather fatty goods, from cheese puffs to chips. Undoubtedly, the rise of GLP-1 drugs could certainly put a dent in the demand for such goods in the long haul. That said, I believe that the mid-cap ($1.5 billion market cap) firm is small enough and high-growth enough to take market share away from its much larger rivals to more than offset any such GLP-1 headwinds. With an emerging brand name and hot new product innovations, I’m inclined to stay bullish on the snacking lightweight. For the latest (first) quarter, UTZ beat on earnings by a penny per share (earnings per share of $0.14 ahead of the $0.13 consensus) as revenue pretty much came in line with expectations. With intriguing new products, like Mike’s Hot Honey potato chips, I wouldn’t dare stand in Utz’s way. The only thing better than savory chips are unique, sweet, and spicy chips that simply must be tried. The stock is down 10% from its 52-week highs. Nonetheless, it seems likely to trend higher into year’s end as the firm looks to build on recent strength while seeking to take share with (literally) hot new snacks. What Is the Price Target for UTZ Stock? UTZ stock is a Strong Buy, according to analysts, with nine Buys and three Holds assigned in the past three months. The  average UTZ stock price target of $21.70 implies 19.9% upside potential. The Takeaway Analysts remain optimistic about the following CPG stocks, and it’s easy to see why. They’ve been operating quite well, even in the face of inflation. And with solid brands, they stand to not only keep powering higher amid what remains of inflation, but they also have the growth edge to take share from their market rivals. Of the trio, analysts seem to see UTZ stock as having the most to gain from here. Disclosure 

June WTI crude oil (CLM24 ) on Wednesday closed up +0.61 (+0.78%), and June RBOB gasoline (RBM24 ) closed up +3.72 (+1.51%). Crude oil and gasoline prices rebounded Wednesday from 2-1/2 month lows and finished moderately higher. Crude prices initially moved lower after the IEA cut its 2024 global crude...

Airbnb ( NASDAQ:ABNB ), one of the largest accommodation booking platforms in the world, saw its stock tumble 7% last week after reporting first-quarter earnings. Despite short-term challenges, Airbnb is poised for continued growth aided by its growing scale, which presents investors with another opportunity to consider investing in it. The company has introduced several new features to lure new guests and hosts to the platform and is also investing in AI to boost the booking experience for both parties. I am bullish on Airbnb, as I believe the company will take market share from other online travel agencies in the next five years. A Slowdown in Demand Is in the Cards The travel industry made a soaring comeback in the last couple of years after dealing with COVID-related challenges in 2020 and 2021. The pent-up demand for travel helped Airbnb register exponential growth, but this year, travel demand is projected to normalize. There are two main reasons behind these expectations for normalizing travel demand. First, consumer spending power has rapidly deteriorated in recent times due to persistently elevated inflation. In the U.S., excess savings in the pandemic era have been fully depleted. According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, cumulative pandemic-era excess savings hit a high of $2.1 trillion in August 2021, but by March 2024, excess savings declined to a negative $72 billion. Given this, consumers are highly unlikely to splurge on travel as they used to in the last two years. Second, travel inflation is on the rise again, which suggests traveling will cost more money in the foreseeable future. This, in turn, will spook consumers. According to NerdWallet’s Travel Inflation Report for May, the cost of traveling is rising across key categories. In March, Airfare prices increased by 1% compared to February, while hotel room rates increased by a more pronounced 6.7%. Rental car prices also saw an uptick of 5.7%. Restaurant and theatre prices largely remained flat. Travel costs are increasing, while consumers are taking a hit due to persistent inflation, and this combination is likely to deteriorate travel demand in the foreseeable future. Asia Will be a Bright Spot According to Skift Research, 2024 will be one of the best years in recent memory for the travel sector in Asia. After struggling with mobility restrictions, Chinese travelers are finally getting back to traveling, and the research firm expects the Asia travel market to grow this year while Europe takes a back seat. Airbnb is strategically placing bets in Asia to benefit from this projected travel boom. The company has identified several growth markets, including India, China, and Korea, and is focused on investing in these markets to lure travelers. These investments include improving the localization of products to cater to locally popular payment methods and supporting more languages. Additionally, the company is updating the mobile app in China to offer a more familiar experience to Chinese consumers. They are also marketing the platform as a youth-friendly online travel agency, appealing to young travelers who are likely to prefer Airbnb lodgings over hotel rooms. Scale Will be a Growth Driver Over the years, Airbnb has expanded its product offering and the end markets it serves. The company seems well-positioned to convert this scale advantage into tangible earnings. According to company filings, Airbnb currently operates in 220 countries and regions. At the end of 2023, the platform had more than five million hosts and had accommodated over 1.5 billion guests since its founding in 2007. The company, therefore, seems to enjoy a network effect where the massive number of hosts attracts more guests and vice versa. This network effect may prove to be a long-lasting competitive advantage. Airbnb’s expansion into new product categories should also help the company’s growth. The Experiences segment is one area the company is trying to reinvest itself in. Since mid-2022, Airbnb has slowly phased out the Experiences segment despite previously claiming that the addressable market opportunity in this segment eclipsed $1.4 trillion. During the Q1 earnings call, CEO Brian Chesky revealed that the company is bringing Experiences back to the platform and trying to rebrand it to support not just stays but other travel booking verticals. The launch of Airbnb Icons earlier this year resonates well with these ambitions. This new category allows users to book a wide array of experiences and events, from sports to music. Airbnb’s expansion into these new segments will expand its addressable market opportunity meaningfully in the coming years. Airbnb Luxe, which caters to high-end travelers by offering luxury accommodation options, and Airbnb for Work, which caters to professionals who are on work trips or working remotely, are two other new products that are likely to contribute positively to earnings growth in the long run. Airbnb’s growing scale will be its biggest growth driver in the next five years. Is Airbnb a Buy, According to Analysts? Wall Street analysts had mixed reactions to Airbnb’s first-quarter earnings. Jefferies analysts concluded that Airbnb’s failure to raise the outlook for expected Nights and Experiences for the next quarter suggests growth is slowing. The research firm also raised concerns about the seemingly disappointing outlook for EBITDA. Jefferies has a price target of $150 for Airbnb, along with a Hold rating. JPMorgan ( NYSE:JPM ) raised the price target from $140 to $145, as it believes the company’s continued innovation will open new opportunities to grow. Both Morgan Stanley ( NYSE:MS ) and Evercore ISI analysts highlighted growth concerns and identified the management’s lackluster guidance for Q2 as the biggest factor contributing to the negative market sentiment toward Airbnb following the earnings print. Overall, based on the ratings of 36 Wall Street analysts, Airbnb stock comes in as a Hold, and the average ABNB stock price target is $152.97, which implies upside potential of just 4.9% from the current market price. The Takeaway: Airbnb’s Long-Term Prospects Remain Bright Airbnb seems fairly valued based on Wall Street rankings revealed in this analysis, and the company is facing short-term headwinds that may limit growth in the next few quarters. However, the company is well-positioned to grow in the long term, aided by its growing scale and diversification into new product categories. Disclosure

In my interview today with Michelle Rook on AgWeb's Markets Now I spoke about the recent move higher in wheat, soybean, and corn prices. I also discussed crude oil, interest rates, and the cattle markets.