Nasdaq Stocks

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is expected to publish its Q1 FY’24 results in early February, reporting on a quarter that is likely to see Apple’s key computing products continue to exhibit sluggish demand. We expect earnings to stand at $2.10 per share, about in line with conse

Egyptian economic growth will be slower than previously expected as its pound weakens, inflation cuts into purchasing power and fallout from the Gaza crisis eats into the country's main sources of foreign currency, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday.

Iconic Seattle-based coffee company Starbucks ( NASDAQ:SBUX ) faces investor scrutiny these days, with consumers boycotting its stores due to accusations of mistreatment of employees and tensions in the Middle East. Shares have dipped by 11% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 ( SPX ), which has risen 21% during the same period. However, I see the cup as half full and brimming with potential. This is due to strong growth prospects and a cheap valuation, forming a promising blend for bullish optimism. What's Keeping Starbucks Stock Under Pressure? Starbucks is weathering a storm of controversy as employees, former baristas, and Palestinian advocacy groups nationwide unite in boycotts. At the heart of the turmoil is a legal battle between Starbucks and its workers' union, Starbucks Workers United, over a pro-Palestinian social media post during the Israel-Hamas conflict. The company alleges trademark infringement, while the union countersues, claiming defamation and seeking to retain its name and logo. Starbucks distanced itself from the union's stance, condemning terrorism and violence. At the same time, tensions escalated during a nationwide boycott event, coinciding with Red Cup Day, where Starbucks employees protested alleged unfair labor practices. The controversy has spilled into stores, with customers even confronting employees and sending violent messages to Starbucks. As calls for a boycott gained momentum on social media, Starbucks faces a complex challenge in restoring its image and managing the impact of legal disputes and broader issues of labor practices and its political stance. In the face of these events, the market is anticipating headwinds for the company's upcoming results, encompassing the period from November to January. In a recent analysis, JPMorgan ( NYSE:JPM ) analyst John Ivankoe downgraded Starbucks' initial Q1 U.S. comparable sales growth forecast from 6% to 4%. Projections from Wall Street forecast the company's sales in its upcoming Q1-2024 results to reach $9.67 billion, notably below the $9.88 billion estimate for this quarter around the same time last year. Reflecting on these developments, it becomes evident why investors have been offloading their Starbucks shares. Whether driven by funds aiming to uphold a positive image for their clients or investors genuinely foreseeing a potential downturn in sales and profits due to the ongoing boycott, the prospect of holding Starbucks stock lacks its usual allure. Starbuck's Growth Remains Robust, Nonetheless Despite the ongoing havoc, Starbucks' growth remains robust. Take the company's upcoming Q1-2024 results, for example. Despite heavy downgrades among Wall Street analysts, as I just mentioned, it still implies year-over-year growth of 11%. What company is in the midst of heavy consumer boycotting yet is still expected to deliver double-digit growth? From my perspective, the extensive media coverage of Starbucks' boycott may significantly influence investors closely monitoring the company's developments. However, the average consumer is likely unaware of such a movement or indifferent to getting involved. I know it's anecdotal evidence, but every Starbucks location I pass by in Athens, Greece, these days is bustling with customers. To put it simply, even if there is a boycott taking place in certain isolated regions, it certainly doesn't appear to be a widespread phenomenon, especially when it comes to Starbucks' international locations. In the meantime, the company continues to open more stores and maximize same-store sales, pointing to near-double-digit growth throughout this year. For context, the company ended Fiscal 2023 with 38,038 locations, up 6.5% compared to the previous year, while global same-store sales in its existing locations grew by 8%. With aggressive store openings set to continue this year and overall sales growth expected to remain strong, Starbucks is anticipated to deliver total sales of $39.48 billion in Fiscal 2024, up 9.8% versus last year. Shares of Starbucks Appear Cheaply Valued Now With Starbucks stock lagging lately despite continuing to post revenue and earnings growth, its valuation appears to be hovering at rather cheap levels now. I believe this is going to make bulls return to the stock sooner rather than later. As highlighted earlier, Starbucks is poised for robust sales growth, which is anticipated to approach 10% in Fiscal 2024. At the same time, the company's management is committed to extending margins this year. Consequently, Wall Street analysts anticipate that EPS growth will outpace the overall increase in revenue. Projections indicate EPS of $4.12 for Fiscal 2024, implying a strong year-over-year surge of 16.4%. Despite this, the implied forward price-to-earnings ratio of 22.7 seems cheap, in my view. Numerous companies in the S&P 500 trade at comparable or loftier multiples, often without the luxury of double-digit growth. Furthermore, few can rival the brand strength that Starbucks commands, which inherently attracts a premium. In my view, a P/E ratio nearing 25 appears to better align with Starbucks' growth potential. But even if we assume that Starbucks' existing forward P/E persists and stock returns align with EPS growth, the stock appears poised for strong returns. This is supported by Starbucks' projected double-digit EPS growth in the medium term. Is SBUX Stock a Buy, According to Analysts? Regarding Wall Street’s view on the stock, Starbucks has a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on eight Buys and 11 Holds assigned in the past three months. At $108.83, the  average SBUX stock prediction implies 18.3% upside potential. If you’re wondering which analyst you should follow if you want to buy and sell SBUX stock, the most accurate analyst covering the stock (on a one-year timeframe) is John Ivankoe from JPMorgan, with an average return of 19.83% per rating and a 75% success rate. The Takeaway While Starbucks is currently grappling with challenges stemming from controversies and boycotts, its growth prospects and undervalued stock suggest a potential turnaround. The ongoing issues, particularly related to labor disputes and geopolitical tensions, have impacted the stock negatively. However, the company's strong global presence, aggressive expansion plans, and robust sales growth forecast for Fiscal 2024 indicate resilience. With its forward P/E ratio appearing cheap compared to its growth potential, Starbucks might reattract bullish investors, signaling upside potential. Disclosure

Gold bugs, listen up. There's nothing wrong with owning physical bullion, but there's also an alternative approach, and it's quite simple. There's a small-cap business called Gold Royalty Corp. ( NYSEMKT:GROY ) that provides exposure to the gold market through an ingenious business model. So, I am bullish on GROY stock and hope that more investors will take a look at it in 2024. Canada-based Gold Royalty Corp. makes money from a diversified array of gold-focused properties in the Americas. Yet, Gold Royalty doesn't need to actually own these properties to generate revenue from their gold discoveries. How is this possible? Stick around, as Gold Royalty uses a business concept that you'll wish you had thought of. Gold Royalty: A Less Risky Gold Mining Business As the company's name implies, Gold Royalty Corp. uses the royalty business model and focuses on gold-yielding properties. "Royalty" basically means that Gold Royalty doesn't actually own the properties but instead invests money in a variety of gold-mining companies. In return for the capital infusion, these companies will give Gold Royalty Corp. a percentage of their revenue generated from sales of discovered gold. This means that the various mining companies have the responsibility, risks, and associated costs of exploring properties, testing and drilling, hiring miners, and so on. Gold Royalty Corp. doesn't have to do any of that. I wouldn't say that Gold Royalty Corp. is 100% derisked, but at least the company isn't exposed to some risks that individual mining companies have to deal with. Plus, there's the diversification aspect with Gold Royalty that you won't get if you only invest in a particular mining company. With a little bit of digging, I found that Gold Royalty Corp. recently invested in gold-focused projects in Quebec, Canada, as well as in Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. Furthermore, it's reassuring that CEO David Garofalo predicted that the company is "poised to break into positive free cash flow in 2024." Is GROY Stock a Buy, According to Analysts? On TipRanks, GROY comes in as a Moderate Buy based on two Buys and one Hold rating assigned by analysts in the past three months. The average Gold Royalty Corp. price target is $3.67, implying 162.1% upside potential. Conclusion: Should You Consider GROY Stock? Of course, it's a prerequisite that you'll need to be bullish on gold if you plan to invest in Gold Royalty Corp. After all, even if Gold Royalty is somewhat derisked compared to individual mining businesses, it still will fare better if the gold price goes up. Hence, if you expect gold to shine this year and seek easy diversification in one asset, now's a great time to consider GROY stock. Disclosure

There's no guarantee that cannabis will be reclassified on a federal level in the U.S. in 2024. However, just imagine what could happen to Tilray ( NASDAQ:TLRY ) ( TSE:TLRY ) stock if the Biden Administration enacts pro-cannabis legislation. It's a gamble on an uncertain outcome, but I am still generally bullish on TLRY stock. Tilray is a Canadian cannabis producer that also delves into craft beers. A Tilray subsidiary, the SweetWater Brewing Company, recently expanded its lineup of high-alcohol-content beers. However, Tilray's bread and butter is cannabis production. If there's positive news on the legislative front, Tilray can venture aggressively into the U.S. market and rake in a whole lot of green, if you know what I mean. Great News for Tilray Investors There are plenty of positive news items for Tilray's shareholders to chew on. First of all, it's a good sign that Tilray CEO Irwin Simon bought 53,700 shares of TLRY stock. That's what I would call confidence in a company and putting your money where your mouth is. Second, Tilray seems to be in a decent financial position, with $260 million worth of cash and other resources. Furthermore, in the company's most recently reported quarter, Tilray generated record revenue totaling $194 million. That's up 34% on a year-over-year basis. Besides, Tilray might be technically a small-cap company, but it has a big presence. In fact, Tilray states that it has the number-one cannabis market share in Canada. That's impressive, as some folks would claim that Canada is "Cannabis Central." Finally, there's potentially good news for Tilray in the works, as the buzz is growing louder about the Biden Administration possibly rescheduling cannabis as a less-restricted Schedule 3 drug sometime in 2024. If that happens, Simon expects that it would help attract "institutional shareholders that actually can hold the stock." Is Tilray Stock a Buy, According to Analysts? On TipRanks, TLRY comes in as a Hold based on one Buy, five Holds, and zero Sell ratings assigned by analysts in the past three months. The average Tilray stock price target is $2.33, implying 14.8% upside potential. Conclusion: Should You Consider Tilray Stock? Tilray has a huge presence in Canada's cannabis market, and the company's chief executive owns a lot of shares. Moreover, Tilray's revenue growth is impressive, and a possible rescheduling of cannabis in the U.S. would certainly benefit Tilray's business. Consequently, risk-tolerant investors who are bullish on the cannabis market might want to consider a stake in TLRY stock. Disclosure

India will remain the fastest-growing major economy this year and next, boosted by continued strong government spending, according to a Reuters poll of economists who also said inflation was unlikely to surge again.

After blowing away their quarterly earnings expectations last Friday, The Travelers Companies TRV and World Acceptance WRLD are two top-rated Zacks stocks that investors will want to consider.

KC wheat closed with as much 1.4% to 1.7% gains. Chicago was fractionally higher, though March was below the $6 mark. MGE futures were mostly lower but losses were held to 1 ½ cents. Canada’s Agriculture and Agri-Food agency released their preliminary assumptions for 24/25 grains. Wheat area is projected...

Cattle rally with 52 to 92 cent gains after off the lows on Monday. The feeder cattle futures led the way with over 1% gains of as much $2.45. USDA confirmed Friday cash sales near $172-$173. USDA reported 6 thousand head were sold in the OKC auction, including 63% steers...

Lean hogs rallied as much as 3.5% with triple digits gains. USDA’s National Average Base Hog price was shown at $47.41 this morning, up by $1.18. The CME Lean Hog Index for 1/18 was listed at $68.06, up by another 19 cents. China’s National Bureau of Statistics had 2023 pork...

Corn finished Tuesday’s trading with fractional to 1 ¼ cent gains leading March futures to their 4th consecutive gain. March is a net 4 ¼ cent higher for the 4-day rally. USDA’s weekly Export Inspections data showed 713.3k MT (28.1 mbu) of corn was shipped during the week that ended...

Old crop cotton cooled off with 5 to 23 point losses while new crop finished with 13 to 40 point gains. The S&P Global cotton area estimate was 10.675 million acres for 24/25. The Seam confirmed another 23.883 bales were sold on 1/19, to top the 22k on Thursday, for...

The soybean market was 8 ½ to 15 ¼ cents stronger with 1% gains for the old crop contracts. Soymeal futures were 1% to 1.5% higher for the front months. Soy oil futures closed 5 points in the black. Farm Futures survey results have 24/25 soybean area at 84.95m acres....

Many investors have bemoaned a lack of exciting recent IPOs, but last week, a compelling IPO from Kazakhstan came to the Nasdaq. And while the $1 billion IPO didn’t receive much media hype, Kaspi ( NASDAQ:KSPI ) has the potential to be a major hit with investors over the long term. I’m bullish on the Kazakh stock based on its excellent growth, the strong economic potential of its home market, attractive valuation, and large dividend yield. What is Kaspi? Kaspi is a super app from Kazakhstan that provides users with a variety of services, including an e-commerce marketplace, payments, and fintech (including banking and lending). U.S. investors can think of Kaspi as a combination of aspects of Amazon ( NASDAQ:AMZN ), PayPal ( NASDAQ:PYPL ), Affirm ( NASDAQ:AFRM ), and even WeChat all rolled into one company. Kaspi was founded in 2008 and is based in Almaty, Kazakhstan.  The company’s IPO raised $1 billion, and it's valued at about $17.5 billion. It was the world’s largest IPO since Birkenstock ( NYSE:BIRK ) went public last year. Kaspi also trades in Kazakhstan and on the London Stock Exchange.   Kaspi is Growing Fast  Within payments, Kaspi gives users the ability to make peer-to-peer (P2P) payments as well as online and in-store purchases. Kaspi offers point-of-sale (PoS) systems that allow merchants to accept payments from Kaspi users or from any credit or debit card. This payments business is growing fast -- during the third quarter of 2023, Kaspi reported total payment volume of 7.67 billion tenge (Kazakhstan’s local currency), good for 42% growth year-over-year. The platform processed 1.1 billion transactions, a 34% increase year-over-year. Meanwhile, the company reported that it now has 12.6 million active customers, 15% higher than the year before. At the same time, Kaspi’s e-commerce marketplace, which it says is the gateway to its ecosystem for many of its customers, is growing even faster than its Payments business. Kaspi reported total gross merchandise value (GMV) of 1.2 billion tenge on the platform in Q3, representing 50% year-over-year growth. Customers made 42.2 million purchases, 31% more than during the same period the year before. Also, the platform’s customer base grew to 6.9 million active users, 20% higher than the year before.     Lastly, Kaspi’s Fintech segment offers consumer-facing financial products such as loans and buy now pay later (BNPL) services. During the third quarter, total finance volume (TFV) for fintech grew by 41% year-over-year to 2.24 billion tenge. Active consumer loans grew 12% year-over-year to six million.   I like the fact that Kaspi’s business segments complement each other, creating a strong flywheel effect.  The Kazakh Market is Strong While it flies under the radar of many U.S. investors, the Kazakh economy is quietly growing into a force to be reckoned with in Central Asia. The country boasts a wealth of natural resource reserves, including oil, uranium, and various minerals and metals. The World Bank reported, “Sustained economic growth has transformed the country into an upper middle-income economy, commensurately raising living standards and reducing poverty.” The country’s GDP grew by an impressive 5.1% in the first half of 2023, and the World Bank reports that consumer spending and foreign investment are strong. The rising economic tide in Kazakhstan should be good news for Kaspi, as the average consumer will have more income to spend on goods and services.  Compelling Valuation  Many IPOs in the tech sector are years away from turning a profit. In contrast, not only is Kaspi profitable, but it trades at a very reasonable valuation. The stock trades for just 10 times earnings, a steep discount to the S&P 500 ( SPX ) -- which has an average price-to-earnings multiple of 21.5 -- and an even bigger discount than other fast-growing tech stocks.  Surprisingly High Dividend Yield  Not only is Kaspi profitable, but it even pays a dividend, making it a rarity among newly-public tech-sector stocks. Kaspi sports an impressive trailing 12-month dividend yield of over 7%. This sizable dividend yield dwarfs the S&P 500’s average yield of 1.5%. It's rare to find a fast-growing company like this with an outsized dividend yield; most stocks offering dividend yields at this level come from slower-growing industries like telecom, energy, and tobacco.  The Takeaway Kaspi is the type of stock offering something for all investors. It is a rapidly-growing company operating across a range of high-growth business segments, but it trades for an attractive valuation of ~10 times earnings and offers a significant dividend yield north of 7%.  Furthermore, the economic growth of its home market, Kazakhstan, puts it on solid footing for further long-term growth. Kaspi also has the potential to expand outside of Kazakhstan to other markets in central Asia and beyond (note that while the Kazakh market is compelling in and of itself, Kaspi already also has a presence in both Azerbaijan and Ukraine).  While the IPO didn’t receive a significant amount of fanfare, this is the type of IPO that investors should be excited about. I bought Kaspi, and I am bullish on it over the long term based on the growth in each of its business segments, the strength of the Kazakh economy, its modest valuation, and its significant dividend yield.   Disclosure

Japan's factory activity shrank for the eight consecutive month in January amid weak demand, but the service sector saw strong gains as new business picked up, a private business survey showed on Wednesday.

Petco is one of Barchart.com’s Bottom 100 Stocks to Buy. Down 76% over the past 52 weeks. Both it and Chewy have a tough time making money. Should investors buy WOOF, CHWY, both, or neither?

Synopsys (SNPS) closed the most recent trading day at $548.90, moving +1.33% from the previous trading session. The stock's performance was ahead of the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.29%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a drop of 0

Synopsys (SNPS) closed the most recent trading day at $548.90, moving +1.33% from the previous trading session. The stock's performance was ahead of the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.29%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a drop of 0

In the latest market close, EOG Resources (EOG) reached $110.37, with a -0.24% movement compared to the previous day. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.29%. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.25%,

In the latest market close, EOG Resources (EOG) reached $110.37, with a -0.24% movement compared to the previous day. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.29%. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.25%,