US stocks opened higher on Thursday as investors weighed fresh economic data, strong corporate earnings and easing inflation pressures following the previous session’s sharp market sell-off. 

Optimism surrounding Microsoft’s quarterly results helped improve sentiment toward artificial intelligence investments, although concerns over spending remained after Meta Platforms reported a sharp decline in free cash flow.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 239 points, or 0.46%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.91%. 

The Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.68%, recovering some of Wednesday’s losses when the Federal Reserve’s decision to leave interest rates unchanged triggered a broad market decline.

Markets also continued to monitor Treasury yields after the 30-year Treasury yield surged to its highest level since 2007 following the Fed meeting, reflecting lingering concerns over inflation and the outlook for monetary policy.

Microsoft boosts AI optimism while Meta disappoints

Microsoft led gains in trading after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly results and issuing an upbeat outlook for cloud growth and revenue.

The software giant’s shares climbed 15% after Azure cloud revenue exceeded expectations and the company projected current-quarter sales above Wall Street estimates. 

Microsoft also provided a capital expenditure outlook below analyst forecasts while indicating it expects to continue generating cash during fiscal 2027.

The results eased investor concerns that heavy spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure was eroding profitability.

The positive reaction extended across the semiconductor sector, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rising more than 5% in trading after several sessions of steep declines.

Meta Platforms, however, moved sharply lower after reporting a 91% decline in second-quarter free cash flow and issuing weaker-than-expected revenue guidance. 

Shares fell nearly 10%, highlighting continued investor scrutiny of the financial impact of large-scale AI investments.

Qualcomm also traded lower after forecasting fourth-quarter profit below analyst expectations and warning that revenue from Apple-related business would decline faster than previously expected.

Investors are also awaiting quarterly earnings from Apple, Amazon and Coinbase after Thursday’s market close.

Economic data points to slower growth and moderating inflation

Fresh economic data released Thursday presented a mixed picture of the US economy.

An advance estimate of second-quarter gross domestic product expanded at an annualized rate of 1.5%, missing expectations for growth of between 1.8% and 2.1%, reflecting slower economic momentum and a widening trade deficit.

Inflation data, however, provided some relief.

The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index declined 0.1% during June, matching expectations. 

Core PCE, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 0.1% from the previous month, below expectations for a 0.2% increase. 

On an annual basis, core PCE stood at 3.3%, in line with forecasts.

The softer inflation readings followed Wednesday’s Federal Reserve decision to leave interest rates unchanged within the 3.50% to 3.75% target range.

Markets assess Fed outlook and earnings season

Despite the encouraging inflation data, investors remain focused on the Federal Reserve’s next policy move.

Markets now assign roughly a 64% probability of a 25-basis-point interest rate increase at the central bank’s September meeting, according to LSEG data.

The previous trading session saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall more than 1,100 points, while the Nasdaq 100 entered correction territory after markets reacted negatively to the Fed’s policy announcement and uncertainty surrounding the future path of interest rates.

Corporate earnings have generally remained resilient. 

According to LSEG IBES data, nearly half of S&P 500 companies have reported second-quarter results, with 85.2% exceeding analyst profit expectations, well above the historical average beat rate of 68%.

Among other movers, cybersecurity company Fortinet gained after raising its annual revenue forecast, while Starbucks advanced after increasing its full-year sales and profit outlook. 

The post Dow jumps 230 points as Microsoft lifts AI sentiment, Nasdaq rebounds appeared first on Invezz

The JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ) has grown to become one of the biggest active funds in the United States, with over $39 billion in assets under management (AUM). Its assets have jumped because of the elevated inflows and its performance over time. 

Investors have flocked to JEPQ because of its strong performance, high dividend yield, and its exposure to companies in the Nasdaq 100 Index like Apple, Nvidia, and Alphabet. It has a 10.85% dividend yield. 

The same is true with other active funds. The NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF (QQQI) has also accumulated over $13 billion in assets. It has a dividend yield of 14.50%, much higher than that offered by JEPI and JEPQ ETFs. 

Meanwhile, the Goldman Sachs Nasdaq-100 Premium Income ETF (GPIQ) has grown to become a $4.9 billion fund with a dividend yield of 10.4%. These funds offer a higher yield than other dividend ETFs like the Schwab US Dividend Equity (SCHD) and the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund (VIG). 

Why GPIQ is better than the JEPQ and QQQI

JEPQ, GPIQ, and QQQI have a similar objective: to give investors exposure to the companies in the Nasdaq 100, while giving them substantial returns. They do this by using the covered call strategy, which involves buying an asset and writing calls, collecting premiums. 

There are a few differences in how these funds achieve this. GPIQ ETF holds Nasdaq 100 Index companies and layers on a flexible, actively managed covered call strategy. Because it writes calls on only a portion of the portfolio, it retains more upside participation than the other funds.

JEPQ, on the other hand, holds a portfolio of top Nasdaq 100 Index companies and generates income through equity-linked notes (ELNs) tied to the out-of-the-money Nasdaq 100 call options. QQQI ETF uses index options and leverages tax efficiency, including tax-loss harvesting techniques. 

History shows that Goldman Sachs’ GPIQ ETF is a better fund. For one, it has a lower expense ratio than the other two. Its expense ratio is just 0.29%, lower than JEPQ’s 0.35% and QQQI’s 0.68%. While the difference is not all that big, it can add up over time. For example, a $100,000 investment in GPIQ will cost about $290 a year, while a similar investment in QQQI will cost $680 a year.

Further, the ETF has historically done better than the other two because it writes calls on a portion of the portfolio, retaining more upside when the Nasdaq 100 Index is in an uptrend. History shows that, despite regular pullbacks, the index always goes up. 

Data shows that the GPIQ ETF has had a total return of 9.67% this year. JEPQ and QQQI have jumped by 4.14% and 4.95%, respectively. The same has happened in the longer term. Its total return jumped by 87% in the last three years, while the other two have jumped by 59% and 49%, respectively.

To be clear. Past performance is not always a good indicator of future performance. In some instances, some companies that have underperformed the market tends to outperform. However, analysts often recommend investing in assets that have done well in the past. 

The post Love the JEPQ and QQQI ETFs? Here’s why Goldman Sachs GPIQ is better appeared first on Invezz

Micron Technology (MU) shares held firm in premarket trading on Wednesday, even as South Korean memory giant SK Hynix suffered a sharp selloff following its second-quarter earnings.

The move suggests investors may be distinguishing between short-term earnings disappointment and the longer-term outlook for artificial intelligence-driven memory demand.

SK Hynix shares plunged more than 9% in Seoul after the company reported record quarterly earnings and revenue but failed to meet the exceptionally high expectations that had been built into one of the market’s biggest AI beneficiaries.

The weakness spread across South Korea’s semiconductor sector, with Samsung Electronics falling more than 5% and dragging the broader Kospi index sharply lower.

Yet Micron, the largest US memory-chip maker, largely escaped the selling pressure.

Its shares fluctuated between modest gains and losses in premarket trading on Wednesday, and were up about 0.5% around 7:25 am ET.

After two days of heavy selling, some investors appeared to buy the dip, helping keep Micron shares relatively resilient.

Investors appear to be buying the dip

Micron has lost about 13% over the past five trading sessions and roughly 28% over the last month, although the stock remains about 160% higher for the year.

The recent decline has prompted several analysts to argue that investors are overreacting to concerns surrounding AI infrastructure spending.

Kumquat Research on Seeking Alpha on Wednesday upgraded Micron from Buy to Strong Buy, arguing that the recent weakness presents a buying opportunity rather than signalling deterioration in the company’s business.

The analyst pointed to Micron’s latest quarterly guidance, noting that the company projected fourth-quarter revenue of $50 billion, gross margins of 86%, and adjusted earnings per share of $31, all comfortably ahead of Wall Street expectations.

According to the analyst, the AI boom has fundamentally altered the industry’s earnings profile.

“Because of the AI supercycle, the company is earning a decade’s worth of profits in just one quarter,” the report said.

AI demand continues to outpace supply

While semiconductor companies continue investing heavily in new manufacturing capacity, analysts argue that memory demand is still growing faster than supply.

Capital expenditure is accelerating across Micron, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix, but new fabrication facilities require years to build and ramp up production.

As a result, the market continues to face constrained supplies of advanced memory products required for AI servers.

The analyst argued that the recent correction has done little to alter the industry’s underlying fundamentals.

“In fact, if anything, the demand case has been reaffirmed.”

The report highlighted Nvidia’s recently announced long-term memory supply agreement with SK Hynix, valued at approximately $750 billion, including roughly $500 billion tied to Nvidia and another $250 billion allocated to other US companies involved in AI infrastructure.

It also pointed to Alphabet’s latest earnings, where the Google parent increased its 2026 capital expenditure guidance to roughly $200 billion, reinforcing expectations that hyperscalers continue expanding AI infrastructure despite investor concerns about returns.

The conclusion, according to the report, is that demand remains robust while supply remains tight, making the recent correction more reflective of changing investor sentiment than weakening industry fundamentals.

SK Hynix’s miss masks a strong quarter

Despite the market reaction, SK Hynix delivered one of the strongest quarters in its history.

Operating profit surged more than sixfold from a year earlier to a record level, supported by booming demand for high-bandwidth memory used in AI systems.

However, revenue and operating profit still fell short of elevated analyst forecasts.

The company said delays in shipments of certain advanced products weighed on pricing gains for its core DRAM business.

Melvin, an AI analyst at Milk Road AI, argued that investors had focused too heavily on the earnings miss while overlooking the broader picture.

“The headline numbers aren’t pretty, but revenue came in at $54.6B against estimates of $57.7B, a miss of about 5.4%, and operating profit landed at $41.6B versus the $44.2B expected, even with a still massive 76.3% operating margin. But here’s why I’m not losing sleep over it…,” he said.

He noted that average selling prices for DRAM rose roughly 30% quarter over quarter, while NAND flash prices climbed by the mid-50% range.

“That’s not a company losing pricing power but rather a company still riding one of the strongest pricing cycles memory has ever seen,” he said.

Analysts remain confident in long-term outlook

SK Hynix also projected mid-20% annual DRAM demand growth next year and high-teen growth for NAND memory.

Management added that smartphone and PC shipments were constrained largely because manufacturers could not obtain sufficient memory supplies, rather than because end-market demand had weakened.

Melvin said that distinction was crucial.

“That’s a supply constraint story, not a demand problem and supply constraints are exactly what keeps pricing power intact.”

He added that major cloud companies continue expanding AI infrastructure and increasing memory procurement, while SK Hynix already has long-term supply agreements with ten customers.

“Hyperscalers aren’t pulling back, they’re fighting each other for the same limited memory supply.”

“A miss against inflated estimates during a supply constrained, price surging market is a very different animal than a miss because nobody wants the product,” he concluded.

Industry analyst Patrick Moorhead, chief executive of Moor Insights & Strategy, also dismissed concerns over the earnings miss.

“I think we’ve lost our minds to think that this performance wasn’t a blowout performance,” he wrote on X.

“Revenue +257% and profits +557% and this is bad? Estimates are BS when you are in mega growth.”

“The decade-long AI build out thesis still stands,” he added.

The post Why is Micron stock rising today despite SK Hynix's earnings-led selloff? appeared first on Invezz

Reddit RDDT stock attracted fresh attention from Wall Street ahead of its second-quarter earnings report, after KeyBanc Capital Markets initiated coverage of the social media company with an Overweight rating and a $225 price target.

The target implies roughly 26% upside from Tuesday’s closing price. Shares were up about 1.2% in premarket trading.

KeyBanc said Reddit’s platform is well positioned to benefit from the growth of artificial intelligence, citing its large online community and the increasing value of user-generated content for AI models.

Analyst Justin Patterson wrote that Reddit’s platform has become a trusted destination for online discussions and information.

“We believe this makes Reddit complementary to search, social, web, and LLMs, providing the Company with a durable source of traffic,” Patterson said. “In turn, Reddit’s content can be monetized via ads and data licensing.”

The analyst believes Reddit remains on track to achieve its long-term target of reaching one billion users, with AI-generated citations expected to become an additional driver of user growth.

AI opportunity and advertising seen driving long-term growth

KeyBanc expects Reddit’s investments in community engagement and advertising monetization to support sustained annual revenue growth of more than 30%.

The brokerage also forecasts that the company could eventually achieve an EBITDA margin of around 50%, supported by its asset-light business model and relatively low capital expenditure requirements.

Reddit currently operates more than 100,000 Subreddits, with KeyBanc arguing that the platform’s community-driven discussions have become increasingly valuable for large language models and AI training.

“RDDT is a unique way to participate in AI growth with an asset-light business model,” Patterson wrote in the note.

The firm also noted that Reddit’s capital expenditures account for less than 1% of revenue, giving it confidence that improving EBITDA margins could translate into stronger free cash flow generation over time.

KeyBanc forecasts Reddit’s revenue reaching $3.24 billion in 2026, rising to $4.30 billion in 2027 and $5.46 billion in 2028, while EBITDA is projected to increase from $1.43 billion to $2.73 billion over the same period.

Despite the positive outlook, Reddit shares remain down about 22.4% year to date, although the stock has gained more than 20% over the past three months.

According to LSEG data, 20 of the 30 analysts covering Reddit currently rate the stock either Buy or Strong Buy.

Google AI deal remains a key risk ahead of earnings

While KeyBanc highlighted Reddit’s AI opportunity, investors are also monitoring uncertainty surrounding the company’s AI licensing agreements.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Reddit is reviewing its 2024 agreement that allows Google to access Reddit content for AI training.

The report prompted several brokerages to flag potential risks.

RBC Capital Markets said ending the arrangement “would be a significant step backward,” while Wells Fargo warned it could pressure user growth, revenue and valuation, including a potential $500 million impact on AI licensing revenue.

DA Davidson also cautioned that limiting AI access could weigh on daily active user growth, particularly among logged-out users.

Reddit is scheduled to report second-quarter results after the market closes on Thursday.

According to Koyfin, Wall Street expects the company to report revenue of approximately $730 million, up from $499.6 million a year earlier.

Earnings per share are projected to more than double to $0.97 from $0.45 in the prior-year period.

The post Reddit stock gains as this analyst backs company ahead of results appeared first on Invezz

The Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) has been in a free fall this week, reaching its lowest level since May 7 this year. It has plunged by over 43% from its highest point this year. This retreat may continue after the latest SK Hynix earnings, which pushed its stock to its lowest level since April 30th. 

DRAM ETF at risk as SK Hynix stock drops

The Roundhill Memory ETF has been in a strong sell-off this month as top memory companies continued plunging. This retreat may continue after SK Hynix, a top constituent, continued its downfall in South Korea.

SK Hynix stock dropped to 1.25 million won, its lowest level since April, after publishing its financial results. Its stock plunged after the company signalled a surge in capital expenditure, which will hit $31 billion, a 50% surge. 

The company said that its revenue and margins jumped, even as the profit came short of expectations. This growth is happening because of the ongoing demand of its memory products, which analysts expect will continue in the near term. 

SK Hynix’s stock has also plunged amid the ongoing deleveraging in South Korea, where many retail and institutional investors have borrowed heavily. Indeed, a senior South Korean minister apologized as many South Koreans who have lost a fortune in the past few weeks.

SK Hynix has a major influence on the DRAM ETF since it is the third-biggest constituent, with a 22% stake. Micron and Samsung, the other large companies in the fund account for 27% and 24%. 

Top memory stocks have plunged ahead of their earnings

The ongoing DRAM ETF crash is happening as other top companies in the memory space drop ahead of their earnings report. Kioxia Holdings stock plunged to 38,380 yen, down by 65% from its highest level this year. This sell-off accelerated ahead of its earnings report.

In South Korea, Samsung Electronics stock has plunged because of the ongoing deleveraging and focus on other companies. It has dropped ahead of its final second-quarter results, which will provide more details than the preliminary one.

Micron stock has dived by 35% from its peak, while other top names like Sandisk, Western Digital, and Seagate Technologies have fallen by double digits. 

DRAM ETF inflows continue

Still, despite these jitters, investors have continued allocating capital to the Roundhill Memory ETF. Data shows that the fund has had $160 million in inflows on July 27. It has added over $7.4 billion in inflows in the last month, with only a single day of outflows in this period.

DRAM inflows | Source: ETF Db

One reason for this optimism is that analysts have maintained their bullish outlook about the top names in the fund. For example, DA Davidson and Susquehanna analysts have boosted their Micron stock target to $2,000, a big increase from the current $820. The average estimate among analysts is $1,268, up by 54% from the current level.

All analysts tracking SanDisk have a buy rating, with Susquehanna having a target of $3,050, much higher than the current $1,278. Wells Fargo targets $1,620, while Evercore seeing it rising to $3,100. 

The general view among analysts is that the artificial intelligence industry has more room to run as more companies continue spending. The estimate is that companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft will spend over $750 billion in capital expenditures this year. It is estimated that these firms will spend over $5 trillion by 2030, with some of these funds going to memory companies.

The post DRAM ETF at risk as SK Hynix, Micron, SanDisk stocks plunge despite inflows appeared first on Invezz

US stocks opened lower on Wednesday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate decision while monitoring renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and another round of major technology earnings.

Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than450 points, pressured in part by weakness in Procter & Gamble after the consumer products company missed quarterly revenue expectations.

The S&P 500 was little changed, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped about 0.19%.

Markets remained focused on whether the Federal Reserve would leave interest rates unchanged and on any signals from Chair Kevin Warsh regarding the path of monetary policy.

At the same time, investors continued to assess whether heavy spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure by major technology companies would translate into stronger financial returns.

Chip stocks remain under pressure ahead of Big Tech earnings

Semiconductor stocks continued to struggle after several days of selling as investors questioned the sustainability of AI-related capital spending and weighed rising competition from China.

The weakness extended from Asia into US trading after South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix reported quarterly results that failed to meet elevated investor expectations.

US-listed shares of SK Hynix was up by 0.56%, while Applied Materials declined more than 1.7% and Sandisk slipped over 1.14%. Nvidia fell 0.32%, while Intel edged 0.27% higher.

The iShares Semiconductor ETF remained under pressure after four consecutive losing sessions and was down nearly 7% for the week.

Technology stocks have been weighed down by concerns that billions of dollars invested in AI infrastructure may take longer to generate returns.

Investors are now awaiting quarterly earnings from Microsoft and Meta Platforms after Wednesday’s closing bell, followed by Amazon and Apple later in the week.

Their results are expected to provide fresh insight into AI investment plans and demand for semiconductor infrastructure.

Despite the weakness in technology shares, Seagate Technology gained 5.6% after issuing quarterly guidance above market expectations.

Ford Motor climbed 4.3% after raising its full-year profit outlook for the second time this year, while Procter & Gamble fell more than 3.9% after forecasting slower revenue growth.

The second-quarter earnings season has continued to produce broadly positive results, with more than 85% of S&P 500 companies that have reported earnings exceeding analyst expectations, according to LSEG data.

That compares with a historical average of about 68%.

Fed policy decision and oil prices remain in focus

The Federal Reserve is scheduled to announce its policy decision Wednesday afternoon, with investors widely expecting interest rates to remain unchanged.

Fed funds futures indicate markets continue to assign a high probability that policymakers will hold rates steady this week, although traders still expect at least one quarter-point rate increase later this year.

Attention will also center on Chair Kevin Warsh’s comments for clues about inflation, economic conditions and the future direction of monetary policy, particularly as elevated energy prices continue to influence inflation expectations.

Oil prices climbed sharply after President Donald Trump said the United States would respond to attacks on US forces in the Middle East.

West Texas Intermediate crude rose nearly 7% to around $89.90 per barrel after US Central Command reported that multiple ballistic missiles launched toward US forces were intercepted.

The rise in oil prices added another layer of uncertainty for markets already balancing inflation risks with expectations for future monetary policy.

The post Dow drops 450 points as Fed decision, chip selloff weigh on US stocks appeared first on Invezz

US stocks opened higher on Monday as easing tensions between the United States and Iran boosted investor sentiment, while a sharp decline in oil prices lifted travel-related stocks ahead of a crucial week featuring major technology earnings, key inflation data and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed about 602 points, or 1.16%, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.79%.

The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.86% as investors looked beyond last week’s market weakness driven by geopolitical tensions and concerns over artificial intelligence spending.

The rebound came after the United States and Iran paused hostilities over the weekend, reducing immediate concerns over energy supply disruptions.

However, markets remained alert as attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis on Saudi oil installations along the Red Sea continued, while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained below normal levels.

Oil prices tumble as travel stocks gain

A sharp drop in crude prices supported sectors that typically benefit from lower fuel costs.

Brent crude futures fell about 6.8% to around $90.10 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude declined roughly 5.7% to about $84.20 per barrel after the pause in hostilities reduced immediate fears of supply disruptions.

The decline in oil prices lifted airline and cruise stocks in trading.

United Airlines and Southwest Airlines rose more than 3%, while Royal Caribbean gained 2.7% and Carnival advanced 4.3%.

Energy companies, however, moved lower as crude prices retreated. Occidental Petroleum and Exxon Mobil each declined about 2% in trading.

Investors also continued to monitor broader geopolitical developments after Ukraine reportedly struck an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, prompting Tehran to accuse Kyiv of carrying out a hostile act.

Fed decision and inflation data dominate market focus

Attention has shifted to the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting scheduled for Wednesday, with investors widely expecting policymakers to leave interest rates unchanged.

Market participants, however, continue to price in at least 25 basis points of rate hikes later this year.

The June Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, the Fed’s preferred inflation measure, will be released a day after the policy decision and is expected to provide further guidance on the outlook for monetary policy.

Volatility expectations eased, with the CBOE Volatility Index falling to 17.77.

Markets ended last week under pressure as rising oil prices and escalating conflict in the Middle East fueled concerns that inflation could remain elevated ahead of the Fed meeting.

Big Tech earnings to test AI investment outlook

This week’s earnings season is expected to provide another major test for investor confidence in artificial intelligence spending.

Microsoft, Amazon, Meta Platforms and Apple are all scheduled to report quarterly results after concerns intensified last week following Alphabet’s increased capital spending plans and negative free cash flow, along with Tesla’s weak cash generation.

In trading, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta each gained more than 1%, while Apple edged 0.7% higher.

However, Nvidia fell 0.26%.

Despite Monday’s rebound, investors remain cautious after the recent selloff in chip stocks.

The Nasdaq Composite is down about 8% from its record high, while the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index entered bear market territory earlier this month after falling more than 20% from its recent peak.

The coming earnings reports from the largest technology companies are expected to determine whether enthusiasm for AI infrastructure spending returns or concerns over rising capital expenditures continue to weigh on semiconductor and technology stocks.

The post Dow jumps 600 points as US-Iran pause lifts stocks ahead of Fed decision appeared first on Invezz