Equities had their worst-performing week since October. Investors are digesting the latest readings on inflation, particularly the producer price index (PPI) which came in hotter than expected. With valuations as extended as they are, any news that adds a risk premium will be a reason to sell.
But is this the start of a deeper correction? Probably not. The Federal Reserve is still likely to cut interest rates by 25 basis points next week. However, resurging inflation will dampen expectations for future rate cuts, and investors have to price that into stocks.
On the other hand, if the Federal Reserve maintains interest rates at a higher level, it’s because the economy and the consumer remain healthy. The end of the year is always a time for profit-taking, tax-loss harvesting, and other rebalancing strategies. However, the trend for the market is still likely to be higher in 2025. MarketBeat analysts are here to help you find opportunities for your portfolio. Here are some of our most popular articles for this week.
A company’s performance during the current earnings season may be a solid predictor of the sectors poised for growth in 2025. This week, Yu highlighted four stocks that beat analysts’ estimates by more than double and could be setting up for even larger gains.
Nimble traders frequently look for vigorous price action to find profitable trades. This week, Yu analyzed the recent “gap and crap” price action in two AI stocks and explained why this pattern may set up a buying opportunity.
Articles by Thomas Hughes
Hughes also reminded investors this week that the only thing better than buying shares of a quality company is buying those shares after the company’s stock splits. That may be the case for investors in Casey’s General Stores Inc. NASDAQ: CASY. After a gain of over 525% in the last decade, CASY stock is reaching a point where the company may consider a stock split to make shares more accessible to retail investors.
With all the negative headlines surrounding The Boeing Co. NYSE: BA, it may come as a surprise that airline stocks have been among the strongest momentum stocks in the second half of 2024. This week, Quirke explained why two airline stocks are likely to carry that momentum into 2025.
On the other hand, investors are well aware that cruise line stocks have been among the year’s best performers. However, they may not be aware of the strong performance of the cruise line that Quirke analyzed this week and explained why investors may still have time to get on board a stock that’s up more than 90% in 2024.
Articles by Chris Markoch
One of the most closely watched earnings reports this week came from C3.ai Inc. NYSE: AI. The company is known for its customizable AI applications for enterprise-level companies. The company is not yet profitable, but for now, investors are willing to overlook that in favor of the company’s niche in the AI space, which is leading to a spike in revenue.
It’s always tricky getting involved with a stock after its initial public offering, but Ryan Hasson checked in on Nebius Group N.V. NASDAQ: NBIS. The company just went public on the NASDAQ in October, but it’s been publicly trading internationally for over a decade. And with the backing of NVIDIA in its initial funding round, this may be one that investors will want to watch closely before the institutions get involved.
Tesla stock continues its torrid rally. TSLA stock is up more than 57% for the year after a 72% spike in the most recent quarter. Hasson helped investors understand why analysts are becoming more bullish on the stock and why the price targets may be moving higher in 2025.
Articles by Gabriel Osorio-Mazilli
Whether you see social media as a friend or foe, there’s no denying it’s here to stay. And as Gabriel Osorio-Mazilli pointed out this week, it’s become an essential way for businesses to reach customers. That’s why you’ll want to look at Osorio-Mazilli's four social media stock picks that are likely to post strong gains in 2025.
The need for power is likely to be a momentum trade for years to come. In 2024, investors are getting behind nuclear energy stocks as industry experts point out its importance as a truly clean energy option. This week, Osorio-Mazilli analyzed two nuclear stocks that are strong candidates to power the ongoing data center revolution.
Miller also broke down the state of the cybersecurity sector and why it may be time for investors to look at smaller companies that were among the weaker performers in 2024. That would include SentinelOneInc. NYSE: S which is down 17% in 2024 but continues to look like a solid buy after its December earnings report.
Quantum computing is a niche sector that may be about ready to go mainstream. That means that a significant portion of the investment dollars have been flowing to big tech companies. However, investors following the sector closely are eyeing the smaller Quantum Computing Inc. NASDAQ: QUBT, an industry leader with strong revenue growth in 2024; Reiff explained why the company could face short-term headwinds.
Investors looking for stocks that could go from worst to first may want to look at small-cap stocks. That thesis had Nathan Reiff looking at three small-cap stocks that are positioned for strong growth in 2025, with two of the names being strong performers in 2024.
Momentum traders are always on the lookout for stocks that allow them to ride the hot hand. That could be the case with three undervalued stocks that Reiff noted have been growing quickly but have room to push higher.
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