This Trend Could Spell Trouble for Bank Stocks

New loans are a bank’s lifeblood, but investors seem to be willing to look through sluggish loan growth this earnings season. That might not stay the case if demand doesn’t pick up soon. Most of the largest banks have reported earnings and, on the surface, it has been a success. On the first day of big bank earnings last week, the KBW Nasdaq Bank Index notched its largest gain since the day after the presidential election. Of the first 17 financials to report, just one failed to beat estimates, according to LSEG IBES. One area of caution has been loan growth , which can only be described as sluggish. According to Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck, a basket of 25 banks, including Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citizens Financial Group, and Regions Financial, have reported a median increase in loan growth of 1.13% from a year ago. While Graseck sees large-cap […]

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Netflix’s Live-sports Strategy Is Paying Off. But Its Next Play Might Surprise You.

Don’t expect Netflix to go head-to-head with ESPN. Here’s where it could still shine in streaming sports. Netflix has been crushing it with one-off sporting events that have become must-see TV. So why isn’t it going all in on sports? Streaming brands have long thought of sports programming as one way to boost paying customers and keep them engaged. That seems to be working for Netflix (NFLX), as its blockbuster earnings report this week showed. The Mike Tyson-Jake Paul boxing match that aired live on Netflix in November was the most streamed global sporting event ever, reaching 108 million viewers, the streaming service said. And 65 million people tuned into the NFL Christmas Day games on Netflix last month, making them the most streamed NFL games ever, according to the league. But don’t expect Netflix to try going head-to-head with ESPN (DIS) anytime soon. Netflix executives this week outlined a

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Netflix Explodes Into a New Era

One thing Netflix definitely has learned over its many years in show business is how to go out on a high note. The streaming giant added a record 18.9 million new subscribers during the fourth quarter. That was nearly double the number Wall Street expected and even well above the 15.8 million added to the company’s rolls in early 2020, when the onset of Covid locked the masses at home in front of their TV screens. It is also the last time Netflix says it will disclose its subscriber numbers — at least as part of its regular quarterly reports. Such a jump — coming during a period that included a second season of Netflix’s most popular TV series ever, two live NFL games aired on Christmas Day and a live boxing match featuring a 58-year-old Mike Tyson — naturally raises questions about sustainability. But Netflix co-chief executive Greg Peters

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Netflix Stock Soars on Best Subscription Quarter Ever. It’s Raising Prices, Too.

Netflix reported better-than-expected results Tuesday afternoon. But the big news was the streaming video company added more subscribers in one quarter than ever in its history. The streaming video provider reported fourth-quarter earnings per share of $4.27, compared with Wall Street’s consensus estimate of $4.21, according to FactSet. Revenue for the quarter reached $10.25 billion, which was above analysts’ expectations of $10.1 billion. Netflix generated a net gain of 18.9 million paid subscriptions during the December quarter versus the projection of 9.8 million paid subscriptions. The company said it was the “biggest quarter of net adds in our history” compared with 13 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 and 5 million in the third quarter of 2024. The company’s annual outlook was also solid. Netflix said 2025 revenue should fall in a range of $43.5 billion to $44.5 billion, above Wall Street’s $43.65 billion estimate at the midpoint. “Our

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Meta Stock Is a Top AI Pick, Analyst Says. Why TikTok Drama Is Another Tailwind.

Meta stock has had a good start to the year — up more than 5% — and momentum is looking strong. It could get even better — the social media company is an artificial intelligence top pick, according to Jefferies analysts who say investors shouldn’t be put off by high AI spending. Big Tech companies such as Meta, Microsoft and Google-parent Alphabet have been under pressure recently as investors have become concerned about hefty investments in AI — and when returns on those investments may start showing up on their balance sheets. While ramped-up spending has spooked investors, that is no reason to worry about Meta, Jefferies analysts led by Brent Thill said in a research note published Wednesday. Meta’s next capex guidance may even come in above Wall Street’s, already high, estimates given that the company has indicated it will give quantitative full-year guidance in the fourth-quarter report, scheduled

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Netflix Posts Knockout Earnings. One Bull Sees the Stock Surging 44%.

Netflix stock will carry on soaring, according to analysts, after the video-streaming company underlined its dominance by revealing it would be raising prices having added a record number of subscribers in the fourth quarter quarter. Pivotal Research Group’s Jeffrey Wlodarczak raised his price target on Netflix stock to $1,250 from $1,100 on Tuesday, writing in a research note that the company’s latest results showed it had won the global streaming wars. He rates Netflix stock at Buy. “This is what winning looks like,” Wlodarczak said, adding that the company benefits from a virtuous cycle where the bigger Netflix gets, the more cash it has to spend on content that sets it apart from the rivals. His price target — the highest among analysts who cover Netflix — implies the stock has 44% upside from Tuesday’s close. Wlodarczak is one of at least 18 analysts who have raised their target price

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Nvidia Is World’s Most Valuable Company Again. How Stargate and Trump Helped the Stock.

Nvidia stock rose early Wednesday after President Donald Trump sent another signal to markets that artificial intelligence would be a priority under his new administration. The absence of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the inauguration Monday stuck out as Big Tech CEOs thronged to the event. The heads of some of the biggest companies in the world all attended: Meta Platforms’ Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon.com’s Jeff Bezos, Tesla’s Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook, and Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai. Yet Trump’s first days in office saw big gains for Nvidia, propelling its market value past that of iPhone maker Apple to $3.45 trillion. Nvidia shares were up 3% to $145.02 in premarket trading Wednesday. Shares rose 2.3% Tuesday and are up 4.9% so far in 2025. The stock move doesn’t appear to be linked to any significant policies directly linked to Nvidia, but more about overall sentiment toward AI companies. Late Tuesday, the

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United Airlines Stock Looks Unstoppable. It’s Even Beating Nvidia.

United Airlines stock was taking off again early Wednesday as the carrier signaled accelerating demand trends in 2025 and impressed the market with its guidance. The shares have soared 187% over the past 12 months — the third best-performer in the S&P 500 over that period behind only nuclear energy company Vistra and artificial-intelligence software company Palantir Technologies. It’s even outperformed AI chip maker Nvidia — which reclaimed the title of world’s most valuable company from Apple on Tuesday. Demand for AI may be red hot but so is demand for travel. The 10 busiest days in U.S. aviation history all came in 2024. It’s especially strong among those looking for a premium experience and people traveling overseas. That plays into United’s hands as the carrier is heavily exposed to premium and international travel. The continued recovery in corporate travel, as more workers have returned to the office and resumed

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Netflix Up Over 12%, On Pace for Record High Close

Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) is currently at $977.05, up $107.37 or 12.35% –Would be new all-time high (Based on available data back to May 23, 2002) –Would be the first record close since Dec. 11, 2024, when it closed at $936.56 –On pace for largest percent increase since Oct. 19, 2023, when it rose 16.05% –Currently up four of the past five days –Currently up three consecutive days; up 15.99% over this period –Best three day stretch since the three days ending Oct. 23, 2023, when it rose 17.52% –Up 9.62% month-to-date –Up 9.62% year-to-date –Up 79.32% from 52 weeks ago (Jan. 24, 2024), when it closed at $544.87 –Would be a new 52-week closing high –Up 79.32% from its 52-week closing low of $544.87 on Jan. 24, 2024 –Traded as high as $999.00; new all-time intraday high (Based on available data back to May 23, 2002) –Up 14.87% at today’s

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Industry Comparison: Evaluating Microsoft Against Competitors In Software Industry

In today’s rapidly changing and fiercely competitive business landscape, it is essential for investors and industry enthusiasts to thoroughly analyze companies. In this article, we will conduct a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) against its key competitors in the Software industry. By examining key financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company’s performance within the industry. Microsoft Background Microsoft develops and licenses consumer and enterprise software. It is known for its Windows operating systems and Office productivity suite. The company is organized into three equally sized broad segments: productivity and business processes (legacy Microsoft Office, cloud-based Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, LinkedIn, Dynamics), intelligence cloud (infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service offerings Azure, Windows Server OS, SQL Server), and more personal computing (Windows Client, Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, and Surface laptops, tablets, and desktops). Company P/E P/B P/S ROE EBITDA (in

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Investigating Meta Platforms’s Standing In Interactive Media & Services Industry Compared To Competitors

In the dynamic and fiercely competitive business environment, conducting a thorough analysis of companies is crucial for investors and industry enthusiasts. In this article, we will perform an extensive industry comparison, evaluating Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) in relation to its major competitors in the Interactive Media & Services industry. By closely examining crucial financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to offer valuable insights for investors and shed light on company’s performance within the industry. Meta Platforms Background Meta is the largest social media company in the world, boasting close to 4 billion monthly active users worldwide. The firm’s “Family of Apps,” its core business, consists of Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. End users can leverage these applications for a variety of different purposes, from keeping in touch with friends to following celebrities and running digital businesses for free. Meta packages customer data, gleaned from its application ecosystem and sells ads

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Comparing Apple With Industry Competitors In Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals Industry

In today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape, it is essential for investors and industry enthusiasts to thoroughly analyze companies before making investment decisions. In this article, we will conduct a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) against its key competitors in the Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals industry. By examining key financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company’s performance within the industry. Apple Background Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple’s iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple’s other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs

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