Oil prices stuck between geopolitical worries and expectations for surplus

The stock market is struggling, particularly the retail sector, with the SPDR S&P Retail ETF down over 14% this year, while Costco Wholesale (COST) has seen a 6% increase. Costco's strong business model and ability to negotiate low prices make it resilient amid tariff impacts, although its stock is now trading at a high price-to-earnings ratio of over 56, well above its five-year average. Despite Costco's solid fundamentals, concerns about its valuation and potential recession...

Shares of Brinker International, the parent company of Chili's, dropped 14% despite reporting strong third-quarter growth, with comparable sales at Chili's up 31% and revenue rising 27.2% to $1.43 billion. CEO Kevin Hochman attributed the success to excellent food and service, but investors were disappointed by guidance that fell short of expectations, even as the company raised its full-year revenue and adjusted EPS forecasts. Although Brinker has demonstrated significant demand for Chili's, concerns linger about...

Investing $10,000 in Amazon at its 1997 IPO would have yielded $19.3 million today, highlighting its potential for significant long-term gains. Currently, Amazon's stock is attractively valued, being over 20% below its peak, with a low price-to-earnings ratio and rapidly increasing profitability, evidenced by an 89% earnings surge in Q4 2024. The most compelling reason to invest now is Amazon's dominant position in e-commerce, cloud services, and AI, with CEO Andy Jassy emphasizing the company's...

In 2025, the "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks, including Tesla, have faced significant declines, with Tesla's shares plummeting 36%. Concerns about the brand's integrity have emerged, particularly due to CEO Elon Musk's political involvement, which has led to protests and worries that consumers might avoid Tesla due to associations with divisive figures. However, despite these challenges, Tesla's management reported high interest in test drives and steady demand, suggesting that the company’s long-term growth potential may still...

Palantir (PLTR) has defied the trend of declining tech stocks, rallying over 40% year-to-date amidst a challenging market influenced by tariffs and trade wars. The company, known for its data analytics platforms Gotham and Foundry, has experienced growth despite a slowdown in revenue increase, turning profitable in 2023 and achieving a 29% revenue boost in 2024, bolstered by its U.S. commercial business and AI tools. However, high valuations and potential impacts from government spending cuts...

Shares of silicon carbide chipmaker Wolfspeed surged 26.9% on Monday, continuing a rally following cautious optimism about recovering end markets as earnings season begins, despite no specific news before their May 8 earnings report. With a high short interest of 41%, many short sellers may have closed positions, contributing to a "short squeeze." However, despite recent gains, Wolfspeed remains heavily indebted, faces uncertainty with a new CEO starting May 1, and is at risk of...