Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Carvana is slated to report fourth-quarter earnings after the closing bell today, with traders expecting a big move in the used car dealer’s stock following the results.Analysts are widely bullish on the used car seller’s stock, despite its recent slide in the wake of a short-seller report critical of the company’s finances. Carvana is set to report earnings after the market closes today, with traders expecting a big move in the online used car dealer’s stock following the results. Based on recent options pricing, traders expect Carvana’s (CVNA) stock could swing up to 13.5% in either direction by…

Key Takeaways The GDP likely grew at an annual rate of 2.5% in the fourth quarter, a slowdown from 4.4% growth in the third quarter, according to forecasts.The nation’s economic output fell due to the record-long government shutdown last fall.The projected growth rate is a middle-of-the-road figure that suggests the economy will continue to expand at a healthy clip. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. The economy is likely increasing at a healthy clip, avoiding both a tariff-driven slump and an AI-fueled boom. The Bureau of Economic Analysis is expected to report Friday that the…

Key Takeaways Palo Alto Networks shares slumped Wednesday after the cybersecurity software firm lowered its profit forecast for the fiscal year.The company’s recent acquisitions dragged on its profit outlook. Palo Alto Networks’ string of recent deals is hurting its profit outlook, weighing on its stock. Shares of Palo Alto Networks (PANW) were down 6% to about $153 in recent trading after the cybersecurity provider’s full-year outlook disappointed. It was the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500 and Dow on a day when broader markets gained. Palo Alto Networks said late Tuesday that it now expects adjusted earnings per share of…

Key Takeaways Shares of Applied Digital, Recursion Pharmaceuticals and WeRide lost ground Wednesday after a regulatory filing revealed Nvidia sold its stakes in those companies in the fourth quarter.The AI chipmaker added new stakes in Intel, Nokia, and Synopsys. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Nvidia is backing out of some of its bets. Shares of three AI-focused firms fell Wednesday following the news that Nvidia (NVDA) sold its stakes in the companies in the fourth quarter. Data center service provider Applied Digital (APLD) dropped nearly 10%, while drug developer Recursion Pharmaceuticals (RXRX) plunged 14%…

Key Takeaways A structured AI prompt can help advisors draft timely market commentary during periods of volatility.Including clear context, objective, and format instructions improves prompt results.AI can support drafting, but advisors should review and approve all client communications.Prompts should exclude performance data, forecasts, and client-specific information.Refining prompts over time strengthens clarity and compliance. When the market is turbulent, time is of the essence for investors. Financial advisors don’t want to spend precious time carefully crafting commentary for their clients when doing so might mean missing out on potential investment opportunities. AI can be a useful tool to create this language,…

Key Takeaways There aren’t many ways to directly own a share of your favorite pro sports team. The organization that owns the Knicks and Rangers may change that for New York fans. Shares of that company, Madison Square Garden Sports, have been hot lately, adding some three-quarters of their value over the past five years. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. If you’ve always wanted to own a piece of a pro basketball team, this deal might be a slam dunk. (If you prefer ice hockey, insert your favorite metaphor here.) Madison Square Garden Sports…

Key Takeaways Apartment vacancies increased to 7.6% in 2025, shifting the market in favor of renters.A report from Realtor.com showed that landlords had the advantage in only six of the top 50 housing rental markets.Rental vacancies have climbed primarily due to a wave of new apartment construction, as developers responded to mounting affordability pressures with a surge in supply. For renters, 2025 was a good year—rents fell and new apartment buildings went up. Rental vacancies rose to 7.6% nationwide in 2025, according to data from Realtor.com, up from 7.2% the prior year, tipping the balance of power toward renters over…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Stocks opened up and stayed up, even under late selling pressure, amid more strong earnings and incoming economic data that continues to support Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s wait-and-see approach to interest rates. Risk-on sectors led the way higher, as the Nasdaq Composite posted the biggest gain among the three main indexes.Minutes from the January Fed meeting show policymakers were divided when they voted to leave the target range for the federal funds rate unchanged last month. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) members are also split on the trajectory of inflation, with Kevin Warsh set to replace…

Key Takeaways Federal Reserve officials signaled that additional rate cuts are still possible this year, but January’s meeting minutes revealed growing concern about easing policy while inflation remains above 2%.With inflation near 2.5% and job growth mixed, the Fed appears firmly on hold for now as it weighs persistent price pressures against moderating employment risks. The Federal Reserve is still leaning toward cutting interest rates again this year, but the readout of its latest meeting shows all the reasons why it may not. The minutes of January’s meeting, released on Wednesday, displayed the clear division at the Fed over where…

Slide Insurance Company has increased its target for the new Purple Re Ltd. (Series 2026-1) catastrophe bond transaction, with the indicative size raised by roughly 28% to seek $320 million in multi-year collateralized named storm reinsurance, Artemis can report.Slide returned to the catastrophe bond market at the beginning of February, with what is set to become the company’s fifth cat bond issuance in the Purple Re series of deals. You can read about all of Slide’s Purple Re catastrophe bonds in our extensive Deal Directory. Initially Slide was seeking $250 million in reinsurance through its latest cat bond, but we’re…