Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Caterpillar reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue on strong demand for equipment needed for artificial intelligence data centers.Caterpillar said even though tariff costs were at the high end of its outlook, the impact was offset by higher volumes. Caterpillar (CAT) shares skyrocketed to an all-time high when the big farm and construction machines maker easily beat profit and sales expectations, with strong demand for data center power-generation equipment more than offsetting tariff headwinds. The company reported third-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $4.95, about 10% above what analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha were looking for. Revenue increased 9.5% to…

Key Takeaways Centene shares soared Wednesday after the embattled health care services and insurance provider posted a surprise profit.A jump in demand for Medicare prescription drug plans and higher Medicaid premiums helped boost its results. Centene (CNC) shares soared over 10% in recent trading after the health care services and insurance provider posted a surprise profit and lifted its outlook. The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.50 for the third quarter, while analysts had anticipated a loss. Its revenue rose 18.2% year-over-year to $49.69 billion, also topping estimates compiled by Visible Alpha. A jump in demand for Medicare…

Key Takeaways Google parent Alphabet is scheduled to report its quarterly results after the closing bell Wednesday, with Wall Street analysts expecting growing revenues.Options pricing suggests traders expect Alphabet’s stock could move about 6% in either direction in the days after its results. Google parent Alphabet is scheduled to report third-quarter results after the bell on Wednesday, with traders betting on a sizable move in the tech giant’s stock. Options pricing suggests traders expect Alphabet (GOOGL) stock could move about 6% in either direction by the end of this week. A move of that size off Tuesday’s close near $268…

Key Takeaways Large towns with 100,000+ residents can give retirees access to cultural attractions, health care, and recreation without many of the inconveniences seen in the biggest cities.Spanning the Midwest, New England, the Southwest, and the Rockies, our four favorite large towns offer affordability, a rich local culture, strong health care networks, and year-round recreation.Toledo, Ohio, may be best for retirees wanting both urban and green spaces, while Springfield, Massachusetts, is attractive to seniors who love to travel. Albuquerque, New Mexico, can be a good choice for older adults prioritizing access to health care, and Pueblo, Colorado, may be a favorite…

Nvidia Just Became the First $5 Trillion Company—Monitor These Crucial Stock Price Levels 43 minutes ago Nvidia (NVDA) became the first company to ever achieve a market capitalization of $5 trillion as its stock surged in early trading Wednesday. Shares were up 4.5% at $210 recently, after gaining 5% yesterday following a keynote address from CEO Jensen Huang at Nvidia’s developers conference in Washington, D.C. where he highlighted the companyt’s latest AI products and announced several deals. The chipmaker unveiled a $1 billion investment in Nokia (NOK), as well as a new strategic partnership with the Finnish tech firm in an effort to expand…

Retiring confidently comes down to pulling three levers throughout your working life:Time. Time is on your side — time in the market vs. timing the marketSavings. The more you save and the more consistently, the betterRisk. The longer the timeframe, the greater the risk that can be takenThese three levers are connected. The longer and the more you save, the better off you will be in retirement. However, the ways you use those levers in retirement are different — your mindset needs to change once you’re there.Risk and savings before retirementThe amount of money you may be willing to risk…

The one thing Ann J. can say for certain about her mother’s estate plan is that it’s a work in progress. And her mother is 92. “Just recently, we found out that she has a new plan for the properties we thought were earmarked for me and for my brother,” says Ann, 65, a teacher in Northampton, Massachusetts, who is not using her last name to protect her privacy.Because Ann’s mother has managed her own finances since a rough divorce many years ago, Ann assumed her mother would have long settled the plans for her estate. But, Ann admits, she…

Editor’s note: This article is part of an ongoing series in which we ask influential personal finance figures to share their opinion on the biggest retirement mistake you can make. Other articles feature Suze Orman and Dave Ramsey.”Seventy is the new 50″ doesn’t only pertain to the health and minds of people around the globe. It should apply to their work ethic, too.Although the average retirement age in America is 62, billionaire entrepreneur and real estate investor Grant Cardone urges people to work beyond it. He thinks “acting old, being tired and retiring too early” is the biggest mistake people…

Question: I’m a government employee without a paycheck and need to get by until the shutdown ends. What can I do?Answer: The government shutdown has now dragged on for almost a full month, and many federal workers are missing their first full paycheck this week. Between a missed paycheck and monthly bills rapidly coming due, this is an understandably stressful time – especially for those who don’t have much buffer to get by until the government reopens.But there’s no need to panic, even if you’ve already cut back on discretionary spending and are making a dollar stretch at the grocery…

Meta’s stock has gained after every quarterly report this year, boosting investor confidence. Strong ad revenue growth and rising AI investments remain key drivers of Meta’s outlook. If Q3 results meet expectations, the stock could break above $800 to new highs. Looking for actionable trade ideas to navigate the current market volatility? Subscribe here to unlock access to InvestingPro’s AI-selected stock winners. This year, stock has mostly rewarded investors with gains after each quarterly report. The market expects another strong performance this time too, judging by the large number of analysts raising their forecasts. Investors are mainly watching how fast…