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3 Reasons to Buy Amazon Stock Before October 30

2025-10-11 09:06:35 By Emily Miller

Of the magnificent seven stocks most investors spend a disproportionate of time assessing, Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) continues to be one of my top picks. In addition to providing market-beating returns for most years over the course of the past two decades, Amazon has grown into an absolutely dominant force in the key e-commerce, cloud and AI sectors.

Key Points

Amazon is among the most-watched stocks in the market, and will drive plenty of attention heading into month end.
The cloud and e-commerce giant is expected to report Q3 results on October 30 – here’s what the market expects from the Magnificent 7 giant.
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As such, investors who have continued to hold outsized weightings to AMZN stock over the past few decades have continued to outperform.

There’s a long history that tells a story of scale in key industries, and why holding onto one’s winners (like Amazon) makes sense. But here’s why I still think Amazon is a buy as we head into the company’s next expected earnings release due October 30.

Upcoming Earnings Report Pivotal

A businessman looking at an earnings report

Every earnings report for a key company like Amazon, you’re likely to hear talking heads and so-called financial experts tout a given report as “the biggest in X company’s history.” That’s tended to be the case with Amazon and other key high-flying stocks driven by recent AI catalysts.

At least for now, Amazon’s recent robust growth does appear to justify its premium valuation, particularly if the company’s AI efforts lead to even greater efficiency. In Amazon’s upcoming earnings report, analysts and market participants will undoubtedly be diving into the company’s margins and underlying growth (from specific segments) as indicators of whether this company’s valuation reflects its forward-looking growth picture.

With strong Q2 results in the books (13% annualized growth as per this past quarter), driven by an 18% increase in AWS revenue and promising AI investments and partnerships, there are certainly high expectations for what’s to come. Current whisper numbers appear to be modestly above Wall Street’s consensus Q3 estimates for a range of between $177.5 and $177.9 billion in revenue and $1.57 in ESP (a 10% increase year-over-year).

In other words, if Amazon can beat these numbers materially, this is a stock that could be headed much higher from here.

What Would Drive a Higher Multiple?

Question mark on a dinner plate

Looking at Amazon’s trailing price-earnings and price-sales multiples (at 33.5-times and 3.5-times, respectively), Amazon isn’t a cheap stock by any means. However, this is a company that’s justified an above-market multiple for a long time. And that’s been precisely due to the fact that the cloud and e-commerce giant has been able to continuously grow its revenue and earnings at a much faster rate than companies of similar size (or even those with much smaller market capitalizations).

I do think that there’s a fundamental bullish argument to be made for buying and holding Amazon stock here, particularly if the company can. grow its cash flow at a double-digit rate for the years to come. That’s what the company is projecting, with around 20% cash flow growth in its core AWS division doing most of the work.

So long as cloud growth remains strong, and Amazon’s AI investments continue to pay off, there’s a lot to like about where this stock is positioned. A lot can change between now and the next quarter or two, and I’m sure we’ll be looking at a much different company a few years down the line.

But given Amazon’s historical performance, the ability of the company’s management team to look ahead to future growth opportunities and invest aggressively, I like where this stock is trading today. Amazon remains a buy, at least in my books heading into this print.

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This 1 ETF Outperformed the VOO 7-to-1 This Year

-->-->Key PointsThis exchange-traded fund is trouncing VOO’s gains.The ETF is in the industrials sector and is supported by long-term megatrends.Buying it can boost your portfolio ahead of the benchmark.It sounds nuts, but SoFi is giving new active invest users up to $1k in stock, see for yourself (Sponsor)-->-->The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:VOO)is the most popular in terms of size, with over $775 billion in total assets under management. It has the same weightings and holdings as the S&P 500 index and an exceptionally low expense ratio of just 0.03%.You pay just $3 annually per $10,000 for an ETF issued by Vanguard that tracks the benchmark. And when an ETF is this big, you’ll have no issues with liquidity and slippage. It’s a great deal, and you’d be making a mistake by not taking it.At the same time, you’d also be making a mistake by not having any satellite holdings to boost your overall returns. Certain megatrends in the market can go on for far longer than you’d think. 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Nvidia (NVDA) Investors Are Playing With Fire

-->-->Key PointsDoug McIntyre argues that Nvidia and AMD are overvalued, claiming their relationships with OpenAI—where Nvidia invests in OpenAI and OpenAI buys Nvidia’s chips—amount to questionable “revenue recognition” that could trigger scrutiny from regulators.Doug and Lee Jackson compare the situation to practices from the dot-com era, suggesting that today’s inflated AI valuations and circular investments resemble the “funny money” that fueled the early 2000s tech bubble.Both hosts warn that if the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the SEC challenges these accounting practices, it could lead to a significant market correction, particularly within the AI and semiconductor sectors.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)-->-->Video Playerhttps://videos.247wallst.com/247wallst.com/2025/10/Nvidia.mp400:0000:0005:23Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.Can it be that Nvidia is being extremely overvalued? In a recent podcast, Doug McIntyre discussed why he believes questionable financial arrangements could eventually catch up to them. Doug argues that by investing in OpenAI while openAI in turn buys Nvidia chips, a relationship between the two companies is artificially boosting revenue and misrepresenting the company’s financial health. Doug cites a Wall Street Journal report noting that OpenAI received warrants for up to $160 million AMD shares at just one cent per share, calling the deal “bogus” and potentially in violation of accounting standards. He says he has written to both the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the SEC, arguing that these transactions amount to “buying revenue.” Doug and Lee compare the situation to the early 2000s dot-com bubble, when companies inflated value through creative accounting and inter-company deals and express serious doubts that OpenAI’s valuation rivals ExxonMobil’s. Doug warns that if regulators challenge this behavior, it could spark a major correction similar to the 2001–2002 Nasdaq crash. Lee agrees, adding that money is simply being cycled between tech firms rather than generated through genuine business growth.Doug McIntyre:Lee, I think the value of Nvidia is overstated by maybe double AMD about the same. And here’s why. And I’ve seen some analysts write about this. This isn’t me just, you know, going off like a nut. It is not okay for Nvidia to invest money in OpenAI and for OpenAI to buy chips from them. 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Now it’s, it’s the questionability of revenue.Lee Jackson:And that’s a lot bigger than just. And that’s really not having any revenue. It really is because it’s almost like it’s manufactured. Again, OpenAI doesn’t make any money. They just have a huge valuation. They keep getting money poured into them, which is how they buy chips, you know, for chat and all that. But it’s like, isn’t there a point when, when this is kinda like funny money and it’s not really kosher?Doug McIntyre:I don’t know if you remember this. But it used to be that when you were a partner with AOL, they would invest in your company and then you would buy traffic from them. So it, listen, this is, I don’t wanna say that this is like the internet bubble. It’s not, but the practices here, I don’t like.Lee Jackson:Yeah, and somebody’s gonna have to address this because it just can’t, you know, you can’t continue to build these gigantic companies on money that’s really just shifted back and forth, you know? 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Prediction: These 2 Stocks Will Split in 2026

It can be pretty tough to predict when the next share split will be for any given name. Undoubtedly, some stocks can continue flying into the high hundreds and even settle into the thousands for many years at a time. And while stock splits are great for accessibility, I do think that with the rise of partial share purchases that stock splits are becoming less of a critical factor for managers.Arguably, letting a stock run its course into the three- or four-figures may be a trait that separates a stock from the pack. Either way, in this piece, we’ll look at some stock-split candidates that have a relatively decent chance of making an announcement. Of course, only time will tell when the following names, which trade in the four figures, will finally make an announcement that’d be sure to get the smaller retail crowd more interested in stepping in as a buyer.While I wouldn’t get my hopes up for a split in the following names, I do think that they’re long overdue for a big announcement, if not next year, perhaps within the next three years, especially if they continue to appreciate further into the four figures.-->-->Key PointsIf there are stocks that are in need of a split, it’s NFLX and MELI, in my opinion.Both NFLX and MELI look poised to soar further, making them worthy stock-split candidates going into 2026.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)-->-->NetflixNetflix(NASDAQ:NFLX) stock hasn’t been in the four-figure zone for very long. And it might dip below $1,000 per share in the coming weeks and months if Elon Musk’s calls for Netflix subscription cancellations pave the way for a rough quarter. I think the selling pressure is now a bit overdone, and I think investors are underestimating the company’s ability to enhance its content library and margins with a bit of help from generative AI. Indeed, Sora 2 is here, and it’s taken the world by storm. While Netflix hasn’t quite made a massive splash in generative AI content quite yet, I do think that it’s worth thinking about the possibilities today, especially as models like Sora get better by the year. Looking ahead to 2026, Netflix is poised to use AI to help generate ads. If effective, the ad-based tier might be in for a massive boost.Of course, there will always be a place for human stories, but in a decade or so, I wouldn’t be surprised if AI were to augment and automate more aspects of content production. In any case, I also envision a scenario where the rise of AI could lower the barriers to producing original content. As such, Netflix will need to stay on its toes to retain the streaming crown.Either way, I think the name is long overdue for a split. Perhaps a 10-to-1 split would make the name more of a household name among beginning investors who might be a bit off-put if they don’t have the proceeds to pick up a single share.MercadoLibreMercadoLibre(NASDAQ:MELI) stock has been gaining traction, now up 74% in two years. The Latin American e-commerce firm is continuing to grow at a comfortable double-digit pace. And with the financial technology segment pulling more than its fair share of weight, it doesn’t look like the growth is about to slow anytime soon, even amid macro pressures.As the stock continues its ascent, shares look to be getting further out of the reach of everyday retail investors. Today, shares go for over $2,100 per share, making a single share quite a hefty investment for a lot of people. Though time will tell, I do think the firm could attract a lot of young market newcomers if it were to move ahead with a 20-to-1 stock split.Will a big split happen in 2026? I hope it does. However, I also wouldn’t be too surprised if management would rather keep things as they are, so that the name can reach the $3,000 mark, a milestone that not many stocks reach these days!If You have $500,000 Saved, Retirement Could Be Closer Than You Think (sponsor)Retirement can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be.Imagine having an expert in your corner to help you with your financial goals. Someone to help you determine if you’re ahead, behind, or right on track. With SmartAsset, that’s not just a dream—it’s reality. This free tool connects you with pre-screened financial advisors who work in your best interests. It’s quick, it’s easy, so take the leap today and start planning smarter!Don’t waste another minute; get started right here and help your retirement dreams become a retirement reality.(sponsor)

1 No-Brainer Stock-Split Stock to Buy With $2000

-->Key PointsThis stock-split stock is up 52% in 2025 and 81% in 12 months.The stock has the potential to hit new highs and it has a dividend yield of 0.46%.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)-->-->We are less than three months from 2026, and it can be safe to say that if you haven’t met your investment goals this year, there’s no need to panic. There are still plenty of stocks worth buying now that could take you closer to your annual investment goals. The market is rife with tariff fears and their impact on the economy. 2025 has been different; there’s been a lot of uncertainty in the market, and enough companies didn’t announce a stock split this year.While stock splits do not change anything about the company, it becomes easier and more affordable for investors to own stocks. Whenever the demand is high, stock splits can become a way to build wealth. This is how stocks make you a millionaire.Here’s one no-brainer stock-split stock to buy with $2,000 this month.Interactive Brokers GroupInteractive Brokers Group, Inc.(NASDAQ: IBKR)is based in Connecticut and has offices across the world. It has been around for five decades and offers trading services for stocks, bonds, options, futures, crypto, currencies, gold, and more. The company has a strong global presence and is well positioned for international expansion.It has a reach across 36 countries and operates in 28 currencies. About 80% of its customers reside outside of the U.S., giving it a solid position in the global market. Interactive Brokers completed a 4-for-1 stock split this June, after a massive multiyear run. It was the first split since going public in 2007.Since it operates electronically, it manages to keep the costs down and generate a solid profit margin. It is a pure-play brokerage business that runs on automation. As a result of the business structure, IBKR enjoys the best in-class profit margins. Strong fundamentals have boosted the stock’s valuation, and it could continue soaring in the near term.Impressive fundamentals Exchanging hands for $69, the stock is up 52% year-to-date and 87% in a year. If you missed out on the stock during the split, now is the time to load up on the top performer.Loading stock data...It reported an impressive second quarter, with a commission revenue of $516 million, a 27% year-over-year jump, and the net interest income hit a quarterly record of $860 million.The brokerage added 250,000 net new accounts in the quarter. The daily active revenue trades jumped 49%, and the customer accounts in the quarter jumped 32%. It has incredible momentum in customer account growth. Notably, the company saw a 170% year-over-year jump in overnight trading volumes. The increased customer activity is also helping the business.Its total daily average revenue trades saw a 47% jump in September to 3.86 million while the total number of client accounts reached 4.12 million in September. As the stock market continues to soar higher, IBKR is set to keep growing. Besides the impressive rally, Interactive Brokers is a dividend stock with a yield of 0.46%.Growth stock with tremendous upside potentialThe growth stock has an explosive upside potential and has reported an impressive 22.7% annual revenue growth in the last five years. It is set to continue winning market share in the near term.Analysts are bullish on the stock. BMO Capital has an outperform rating with a price target of $82. The company has no long-term debt and is sitting on plenty of cash on hand.While there is a risk of competition, Interactive Brokers has nailed the recipe for success through automation. It will be tough for any other brokerage to hit the same level of automation. IBKR is a profitable stock to own for the long term. If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention (sponsor)Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:Answer a Few Simple Questions. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors Choose Your  Fit Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of.Get started today! (sponsor)

5 Best Dividend Stocks in the S&P 500

Key PointsThese dividend stocks have blue-chip businesses.Their payout ratios are low and cash flows are reliable.Each stock is in a different sector and is a leading name.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)Income investors rarely chase the loudest headlines. They look for companies that mail out checks, no matter what the talking heads predict for next quarter, and the S&P 500 is still the most convenient hunting ground for that kind of reliability.The index has been shifting more towards growth due to the mega-cap stocks doing extremely well over the past three years, and then being joined in by a new group of AI stocks that have ballooned into the top rankings. However, it also has some of the best dividend stocks you can find.The challenge is that the highest yields often sit on businesses whose earnings are shrinking faster than their share price, so a fat number on the screen can be a trap rather than a treat. The following five dividend stocks get you a greatyield that is both rising and sustainable.Realty Income (O)Realty Income (NYSE:O)is called “The Monthly Dividend Company” for good reason. It has been consistently returning cash to its shareholders while increasing the payout. The company is a real estate investment trust. Nevertheless, its clients are often stable retail companies that can weather downturns and keep growing.Realty Income has been able to declare 664 consecutive monthly dividends and is recognized as a Dividend Aristocrat stock for that long record.On top of that, Realty Income’s occupancy rate is among the highest in the REIT industry. Even in 2008, the occupancy rate stood at 97%. If it can pay dividends through the most intense recession to hit the real estate market in modern history, it can keep them rising during good times.You get a 5.39% dividend yield. The payout ratio is very sustainable at 75.45%.Verizon (VZ)Many would scoff atVerizon (NYSE:VZ)if it were portrayed as a good dividend stock two years ago. Today, the scenario has completely shifted. This telecom company had a boatload of debt on its balance sheet during one of the most aggressive periods of interest rate hikes, but managed to keep dividends flowing.Now, as interest rate cuts go down and the AI rally becomes the market’s main focus, VZ stock is becoming a very lucrative opportunity. Its stock has traded sideways year-to-date, but interest rate cuts directly help the company’s bottom line, plus the AI build-out is leading to more demand for Verizon’s extensive infrastructure.I expect VZ stock to follow in the footsteps ofAT&T (NYSE:T)stock in the coming quarters.In the meantime, you get a 6.85% forward dividend yield that has grown for 21 consecutive years. The icing on the cake is that Verizon’s dividend payout ratio is just 57.66%. As debt servicing eases, Verizon will be left with even more room for dividend hikes.Duke Energy (DUK)Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK)is a big electric and gas company that keeps the lights on and the gas flowing for its 7.5 million electric customers and 1.6 million gas customers across six states, mainly in the Southeast and Midwest.It’s one of the best dividend stocks you can buy in the current environment, thanks to tariffs plus interest rate cuts. Lower Treasury yields are making the 3.32% forward yield increasingly juicier when you consider the rate base growth.It has a 5-year CapEx plan of $87 billion to boost growth and margins, with regulators being wooed to approve better rates in exchange for those investments in their states.Furthermore, the Trump-2 admin wants “energy dominance” and is expediting transmission projects to keep up with demand from AI data centers.The payout ratio is 66.45%, and the company has had 14 consecutive years of dividend growth on record.Coca-Cola (KO)Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO)is a no-brainer pick for any portfolio of blue-chip dividend stocks. This company is often the first that comes to mind when you think about dividend payers with lasting power. Coca-Cola’s presence is worldwide, and the moat is too strong to ever crack.KO stock has been on a consistent trajectory for the past two decades. In all likelihood, the next two decades will bring more of the same, which is exactly what you want if you plan to buy, reinvest, and snowball your dividend investments.It also acts as a ballast for your portfolio due to how defensive the business is. Having a Coke after every meal is a habit not many people can give up on.You get a 2.86% dividend yield with a payout ratio of just 16.33%, meaning there’s massive room for significant payout hikes. There are 62 consecutive years of dividend growth on record.Merck (MRK)Merck (NYSE:MRK)makes and sells prescription medicines and vaccines. The company’s financial footing is strong, and you get a great buying opportunity today, as MRK stock trades at a 33%-plus discount from early 2024.Investors are increasingly concerned about the impending patent expiration of KeytrudaGardasil sales have also declined in China, and the guidance given in Q4 2024 for this year was disappointing.Merck is preparing prematurely by accelerating drug development, with a pipeline of 20 “potential new blockbuster drugs… could generate over $50 billion in future revenue”. Plus, its ADC platform is turning out to be a significant growth driver.This is a quality name, and analysts expect 16.25% EPS growth in 2025. That’s along with sales growing 1% this year and accelerating growth to 4.88% next year.You get a 3.7% forward dividend yield with a payout ratio of just 41.36%. There have been 14 consecutive years of dividend growth.If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention (sponsor)Answer a Few Simple Questions. 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Wall Street Insiders Are Loading Up on These 3 Stocks

-->-->Key PointsInsiders have been buying these three stocks recently.The volume and the number of buys are unusually high.The management of these companies likely see more upside ahead.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)-->-->People don’t like to throw money into a sinking ship, and by that logic, insider buys in Wall Street can be an easy way to gauge how well a company might do in the coming quarters. An “insider buy” is the legal purchase of a company’s stock by its own executives, directors, or major shareholders.These buys are considered legal if they areproperly disclosed to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The public can freely view these insider trades. Research shows that insider purchase patterns are often good signals for buying and selling, with stocks that have insider buying outperforming the overall market by 6% to 10.2% per year.As such, it pays to look into stocks with a high number of insider buys. Here are three such stocks:Scholar Rock Holding (SRRK)Loading stock data...Scholar Rock (NASDAQ:SRRK)is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company for diseases where protein growth factors play a central role. It does not yet have commercial products. It generates revenue primarily through collaboration and licensing agreements with larger pharmaceutical partners.The company’s Director Srinivas Akkaraju made three buys of the stock in early October, all filed this Tuesday. His first buy was worth $14.44 million, followed by two more worth $697.71k and $3.67 million, respectively. He is a non-employee director but has deep biotech credentials.This is a very strong vote of confidence, as previous insider trades have been planned and pre-announced sales from other officers and directors.The likely rationale comes from Phase 3 SAPPHIRE data showing apitegromab improved motor milestones in a statistically significant way. Approval is possible in both Europe and the U.S. next year.This could push the stock up even higher.CarMax (KMX)Loading stock data...CarMax (NYSE:KMX)is America’s largest used-car retailer.It operates CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance (CAF). The company also wholesales trade-ins via on-site auctions, sells extended-service plans, and performs reconditioning and repair work.KMX stock has been in a rather sorry state since 2021. It went through a significant decline from late 2021 to late 2022 that more than halved KMX’s value. It was on a sustained recovery from then to early 2025.This year, it has again entered into a second phase of selloffs, with the stock down 45% year-to-date.Insiders are betting against the trend. Director Oneil Mark F bought $499.81k worth of shares on the 2nd of October. The same day, Director Steenrod Mitchell D bought $91.14k worth of shares.Earlier this year, CarMax withdrew its long-term unit-growth algorithm, “citing a lack of clarity,” which the Street read as “we don’t know how low this cycle goes.”But these insider buys show that management sees light at the end of the tunnelInventories have come down from $3.94 billion at the start of the year to $3.15 billion in the most recent quarter. Plus, the Federal Reserve’s rate cut in September and two more planned rate cuts this year can give the company a surprisingly fast snap-back in 2026-27.If you can tolerate 6 to 12 months of choppy numbers, the risk is worth the eventual payoff.Sportsman’s Warehouse (SPWH)Loading stock data...Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings (NASDAQ:SPWH)is a specialty retailer focused on outdoor recreation gear. The company operates a chain of stores across the United States offering a one-stop shopping experience for hunting, fishing, camping, and shooting enthusiasts.There has been a flurry of insider buying activity in the past week. Director Mcbee Richard D bought $61.75k of the stock on October 2, along with CEO Stone Paul buying $20.42k of the stock. The next day, Paul bought $167.94k more, with Director Tucci Michael D joining in by buying $140.5k worth of SPWH.The insiders seem to be betting that the worst of the margin squeeze and liquidity scare is behind SPWH, the new merchandising strategy is taking hold, and the shares discount an outcome far worse than they now expect.The stock seems to have bottomed and is up 219% from its trough. It is a penny stock, so multibagger returns are possible if management can keep executing.If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention (sponsor)Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:Answer a Few Simple Questions. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors Choose Your  Fit Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of.Get started today! (sponsor)

2 Mid-Cap Growth Stocks Dan Loeb Bought Up Last Quarter

SharkNinja(NYSE:SN) andPrimo Brands(NYSE:PRMB) are two stocks Dan Loeb of Third Point, who is one of my favorite professional money managers to follow closely, recently purchased.Just look underneath the hood of his portfolio, and you can see some very interesting names, many of which have impressive growth runways and reasonable (or perhaps unreasonably depressed) valuations. Perhaps most intriguingly, Loeb’s fund has some mid-cap gems, which might be a source of outsized long-term gains.-->-->Key PointsDan Loeb and Third Point made some interesting moves in the second quarter. Investors might wish to follow their coattails.SN and PRMB stand out as low-cost mid-cap hidden gems for value investors looking to diversify further.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)-->-->SharkNinjaSharkNinja, has a relatively interesting name and one that growth investors should familiarize themselves with, given its disruption potential in the kitchen and around the home. The company makes home appliances and various other handy products under the Shark and Ninja brands. Even if you’ve never heard of the stock, you might already have a Shark or Ninja product in your closet or kitchen.Now, SharkNinja is more than just a maker of vacuums and kitchen goods; it’s more of a technology firm that thrives at finding new ways to do things better. Whether that involves cleaning, cooking, or something else, SharkNinja designs products with customer feedback in mind.The company’s tech and consumer-focused approach has been a success, to say the least. Just look at the stock, which has more than doubled in the last two years despite the more recent 22% correction in shares. I think the latest dip is nothing more than a buying opportunity as the firm unlocks the power of reviews by actively listening and revisiting the drawing board if needed.Like a shark or a ninja, the company is agile and able to adapt to changing consumer tastes and preferences. At 25.7 times trailing price-to-earnings (P/E), the $13.7 billion firm stands out as a cheap growth play to keep tabs on. With the firm teaming up with Kevin Hart and David Beckham, I do think SharkNinja is entering a golden age of growth as brand awareness looks to kick things up a few notches.Primo BrandsBet you’ve probably never heard ofPrimo Brands, formerly Primo Water, a Canadian-American firm in the business of bottled water. Whether we’re talking about hydrating the entire office with the company’s dispensers or consumer-facing brands such as Pure Life, Poland Springs, or Arrowhead, Primo is a hidden gem in the bottled water scene.Of late, things have been quite leaky for shares of Primo, which are down over 30% so far this year. Indeed, water sales have been under pressure of late, but with a strong portfolio of brands and stickiness in its subscription business, I think the latest dip is more than buyable.As more consumers turn away from sugary sodas and towards healthier beverage options (it doesn’t get much healthier than water), I suspect the long-term trend will be a friend of Primo. In the meantime, there’s a lot of work for management to do as they drive further efficiencies across the business. The $8 billion bottled water play may not be exciting, but it does have highly predictable cash flows. And with a mere 11.8 times forward P/E multiple, perhaps it’s not a mystery why Third Point was a buyer in the second quarter. Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.Here’s how it works:1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future.

SPY Got Beat 3-To-1 By This ETF This Year

-->-->Key PointsThe S&P 500 has performed well this year.However, some ETFs have still trounced its gains.This one ETF is “boring” in nature but is outperforming even most tech stocks.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)-->-->iShares Gold Trust ETF (NYSEARCA:IAU)had significantly outperformedSPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY)this year. While SPY has posted impressive gains of nearly 15% year-to-date—making this a stronger-than-average year for the S&P 500 with almost three months remaining—gold spot prices have made iShares Gold Trust a better investment so far in 2025. A new gold rush is brewingSpot gold prices have been explosive this year and have trounced even big-name tech stocks likeNvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)year-to-date. For the long-term, cost-conscious investor, iShares Gold Trust ETF  is a great bet. It has $61.5 billion in total assets and low fees at just 0.25%, or $25 per $10,000.Loading stock data...Each share of IAU constitutes a fractional undivided interest in physical gold held in secure vaults by JPMorgan Chase Bank as the custodian. The gold is allocated, meaning it is specifically identified and held in the name of the trust.It’s ideal for investors who want direct gold price exposure without the hassle of buying, storing, or insuring bullion.IAU may not even be at its peak potential, as trends say that gold is set to continue going up. As of this writing, gold broke through $4,000/oz. Two years ago, this was a fantasy.Why a gold surge can continue for yearsThere is a “perfect storm” underway for the yellow metal. First, the Federal Reserve is restarting interest rate cuts, with one already going through last month. Two more rate cuts are expected by the end of this year. Each tick lower in real yields automatically makes non-coupon gold more attractive as it lowers the opportunity cost for holding growth.Second, the U.S. dollar has softened significantly this year. This translates over into a higher price and then demand for gold. Central banks worldwide are expected to buy over 1,000 tonnes of gold in 2025 in a bid to diversify away from dollar-heavy reserves. Central banks have bought over 1,000 tonnes of gold for three consecutive years.On top of that, geopolitical fog, tariffs, and a U.S. government shutdown and hot conflicts in two regions have revived gold’s oldest use-case: the asset you own when nothing else feels safe.Reserve diversification is a multi-year theme, mine supply is flat despite the price incentive, and recycling flows have actually fallen as consumers hold old jewellery in anticipation of even higher quotes. Add the fact that global debt-to-GDP is still rising and real yields are still modest, and the floor under bullion looks more solid than usual.Can IAU keep trouncing the SPY?Analysts are constantly upping their price targets to follow the uptrend. UBS says $4,200 by year-end, with some having their price targets at $4,500 or more. Goldman Sachs says $5,000 next year. This implies a 25% gain from here, something that the S&P 500 is unlikely to match.For holders of IAU, the implication is that the ETF may still be in the early innings of a structural repricing rather than the late stages of a cyclical burst.Gold can and likely will correct sometime in the future, but holding cash and waiting for it to happen is not a smart idea today.If You have $500,000 Saved, Retirement Could Be Closer Than You Think (sponsor)Retirement can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be. Imagine having an expert in your corner to help you with your financial goals. Someone to help you determine if you’re ahead, behind, or right on track. With SmartAsset, that’s not just a dream—it’s reality. This free tool connects you with pre-screened financial advisors who work in your best interests. It’s quick, it’s easy, so take the leap today and start planning smarter!Don’t waste another minute; get started right here and help your retirement dreams become a retirement reality.(sponsor)

Stock Market Live October 9: Delta Earnings Beat Helps Lift S&P 500 (VOO)

-->-->Key PointsThe U.S. government remains shutdown for a ninth straight day on Thursday.Delta Air Lines says the shutdown isn’t affecting its operations — yet — and Q3 earnings beat expectations.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; get started by clicking here.(Sponsor)-->-->Live UpdatesLive Coverage Has EndedGet The Best Vanguard S&P 500 ETF Live Earnings Coverage Like This Every QuarterGet earnings reminders, our top analysis on Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, market updates, and brand-new stock recommendations delivered directly to your inbox.Click Here - It's Free Thank you for subscribing! Keep an eye on your email for updates. By providing your email address, you agree to receive communications from us regarding website updates and other offerings that may be of interest to you. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please review our Disclaimer and Terms of Use.Thursday Wrap-upOct 9, 2025 4:05 PMLive The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF closed Thursday at 617.10, down 0.3%.Inititating on OracleOct 9, 2025 11:24 AMLivePhillip Securities initiated coverage on S&P 500 componentOracle(NYSE: ORCL) stock with a buy rating and a $350 price target this morning.Oracle is a “niche Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and full-stack AI provider,” notes the analyst. Its backlog of future work surged 359% in fiscal Q1 2026, and could reach $144 billion by fiscal 2030 — a 68% compound annual growth rate over four years — powered by “partnerships with major clouds providers and chipmakers [to] support AI training, inference, and database integration, driving 55% YoY infrastructure growth and positioning Oracle for long-term recurring revenue.”Oracle stock is up 3.5% on the new buy rating. The Voo is down 0.3%.United Loves to Fly to Europe (and it Shows)Oct 9, 2025 10:08 AMLiveCircling back to airlines news, Delta rival and fellow S&P 500 componentUnited Airlines(Nasdaq: UAL) announced today it’s opening up nonstop flights from its East Coast hub at Newark Liberty International Airport to a handful of smaller European cities — Bari, Italy; Split, Croatia; and Santiago de Compostela, Spain.Air industry analysts interpret United’s move as a response to Delta’s opening nonstop flights to Malta and Sardinia last month. Whatever the reason, it’s already paying off for United, whose stock is up more than 4% today.Conversely, the Voo has turned around and nosedived to a 0.1% loss. Win some, lose some…Tilray Surprisingly Loses No MoneyOct 9, 2025 9:42 AMLiveBeyond the big S&P 500 companies, Tilray(Nasdaq: TLRY) also reported earnings this morning. Analysts were expecting the marijuana company to lose $0.04 per share, but Tilray says it instead broke even with $0 earned, $0 lost in its fiscal Q1 2026.Revenue for the quarter also exceeded estimates at $209.5 million, and Tilray reaffirmed its non-GAAP guidance for “Adjusted EBITDA” of $62 million to $72 million in fiscal 2026.Tilray stock is up more than 14% on the news. The Voo is now up 0.6%.This article will be updated throughout the day, so check back often for more daily updates.TheVanguard S&P 500 ETF(NYSEMKT: VOO) set a new all-time high on Wednesday, rising 0.6% to close at 618.77. Even as the U.S. government remains stubbornly shut down for an ninth straight day, the market continues to inch higher Thursday, up 0.5% premarket.Helping the market today is a positive earnings forecast fromDelta Air Lines(NYSE: DAL), which forecast today that it will earn between $1.60 and $1.90 per share in Q4, better than the $1.65 per share that analysts were predicting.CEO Ed Bastian warned that if the government shutdown drags on too long, it’s likely to affect his company, and the airline industry in general — and the economy. For the time being, however, Delta’s boss confirms that he hasn’t seen “any impacts at all” on Delta’s business.Commenting on reports yesterday that a handful of airports are starting to see an uptick in flight delays, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy agreed that he’s seen a “slight uptick” in air traffic controllers, who are currently working without pay, calling in sick rather than coming to work, and that this could affect flight operations, causing delays.EarningsBut getting back to earnings at Delta, which is an S&P 500 component company, Delta reported its Q3 numbers this morning, which were $0.18 better than expected at $1.71 per share. Revenue was $15.2 billion, also better than expected.Taken in conjunction with the Q4 guidance, and the full-year guidance for a better than expected $6 per share for fiscal 2025, Delta’s report was positive on all fronts, and the stock is up more than 7% premarket.A second big S&P 500 component,PepsiCo(Nasdaq: PEP), also reported good profits this morning. Q3 earnings at Pepsi “beat” by three cents at $2.29 per share, with revenue also ahead of forecasts at $23.9 billion.Pepsi stock us up less than 1% premarket.Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Here’s how it works: 1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz 2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles. 3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future.Get Live Earning Updates on Vanguard S&P 500 ETFNever miss important earnings news. Get real-time updates delivered directly to your inbox. We'll also deliver our top stock recommendations and weekly market udpates. Signup -- It's Free Thank you for subscribing! Keep an eye on your email for updates. By providing your email address, you agree to receive communications from us regarding website updates and other offerings that may be of interest to you. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please review our Disclaimer and Terms of Use.

Two Income ETFs Outperforming the S&P 500 This Year

I’m generally not a fan of chasing returns, whether they be in individual stocks or in mutual funds or exchange traded funds (ETFs). However, I also know that investors look for above-market returns, and want to at least check out the funds that outperformed broader indexes to see what companies these funds are invested in, and why there’s some sort of outperformance differential. -->-->Key PointsCreating passive income via investing in ETFs can seem like a good idea, but many don’t beat benchmarks like the S&P 500.Here are three that have, and why they look like buying opportunities here.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)-->-->To be honest, I’m a creature of curiosity as well, so this is one educational exercise I thought I’d dive into to provide some value to readers as well. I’m looking for income-focused ETFs that have outperformed the S&P 500 on a year-to-date basis (I put the end of September as the cut off date, for simplicity’s sake). As of Sep. 30, the S&P 500 produced a year-to-date return of around 14.5%, so let’s dive into three income ETFs that managed to beat this benchmark and why. Laffer Tengler Equity Income ETF (TGLR)Loading stock data...One ETF I haven’t touched on in the past, but which has clearly been a winner thus far this year, is the Laffer Tengler Equity Income ETF (TGLR). Shares of TGLR are up more than 20% at the time of writing, providing investors with a spread of around 6% over and above the performance of the benchmark S&P 500 index. What’s impressive about this performance is the fact that the Laffer Tengler Equity Income ETF is concentrated on large-cap U.S. stocks. Given the high concentration of mega-cap stocks within the S&P 500 (indices are typically weighted by market capitalization), one might expect to see much more consistent performance. Now, both funds do provide investors with very high correlation to the same assets. But for a fund like TGLR that has an even more aggressive size and quality tilt, one can expect to see outperformance and underperformance, depending on the point in the market cycle we’re in. For those who think this rally can continue, and want to invest in an ETF that uses a 12-factor model to pick stocks on the basis of valuation and dividend potential, this is a great way to go. Franklin U.S. Core Dividend Tilt ETF (UDIV)Loading stock data...Another top dividend-focused ETF which managed to beat the market (excluding its dividend yield of 1.5%, still higher than the S&P 500’s) is the Franklin U.S. Core Dividend Tilt ETF (UDIV). This ETF is up approximately 15.5% this year, driven by strong growth seen in the a wide range of sectors.Unlike the other ETFs on this list that have tilted their portfolios more aggressively toward tech stocks, UDIV has a more balanced and moderate portfolio of a range of companies in varying industries. Now, these companies clearly have outsized growth potential, or this fund would not have beaten the overall S&P 500 since the beginning of the year. But I also think this fund’s core holdings having higher dividend yields than other comparable income ETFs does signal a trend which could be coming to the surface – more investors want to own income-paying equities as interest rates come down.For investors who think the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again, this is a top ETF to consider right now. At least, that’s my view. ProShares S&P Technology Dividend Artistocrats ETF (TDV)Loading stock data...Last, but certainly not least on this list of income ETFs that have outperformed the broader market is the ProShares S&P Technology Dividend Aristocrats ETF (TDV). This ETF has posted a year-to-date performance of around 16.5%, so investors in this fund have had even better of a run than those in SPY, at least thus far in 2025.That shouldn’t make too many investors confused, since this ETF is almost entirely tech focused. As is the case with other market-beating funds, it’s really impossible to beat the S&P 500 without being even more overweight tech than the broader index. That’s the case here, with the TDV ETF tracking the S&P 500 Technology Dividend Aristocrats, a group of companies that have maintained dividends for at least seven years. What’s interesting about this fact is that many of the “Magnificent 7” and similar mega-cap tech stocks either don’t pay a dividend, or haven’t for seven years. Thus, the quality of companies within this portfolio, and the selection process behind the scenes does appear to be world-class. If You have $500,000 Saved, Retirement Could Be Closer Than You Think (sponsor)Retirement can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be.Imagine having an expert in your corner to help you with your financial goals. Someone to help you determine if you’re ahead, behind, or right on track. With SmartAsset, that’s not just a dream—it’s reality. This free tool connects you with pre-screened financial advisors who work in your best interests. It’s quick, it’s easy, so take the leap today and start planning smarter!Don’t waste another minute; get started right here and help your retirement dreams become a retirement reality.(sponsor)