Core Viewpoint - The content emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence and consulting competent advisors before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of investments and trading activities [1]. Group 1 - The website provides general news and publications, personal analysis, and third-party content intended for educational and research purposes [1]. - It explicitly states that the information does not constitute any recommendation or advice for investment or purchasing decisions [1]. - The content is not tailored to individual financial situations or needs, highlighting the necessity for users to apply their own discretion [1]. Group 2 - The website includes information about complex financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies and contracts for difference (CFDs), which carry a high risk of losing money [1]. - Users are encouraged to perform their own research before making investment decisions, particularly regarding instruments they do not fully understand [1].

Core Viewpoint - Amgen has outperformed Merck in 2025, with a year-to-date return of 21%, while Merck's shares have declined by 8% [1] Valuation Comparison - The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is a key metric for assessing stock valuation, with a lower P/E indicating a cheaper stock relative to earnings [2] - Amgen's projected P/E ratio for 2025 is 15, while Merck's is 10, making Merck appear cheaper [3] - Merck also offers a larger dividend yield of 3.4% compared to Amgen's 2.9% [3] Growth Potential - Amgen is experiencing stronger growth, with a 19% year-over-year revenue increase in 2024, significantly higher than Merck's 7% [5] - Amgen's portfolio includes multiple best-in-class products, and there is anticipation for its experimental obesity drug, MariTide, which is entering phase 3 trials [5] Challenges Facing Merck - Merck is facing challenges such as disappointing sales for its Gardasil vaccine and uncertainty regarding the loss of patent exclusivity for its Keytruda cancer drug, which are negatively impacting its stock price [6]

Market Sentiment - The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed almost no change, remaining in the "Fear" zone with a reading of 27.9 compared to 27.8 previously [6] - U.S. stocks settled lower, with the Dow Jones index falling more than 150 points during the session as investors reacted to tariff-related news [1] Tariff Impact - President Trump announced a 25% tariff on all auto imports starting next week, with additional duties on auto parts expected in May [1] - European automakers, including Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Porsche Automobile Holding SE, experienced declines of 1.7% and 2.3%, respectively [2] Company Performance - TD SYNNEX Corp shares dipped around 14% following the release of its first-quarter results [2] - Verint Systems Inc. shares fell more than 13% after reporting worse-than-expected fourth-quarter results and issuing FY26 EPS guidance below estimates [2] Economic Data - U.S. initial jobless claims fell by 1,000 to 224,000, slightly better than market estimates of 225,000 [3] - The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 2.4% in Q4, an increase from the prior estimate of 2.3% [3] - U.S. wholesale inventories increased by 0.3% month-over-month to $903 billion in February, compared to a 0.8% gain in the previous month [3] Sector Performance - Most sectors on the S&P 500 closed negatively, with energy, communication services, and information technology stocks recording the largest losses [4] - Health care and consumer staples stocks closed higher, bucking the overall market trend [4] - The Dow Jones closed lower by approximately 155 points to 42,299.70, while the S&P 500 fell 0.33% to 5,693.31, and the Nasdaq Composite tumbled 0.53% to 17,804.03 [4] Upcoming Earnings - Investors are awaiting earnings results from Super League Enterprise, Inc. and Katapult Holdings, Inc. [5]

Core Insights - During market turbulence, investors often seek dividend-yielding stocks, which typically have high free cash flows and offer substantial dividends [1] Group 1: Company Ratings and Analyst Insights - Dow Inc. has a dividend yield of 7.87% with an Overweight rating maintained by JP Morgan analyst Jeffrey Zekauskas, who reduced the price target from $47 to $40, and Wells Fargo analyst Michael Sison, who cut the price target from $55 to $50 [7] - Huntsman Corporation has a dividend yield of 6.22% with an Overweight rating maintained by JP Morgan analyst Jeffrey Zekauskas, who lowered the price target from $25 to $22, and Wells Fargo analyst Michael Sison, who also cut the price target from $25 to $22 [7] - The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company has a dividend yield of 4.63% with an Overweight rating maintained by Wells Fargo analyst Chris Carey, who slashed the price target from $85 to $80, and JP Morgan analyst Jeffrey Zekauskas, who reduced the price target from $85 to $80 [7] Group 2: Recent Company News - Dow Inc. announced the pricing of its cash tender offer on March 11 [7] - Huntsman Corporation reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue on February 17 [7] - The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company reported a first-quarter adjusted loss per share of 89 cents, which was narrower than the expected loss of $1.23 on January 29 [7]

Core Viewpoint - The content emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence and consulting competent advisors before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of investments and trading activities [1]. Group 1 - The website provides general news, personal analysis, and third-party content intended for educational and research purposes [1]. - It explicitly states that the information does not constitute any recommendation or advice for investment actions [1]. - Users are advised to perform their own research and consider their financial situation before making decisions [1]. Group 2 - The website includes information about complex financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies and contracts for difference (CFDs), which carry a high risk of losing money [1]. - It encourages users to understand how these instruments work and the associated risks before investing [1].

Core Viewpoint - Dow Inc. has become the highest-yielding stock in the S&P 500 with a dividend yield of 7.7%, but investors need to assess the company's ability to sustain this payout amid a challenging economic environment [1][3]. Group 1: Economic Environment and Company Performance - Dow Inc. is experiencing a severe cyclical slowdown, with stock prices down over 29% in the last year, leading to a significant decline in margins due to weak global demand and intense competition [1][6]. - The company operates in various end markets, making it vulnerable to economic fluctuations and competition, particularly as it produces commodity products with little pricing power [3][4]. - Dow's operating income has significantly decreased from $7.89 billion in 2021 to an estimated $1.91 billion in 2024, indicating a challenging financial landscape [9]. Group 2: Dividend Sustainability - Dow aims for its dividend payments to comprise 45% of operating income, but it has not met this target since 2021, with capital returns exceeding operating income in the last two years [8][9]. - The company plans to maintain dividend payments of around $2 billion in 2025, which aligns with its historical payout, despite the current economic downturn [11][12]. - Management has indicated that maintaining the dividend is a top priority, as 65% of shareholders rely on it, and there is manageable debt in the near term [12][13]. Group 3: Future Outlook - If the economic cycle begins to shift positively, Dow could potentially align its dividend payments with its operational income goals [13]. - Investors are advised to monitor signs of a cycle shift, as prolonged economic downturns could lead to challenges in sustaining dividend payments in the future [14]. - For investors with a three- to five-year horizon, Dow may present an opportunity as a potential recovery play and a source of passive income [15].

Core Viewpoint - The content emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence and consulting competent advisors before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of investments and trading activities [1]. Group 1 - The website provides general news, publications, and personal analysis intended for educational and research purposes [1]. - It explicitly states that the information does not constitute any recommendation or advice for investment actions [1]. - Users are advised to perform their own research and consider their financial situation before making decisions [1]. Group 2 - The website includes information about complex financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies and contracts for difference (CFDs), which carry a high risk of losing money [1]. - It encourages users to understand how these instruments work and the associated risks before investing [1].

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - The Dow Jones Industrial Average index experienced a decline of 1.6% in February, with notable performances from Coca-Cola and Verizon, which were the top gainers among the index constituents. Group 1: Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola was the best-performing stock in February, driven by strong earnings, reporting a 6.4% year-over-year revenue growth for Q4 and a 14% surge in organic revenue [2] - The company's operating margin increased to 23.5% from 21%, and earnings per share (EPS) rose by 12% [2] - For the full year, Coca-Cola reported a 3% growth in revenue and a 12% growth in organic revenue, despite a reduction in free cash flow to $4.7 billion due to tax litigation [3] - Coca-Cola announced a quarterly dividend hike of 5.2%, marking its 63rd consecutive annual dividend increase, contributing to its popularity as a Dividend King [3] Group 2: Verizon - Verizon's stock performance in February was bolstered by strong subscriber growth and initiatives to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for new revenue streams [4] - The company launched AI Connect, a suite of products for businesses to manage AI workloads, estimating a total addressable market of over $40 billion [5] - In 2024, Verizon added nearly 2.5 million postpaid mobility and broadband subscribers, grew total wireless service revenue by 3%, and generated $19.8 billion in free cash flow [6] - Verizon raised its dividend for the 18th consecutive year, although it anticipates slightly slower wireless service revenue growth of 2% to 2.8% and free cash flow of $18 billion for 2025 [6]

Market Sentiment - The CNN Money Fear and Greed index improved, moving to the "Fear" zone with a current reading of 27.9, up from 23.4 [6] - U.S. stocks experienced a positive session, with the Dow Jones index rising nearly 600 points [1][4] Economic Indicators - The Chicago Fed National Activity Index increased to 0.18 in February from -0.08 in January [3] - The S&P Global services PMI rose to 54.3 in March, up from 51 in February, indicating a rebound in services activity [3] - The S&P Global US Manufacturing PMI decreased to 49.8 in March from 52.7 in the previous month [3] Sector Performance - Most sectors in the S&P 500 closed positively, particularly consumer discretionary, communication services, and industrials [4] - Utility stocks, however, closed slightly lower, bucking the overall market trend [4] Company Performance - Tesla Inc. shares gained approximately 12% after a nine-week decline [3] - Meta Platforms Inc. and Nvidia Corp. each saw gains of over 3% during the session [3] Upcoming Earnings - Investors are anticipating earnings results from Core & Main, Inc., GameStop Corp., and Worthington Enterprises Inc. [5]

EnglishItalianoEspañolPortuguêsDeutschالعربيةFrançaisImportant DisclaimersThe content provided on the website includes general news and publications, our personal analysis and opinions, and contents provided by third parties, which are intended for educational and research purposes only. It does not constitute, and should not be read as, any recommendation or advice to take any action whatsoever, including to make any investment or buy any product. When making any financial decision, you should perform your ...