KB Home increased 10.6% to $70.86 after the home builder reported better-than-expected quarterly results. 

Revenue in the fourth quarter increased 19% to $1.99 billion from $1.67 billion, net income advanced 27% to $190.6 million from $150.3 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to $2.52 from $1.85 a year ago. 

Homes delivered in the quarter increased 17% to 3,978 homes, and net orders and net order value for the quarter both increased by 41%, reaching 2,688 and $1.32 billion, respectively. 

14 Jan, 2025

JPMorgan Chase increased 0.8% to $249.40 after the New York-based company reported better-than-expected net interest income, fixed income trading revenue, and investment banking fees. 

Total revenue increased 10% to $43.74 billion, driven by a surge in net interest income to $23.47 billion, fixed-income trading revenue jumped 20% to $5 billion, and investment banking fees soared 49% to $2.48 billion. 

16 Jan, 2025

Consumer price inflation accelerated for the third month in a row in December to 2.9%, and core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, slowed to an annual 3.2% from 3.3%, according to the monthly report released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

The annual rate of inflation accelerated from 2.7% in November, largely because of an increase in energy prices from a lower base in the previous year. 

However, shelter cost continued to advance at 4.6% compared to 4.7%, food inflation accelerated to 2.5% from 2.4%, and transportation inflation advanced to 7.3% from 7.1% annual rate in the previous month. 

On the other hand, prices for used cars and trucks fell at a slower annual pace of 3.3% from 3.4%, and new vehicles eased 0.4% compared to a fall of 0.7% annual pace in the previous month. 

15 Jan, 2025

Target Corp. declined 0.8% to $133.52 after the big-box retailer raised its sales outlook in the fourth quarter. 

The retailer said comparable sales are likely to increase 1.5% in the fourth quarter, compared to the previous estimate of flat. 

The company left its earnings estimate unrevised for the quarter and the full year, indicating customers were driven by promotions and deals during the holiday period. 

The retailer anticipated earnings per share in the fourth quarter between $1.85 and $2.45 and for the full year between $8.30 and $8.90. 

Target said it will release detailed financial results on March 4. 

16 Jan, 2025

UnitedHealth Group decreased 3.5% to $525.0 after the health insurance company reported mixed quarterly results. 

Total revenue in the quarter was $100.81 billion, and adjusted earnings per share were $6.81. 

The annual medical cost ratio, the percentage of collected premiums spent on medical care costs, increased to 85.5% from 83.2% in 2023. 

The company reaffirmed its annual earnings per share in 2025 between $29.50 and $30.0, confirming its previous estimate released in December. 

16 Jan, 2025

Costco Wholesale Co edged up 0.1% to $944.50 after the membership warehouse club operator's workers' union of 18,000 workers voted to strike at the end of January if management fails to meet their demands. 

Costco recently reported $254 billion in annual revenue and $7.4 billion in net profits, which is a 135% increase since 2018.

21 Jan, 2025

D.R. Horton Inc. gained 3.9% to $153.35 despite the home builder posted a 1% decrease in revenue in the fiscal first quarter 2025 ending in December. 

Net income plunged 11% from a year ago to $844.9 million, and diluted earnings per share eased to $2.61 from $2.82 a year ago.

The company closed sales of 19,059 homes, while net sales orders amounted to 17,837 homes. 

D.R. Horton repurchased 6.8 million shares of common stock for $1.1 billion and paid cash dividends totaling $128.5 million.

The home builder declared a quarterly cash dividend of 40 cents per share payable on February 14 to shareholders on record February 7. 

21 Jan, 2025

United Airlines Holdings Inc surged 2.9% to $110.5 after the airline reported strong fourth-quarter financials.

Revenue increased 7.8% to $14.7 billion, net income soared 64.2% to $985 million from $600 million, and diluted earnings rose to $2.95 per share from $1.81 per share a year earlier.

Free cash flow clocked in at $549 million in the quarter, equivalent to a 3.7% margin.

22 Jan, 2025

Interactive Brokers Group added 1.4% to $192.83 after the global electronic broker reported steady fourth-quarter results.

Revenue reached $1.4 billion, compared to $1.2 billion in the same quarter in 2023. 

Earnings per share rose to $1.99 from $1.48 in the year-ago period.

Reported income before taxes was $1,040 million for the current quarter, compared to $816 million a year ago.

Commission revenue increased 37% to $477 million as customer accounts grew 30% to 3.34 million.

22 Jan, 2025

3M gained 4.8% to $147.84 after the industrial conglomerate said fourth-quarter revenue increased 1.5% to $6.07 billion from the same period last year.

Quarterly earnings came in at $1.33 per share, compared to $1.14 a share a year ago.

For the full year 2024, the company returned $3.8 billion to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases.

3M estimated fiscal 2025 adjusted sales to rise between 0.5% to 1.5%, and earnings per share in the range of $7.60 to $7.90.

22 Jan, 2025

Netflix gained 1.4% to $869.68 after the streaming services provider reported record client subscriptions in the fourth quarter.

Revenue increased by 16% to $10.25 billion from the same quarter a year ago.

Diluted earnings per share rose 102.4% to $4.27 from $2.11 a year ago. 

The free cash flow declined 12.7% to $1.38 billion due to more investments in content and technology.

The company conducted stock buybacks amounting to $6.2 billion in the quarter.

A possible stock split announcement may help Netflix to push out an increase in its service prices.

Looking ahead for fiscal year 2025, Netflix anticipated revenue between $43.5 billion and $44.5 billion, indicating an increase of 12% to 14%.

22 Jan, 2025

Charles Schwab Corp surged 6% to $80.98 after the investment services firm said fourth-quarter revenue increased 20% to $5.3 billion from a year ago.

Net income jumped 76% to $1.8 billion, or 94 cents a share, compared to $1.1 billion or 51 cents a share in the same quarter a year ago.

Total client assets increased 19% year-over-year to $10.10 trillion.

For the full-year 2024, revenue jumped 4% to $19.61 billion from $18.8 billion, net income surged 17% to $5.94 billion from $5.5 billion, and diluted earnings per share rose to $2.99 from $2.54 a year ago.

21 Jan, 2025

U.S. Movers: 3M, Netflix, Charles Schwab, Interactive Brokers, United Airlines

Scott Peters
22 Jan, 2025
New York City

Charles Schwab Corp surged 6% to $80.98 after the investment services firm said fourth-quarter revenue increased 20% to $5.3 billion from a year ago.

Net income jumped 76% to $1.8 billion, or 94 cents a share, compared to $1.1 billion or 51 cents a share in the same quarter a year ago.

Total client assets increased 19% year-over-year to $10.10 trillion.

For the full-year 2024, revenue jumped 4% to $19.61 billion from $18.8 billion, net income surged 17% to $5.94 billion from $5.5 billion, and diluted earnings per share rose to $2.99 from $2.54 a year ago.

3M gained 4.8% to $147.84 after the industrial conglomerate said fourth-quarter revenue increased 1.5% to $6.07 billion from the same period last year.

Quarterly earnings came in at $1.33 per share, compared to $1.14 a share a year ago.

For the full year 2024, the company returned $3.8 billion to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases.

3M estimated fiscal 2025 adjusted sales to rise between 0.5% to 1.5%, and earnings per share in the range of $7.60 to $7.90.

Netflix gained 1.4% to $869.68 after the streaming services provider reported record client subscriptions in the fourth quarter.

Revenue increased by 16% to $10.25 billion from the same quarter a year ago.

Diluted earnings per share rose 102.4% to $4.27 from $2.11 a year ago. 

The free cash flow declined 12.7% to $1.38 billion due to more investments in content and technology.

The company conducted stock buybacks amounting to $6.2 billion in the quarter.

A possible stock split announcement may help Netflix to push out an increase in its service prices.

Looking ahead for fiscal year 2025, Netflix anticipated revenue between $43.5 billion and $44.5 billion, indicating an increase of 12% to 14%.

Interactive Brokers Group added 1.4% to $192.83 after the global electronic broker reported steady fourth-quarter results.

Revenue reached $1.4 billion, compared to $1.2 billion in the same quarter in 2023. 

Earnings per share rose to $1.99 from $1.48 in the year-ago period.

Reported income before taxes was $1,040 million for the current quarter, compared to $816 million a year ago.

Commission revenue increased 37% to $477 million as customer accounts grew 30% to 3.34 million.

United Airlines Holdings Inc surged 2.9% to $110.5 after the airline reported strong fourth-quarter financials.

Revenue increased 7.8% to $14.7 billion, net income soared 64.2% to $985 million from $600 million, and diluted earnings rose to $2.95 per share from $1.81 per share a year earlier.

Free cash flow clocked in at $549 million in the quarter, equivalent to a 3.7% margin.

U.S. Movers: 3M, Netflix, Charles Schwab, Interactive Brokers, United Airlines

Scott Peters
22 Jan, 2025
New York City

Charles Schwab Corp surged 6% to $80.98 after the investment services firm said fourth-quarter revenue increased 20% to $5.3 billion from a year ago.

Net income jumped 76% to $1.8 billion, or 94 cents a share, compared to $1.1 billion or 51 cents a share in the same quarter a year ago.

Total client assets increased 19% year-over-year to $10.10 trillion.

For the full-year 2024, revenue jumped 4% to $19.61 billion from $18.8 billion, net income surged 17% to $5.94 billion from $5.5 billion, and diluted earnings per share rose to $2.99 from $2.54 a year ago.

3M gained 4.8% to $147.84 after the industrial conglomerate said fourth-quarter revenue increased 1.5% to $6.07 billion from the same period last year.

Quarterly earnings came in at $1.33 per share, compared to $1.14 a share a year ago.

For the full year 2024, the company returned $3.8 billion to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases.

3M estimated fiscal 2025 adjusted sales to rise between 0.5% to 1.5%, and earnings per share in the range of $7.60 to $7.90.

Netflix gained 1.4% to $869.68 after the streaming services provider reported record client subscriptions in the fourth quarter.

Revenue increased by 16% to $10.25 billion from the same quarter a year ago.

Diluted earnings per share rose 102.4% to $4.27 from $2.11 a year ago. 

The free cash flow declined 12.7% to $1.38 billion due to more investments in content and technology.

The company conducted stock buybacks amounting to $6.2 billion in the quarter.

A possible stock split announcement may help Netflix to push out an increase in its service prices.

Looking ahead for fiscal year 2025, Netflix anticipated revenue between $43.5 billion and $44.5 billion, indicating an increase of 12% to 14%.

Interactive Brokers Group added 1.4% to $192.83 after the global electronic broker reported steady fourth-quarter results.

Revenue reached $1.4 billion, compared to $1.2 billion in the same quarter in 2023. 

Earnings per share rose to $1.99 from $1.48 in the year-ago period.

Reported income before taxes was $1,040 million for the current quarter, compared to $816 million a year ago.

Commission revenue increased 37% to $477 million as customer accounts grew 30% to 3.34 million.

United Airlines Holdings Inc surged 2.9% to $110.5 after the airline reported strong fourth-quarter financials.

Revenue increased 7.8% to $14.7 billion, net income soared 64.2% to $985 million from $600 million, and diluted earnings rose to $2.95 per share from $1.81 per share a year earlier.

Free cash flow clocked in at $549 million in the quarter, equivalent to a 3.7% margin.

Big Business Optimism Extends Big Rally On Wall Street

Barry Adams
22 Jan, 2025
New York City

Stock market indexes on Wall Street approached or reached record highs amid growing optimism about the weakening of the regulatory regime for big businesses. 

The S&P 500 index edged up 0.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.4% after stocks in the energy, technology, and banking sectors continued to advance for the third month in a row. 

Strong economic growth data and labor market conditions have supported the market advance over the last six weeks. 

Moreover, the optimism about the possible changes in the regulatory framework for big companies in the technology, energy sectors, and financial services has also contributed to the current market enthusiasm. 

U.S. Indexes and Treasury Yields

The S&P 500 indexed increased 0.5% to 6,079.14, the Nasdaq Composite rose 1% to 19,952.92, and the Russell 2000 index edged up by 1.8% to 2,317.97.

The yield on 2-year Treasury notes edged higher to 4.28%, 10-year Treasury notes increased to 4.58%, and 30-year Treasury bonds declined to 4.80%.

WTI crude oil increased $0.35 to $75.55 a barrel, and natural gas prices edged down $0.01 to $3.79 a thermal unit.

Gold increased by $12.89 to 2,757.43 an ounce, and silver rose by $0.04 to $30.78.

The dollar index, which weighs the US currency against a basket of foreign currencies, increased by 0.10 to 108.07 and traded at a two-year high.

U.S. Stock Movers 

United Airlines jumped 5.6% to $116.70 after the company reported better-than-expected results for the fourth quarter. 

Procter & Gamble jumped 3.3% to $167.10 after the consumer goods company reported better-than-expected fiscal second quarter results. 

The company also reiterated its annual earnings outlook. 

Netflix soared 14.5% to $996.01 after the streaming media company reported better-than-expected revenue and earnings in the fourth quarter and increased paid membership to 300 million. 

The company also raised its revenue outlook for 2025. 

Halliburton decreased 1.9% to $29.10 after the energy company reported weaker-than-expected revenue in its latest quarter. 

Charles Schwab edged slightly lower to $80.83 and the company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results a day ago.