MarketBeat Review of the Week – 1/29 – 2/2

Markets remained resilient despite the one-two punch they received The Apple company. NASDAQ:AAPL and the employment report. Apple shares, a bellwether for the broader market, fell 2% in early trading Friday after revealing a decline in sales in China in its quarterly earnings report. And the economy has created many more jobs than expected, which, on the face of it, puts a damper on any lingering hopes of a March rate cut.

However, companies have generally outperformed this earnings season. And over the next week, investors will hear about names like Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. New York Stock Exchange: CMG, McDonald’s Corp. NYSE: MCD AND PepsiCo Inc. NASDAQ:PEP, which will provide more data on consumer health.

And just as you can count on whether or not the groundhog sees his shadow, the MarketBeat team will stay up to date on the headlines and stories that are moving the market. Here are some articles that got the most views on MarketBeat.com last week.

Articles by Jea Yu

One of the easiest ways to invest in AI stocks is to look at chip stocks. This week, Jea Yu highlighted two companies that are clear market share leaders in the industry and explained why each stock has more growth coming.

Investors also continue to see upside in travel stocks. As Yu points out, this is especially true Marriott International Inc. NASDAQ: MARCH. With the global hospitality industry expected to fully recover in 2024, Yu explains why MAR stock is worth considering even as the company lowered its guidance.

However, investors are not shaking off the weak indications Humana Inc. NYSE: MOOD. Health insurer stocks are under pressure, raising questions about rising costs of Medicare Advantage plans.

Articles by Thomas Hughes

One of the biggest stories of this earnings season has arrived Meta Platform Inc. (NASDAQ: META). The report was released Thursday evening, but Thomas Hughes took up the case with an analysis of the company’s report. With META stock reaching a critical inflection point, you’ll want to see where Hughes believes the stock could be headed.

Hughes also wrote about ‘s stellar earnings report Advanced Micro Devices Inc. NASDAQ:AMD. The company recently launched its MI300 chips to compete with Nvidia Corporation NASDAQ:NVDA. And early reports show that AMD will be a worthy competitor.

However, not all tech stocks are performing well this earnings season. It is the case of Intel Corporation NASDAQ: INTC. As Hughes writes, the company reported a strong fourth quarter, but is trading lower after the company forecast a weaker-than-expected first quarter.

Articles by Sam Quirke

If you’re surprised that banking stocks were among the best-performing stocks last quarter, you’re not alone. But with the inflation rate rising and optimism for interest rate cuts at some point in 2024, bank stocks are on the move. This week, Sam Quirke highlights three big banking stocks that just got analyst upgrades, meaning investors looking to get in may still have an opportunity.

Another stock that has had a resurgence in recent times is Spotify Technology SA NYSE: POINT. Quirke writes that SPOT stock is still well below its all-time high of more than $360 in 2021. But shares are up more than 80% over the past 12 months, and with several catalysts in place, shares may have to run further.

Dollar Tree Inc. NASDAQ:DLTR is another stock that has risen sharply since October 2023. Discount retailers tend to do better when consumers feel the pinch of inflation. However, Quirke reminds investors that DLTR stock is doing better since the inflation rate has declined. And with analysts releasing updates, the stock may not trade at a discount for much longer.

Articles by Kate Stalter

Kate Stalter wrote about ‘s recent earnings report International Business Machines New York Stock Exchange: IBM and it explains why the stock is trading near 10-year highs (hint: it’s an AI story), and it explains why the company’s status as a dividend aristocrat makes this a growth and income story.

IBM was also one of the stocks that Stalter wrote about in an article about three Dow stocks that are helping push the index to new highs. If you’re a fan of big blue chip stocks, you’ll want to see how Stalter breaks down the role Dow shares might have in how those stocks move.

Stalter also gave investors three reasons to be bullish on airline stocks. The sector has made headlines in many newspapers, mostly negative. But as long as consumers continue to fly, this industry should continue to have huge benefits.

Articles by Ryan Hasson

If you believe in skating where the puck moves, you’ll look for the sectors where growth is likely to be strongest. In that case, Ryan Hasson offers two suggestions. The first would come from industrial stocks. As Hasson writes, a popular industrial sector ETF is up more than 16% over the past three months. But if you prefer individual stocks, Hasson analyzes three industrial stocks that represent some of that fund’s most important components.

Hasson is also looking at homebuilder stocks. This sector has proven resilient in 2023 and is likely to reap more benefits if the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates, as expected, at some point in 2024.

And if you have a more speculative eye, Hasson explains why the software company AppLovin Corp. NYSE:APP it’s worth taking a closer look. While the stock is up 260% over the past 12 months, Hasson explains why higher growth could occur.

Articles by Gabriel Osorio-Mazilli

The U.S. government is about to release the next tranche of Chips Act cash grants. And Gabriel Osorio-Mazilli points out three stocks that are likely beneficiaries of these grants but are undervalued at current prices.

And as geopolitical tensions continue to emerge around the world, particularly in the Middle East, it’s a good idea for investors to consider defense stocks. Osorio-Mazilli writes about three defense stocks that are in line to receive new contracts from the US government.

Osorio-Mazilli also wrote about the recent sell-off Williams-Sonoma Inc. (NYSE WSM). While drops like this may upset longtime shareholders, it’s important to check whether the fundamental reason for owning the stock is still intact. This appears to be the case with WSM stock, and perhaps that’s why Warren Buffett is buying the dip.

Articles by MarketBeat staff

When you like a company Netflix Inc. NASDAQ: NFLX provides a blowout report, has ripple effects. One such ripple effect is occurring with the stock price of TKO Group Holdings Inc. NYSE: TKOsharply increasing after its latest deal with the streaming giant.

The MarketBeat staff was writing about it, too Celsius Holdings Inc. NASDAQ:CELH. The story seems to be that even bad news is good news for this stock, which continues to garner positive sentiment from analysts even after a well-known analyst issued a downgrade.

And if your guilty pleasure comes in the form of chocolate and other sweets or a greasy fast-food burger, you’ll want to read the staff’s article on two food stocks that just got updated and could be ready to soar.

Before considering Apple, you’ll want to hear it.

MarketBeat tracks Wall Street’s highest-rated and best-performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market takes hold… and Apple wasn’t on the list.

While Apple currently has a “Moderate Buy” rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View the five stocks here