Stock Market Review – 2/26 – 3/1

As the calendar turns to March, interest rate speculation continues to drive the market. Specifically, investors continue to wonder when, not if, long-awaited interest rate cuts will arrive.

This week, the in-line reading of the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, muted some of the impact of warmer-than-expected CPI and PPI readings. But rate cuts are still unlikely to occur before, at least, June.

However, even as investors continue to climb the wall of worry, it is unclear where the top is. Now that the S&P 500 has reached the psychologically important 5,000 level, will that level act as resistance or support? And how to invest?

The market will answer this first question for us. But MarketBeat is passionate about helping you understand where to invest your money, even in volatile markets. Here are some of our top stories this week.

Articles by Jea Yu

Gene editing stocks may be to biotech stocks what AI stocks are to technology stocks. And if so, Jea Yu supports it CRISPR Therapeutics AG NASDAQ: CRSP it could be from this sector Nvidia Corp. NASDAQ:NVDA. In December, the company became the first to receive FDA approval for a gene-editing therapy, which opens the door to more exciting possibilities.

Yu also wrote about the strong earnings report provided by The Trade Desk Inc. NASDAQ:TTD. The independent programmatic advertising technology (AdTech) platform provider beats on both top and bottom lines and continues to show investors how its Kokai AI platform helps clients leverage data to fuel growth.

You should buy the dip Roku Inc. NASDAQ: ROKU? That’s a question investors may be asking after ROKU shares fell 35% in reaction to a lower ARPU number. However, Yu explains why this knee-jerk reaction can create a buying opportunity for patient investors.

Articles by Thomas Hughes

This week, investors got another example of congressional leaders benefiting from inside information. As Thomas Hughes writes, this can be a treasure trove of information for investors as he identifies three specific stocks that caught the attention of members of Congress in February 2024.

One stock that is attracting a lot of bullish attention from institutional investors is Palantir Technologies, Inc. NYSE:PLTR. But you wouldn’t think so by looking at the sentiment of analysts, who continue to be skeptical about the company’s growth prospects. However, Hughes explains why this may be the time to look at what is done rather than what is said as PLTR stock rises.

Hughes also wrote about the decline Zscaler Inc. NASDAQ:HP after the company’s earnings report. As Hughes explains, the sell-off is a simple case of investors expecting perfection and not getting it. However, the pullback is a good opportunity as ZS stock has moved into a buy zone.

Articles by Chris Markoch

Investors are hoping for a decline in the Nu Holdings Ltd. NYSE: NOW the stock price will have to wait a little longer. Chris Markoch wrote this week that NU shares are up 119%, but investors still see some upside in Latin America’s fintech sector following the company’s strong earnings report.

Markoch also wrote about the diverse and seemingly contradictory feelings surrounding him Cars.com Inc. NYSE: AUTOMOBILE AND Carvana Co. NYSE:CVNA. With consumer sentiment showing signs of weakening, you might expect investors to sour on consumer-facing CVNA stock, but that’s not the case. However, both stocks’ fortunes would improve with a rate cut or two.

Articles by Kate Stalter

Kate Stalter reminded investors that stocks don’t always move in one direction. You might have guessed what she was talking about Nvidia, and you would be right. While NVDA stock isn’t retreating yet, the buying volume is tapering off. This affects not only Nvidia shareholders but also passive investors who have money at stake SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust Fund NYSEARCA: SPY or the I invest QQQ NASDAQ: QQQ, both hit new highs in Nvidia’s wake.

While Nvidia may not retreat, that’s not the case with three stocks showing bullishness after retreating from recent highs. Read Stalter’s article here to get the names of these stocks.

Stalter also wrote about noteworthy news from the week in which Wendy’s Company NASDAQ: WED announced its intention to institute high prices. This tactic would cause the fast food company to raise prices during times of high demand. But as Stalter explains, Wendy’s is quickly retracting those initial comments after considerable backlash from consumers.

Articles by Ryan Hasson

What can you do if you missed the surge in Nvidia stock? Ryan Hasson reminds investors that stocks like NVDA often have consequences that can push other stocks higher. This week, Hasson analyzes four stocks that are riding Nvidia’s wave and still have room for further gains.

Hasson also addressed the question of whether it is safe to invest in Chinese stocks. In this case the answer is a conditional yes. The market offers investors what appear to be undervalued opportunities, such as the three Chinese stocks Hasson writes about this week.

Many investors will not have confirmation of a bull market until small caps participate. However, as Hasson explains, the iShares Russell 2000 ETF NYSE: IWM it has increased by 14% in the last three months. This indicates that institutional money is starting to flow back into small caps, putting the ETF on the verge of a substantial breakout.

Articles by Gabriel Osorio-Mazilli

Investors with a speculative eye might look at recent price action bluebird organic Inc. NASDAQ: BLUE and I wonder two things. First, what’s going on? Secondly, is there still time to put in the effort? Gabriel Osorio-Mazilli helps investors answer both questions. Earlier this week, Osorio-Mazilli explained why the conditions were right for a short squeeze in BLU stock.

However, a short contraction is like a sugar rush, and what goes up can quickly come down. But as Osorio-Mazilli explains in a separate article, the catalysts that created the short squeeze appear to have some legs that could create a multi-bagger opportunity.

Osorio-Mazilli also wrote about the expected increase in lithium supplies. Many investors were burned when lithium stocks did not see higher prices in 2023. However, analysts believe lithium stocks are preparing to enter a super cycle, and Osorio-Mazilli provides three lithium stocks that will benefit from this surge.

Before you consider CRISPR Therapeutics, you’ll want to hear this.

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 CRISPR Therapeutics wasn’t on the list.

While CRISPR Therapeutics currently has a “Hold” rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View the five stocks here