Stock Market Week in Review 2/19 – 2/23

Earlier this week, the release of the FOMC minutes made it clear that the chances of a rate cut in March are essentially zero. However, at the end of the week, the only question on investors’ minds was how long the Nvidia Corp. NASDAQ:NVDA rally last.

It’s an often-overused claim, but the chipmaker crushed earnings after the market closed Wednesday. The findings show that the wave of artificial intelligence (AI) that began in 2023 is still in its infancy. And investors should pay attention to companies that provide critical infrastructure for AI.

The news wasn’t all good this week. Walmart and Home Depot reported and demonstrated that consumers may still be spending, but they are slowing down. Investors will know more next week as earnings season continues Domino’s Pizza Inc. NYSE:DPZ Rreporting Monday. The company served as the consumer’s state attorney. While you wait, here are some of the most read articles this week.

Articles by Jea Yu

Whether you’ve missed Nvidia or not, you may be looking for the next hot AI stock. This week, Jea Yu wrote about Informatica Inc. NASDAQ: INFA. The company’s AI platform provides the data management capabilities needed for generative AI and was a key reason the company delivered strong quarterly earnings and raised its full-year 2024 guidance .

The focus on all things AI has dampened the strong rally in cryptocurrencies, in particular Bitcoin (BTC). But even if you don’t play the cryptocurrency markets, you may want to pay attention Robinhood Markets Inc. NASDAQ: HOOD. Yu points out that the online brokerage and financial services firm has seen strong revenue growth thanks to higher cryptocurrency trading volume.

Yu also wrote about the pain many health insurers feel from Medicare Advantage plans. But as Yu points out, that pain didn’t make an impact UnitedHealth Group Inc. NYSE: UNH equally acutely. However, the question remains whether this is a “not yet” scenario.

Articles by Thomas Hughes

Thomas Hughes was at the top of many top earnings reports this week, starting with Walmart Inc. New York Stock Exchange: WMT AND Home depot New York Stock Exchange: HD. While Walmart still looks like a buy, Hughes advised investors to wait for the company’s 3-for-1 stock split to occur before getting involved.

The story with Home Depot is darker. The company’s earnings report and guidance were weaker than expected. Hughes writes that HD stock continues to be range-bound and will most likely need to fall further before reaching a buyable point.

Hughes also summarized and helped investors understand the huge earnings report Nvidia Corporation NASDAQ:NVDA. The company provides essential chips that businesses can’t get enough of. And while there will be a normalization of demand at some point, that day is not today.

Articles by Sam Quirke

The Trade Desk Inc. NASDAQ:TTD rose towards a key resistance level following last week’s earnings report. However, Sam Quirke believes there could be room for significant upside in TTD stock. This week, he gives investors three reasons to believe The Trade Desk could soon hit a new all-time high.

On the other hand, Roku Inc. NASDAQ: ROKU is moving lower after earnings. However, Sam Quirke reminds investors that this is not an unusual pattern for ROKU stock. The company’s bullish outlook may take some time to confirm, but Quirke explains why investors should consider Roku a very oversold buy.

Articles by Chris Markoch

At a time when many companies are trying to grow bigger through acquisitions, Carrier Global Corp. NYSE: CARR is taking a different approach. As Chris Markoch wrote this week, the company just reported its latest earnings from its security business. This comes soon after the company sold its commercial refrigeration business. However, Markoch writes that investors may need more time to see whether the leaner company is a good buy.

The story for Teladoc Health Inc. NASDAQ:TDOC it’s even more terrible for investors. The telemedicine company is growing, but slowly. And that will have to change before TDOC stock becomes attractive to investors.

Articles by Kate Stalter

Precious metals can be an interesting way to diversify your portfolio. Gold is usually the most debated investment. But this week, Kate Stalter explains why silver could be the best investment in 2024. Before you ignore what Stalter has to say, remember that this has been one of our most read articles, so investors are still looking for ways to protect yourself from market volatility.

Another good way to protect yourself is with dividend-paying stocks that can provide a reliable income. This week, Stalter pointed investors to five dividend aristocrats (companies that have increased their dividends for at least 25 consecutive years) that offer investors an attractive yield.

One of the big stories that made headlines earlier in the week but dropped after Nvidia’s earnings was the proposed merger of Capital One financial company NYSE:COF AND Discover financial services NYSE:DFS. This would be a huge deal and would likely require regulatory scrutiny. However, Stalter explains why regulators might like this deal for the way it would distribute wealth among multiple companies.

Articles by Ryan Hasson

Nvidia will likely have long lines for AI titles. This week, Ryan Hasson explains why Advanced Micro Devices Inc. NASDAQ:AMD is one of the obvious beneficiaries of Nvidia’s rally. AMD shares are up 20% for the year and are approaching a breakout level on the back of the Nvidia report.

Hasson also wrote Super Micro Computers Inc. NASDAQ:SMCI, which could be another way to invest in artificial intelligence. The company makes computers tailored for use in data centers, which support AI applications, among other things. SMCI stock recently hit the $1,000 per share mark but has retreated, which could create a better entry point.

And could there be a breakthrough in the retail sector? Hasson explains why investors should look beyond the headlines and pay attention to what’s happening with the SPDR S&P 500 Retail ETF New York Stock Exchange: XRTwhich is positive year to date and could suggest better days ahead for some retail stocks.

Articles by Gabriel Osorio-Mazilli

Real Estate Income Inc. NYSE:O it is one of the most popular dividend stocks in any market. However, Gabriel Osorio-Mazilli reminds investors that the company could look even more attractive if the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, which should stimulate the housing market.

If you are an income investor who wants to stay away from the real estate market, the oil and gas market may be a better option. With the likely rise in oil prices, you may want to consider Marathon Oil Corp. NYSE:MROwhich can provide the greatest upside and growth potential in an oversold market.

Warren Buffett may disagree with this. In addition to its recent investments in Occidental Petroleum Corp. NYSE: OSSIfrom which the Oracle of Omaha recently profited The Apple company. NASDAQ:AAPL and insert them Chevron Corp. New York Stock Exchange: CVX, which is another Buffett favorite in the industry.

Before you consider NVIDIA, you’ll want to hear this.

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

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

View the five stocks here