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☆ Apple, Nvidia in the news: Here's our take on these outsized tech holdings
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Apple (APPL) and Nvidia (NVDA) made headlines Monday, with bullish implications for both Club holdings. For example, Apple's market share of the 18-to-29-year-old cohort in South Korea has increased to 52% from 44% over the past two years, the Journal report noted, citing a Gallup poll. More broadly, the Journal explained, Apple continues to take market share away from South Korea's Samsung, the world's largest smartphone maker overall. That's a key reason we've expressed frustration with Qualcomm's slow progress on diversifying its revenue stream away from its heavy reliance on the smartphone market. Nvidia (NVDA) The news: Analysts at Bernstein took a crack at sizing up the market opportunity that generative AI represents, particularly as it relates to Nvidia.

☆ Here's our Annual Meeting update on 9 consumer names in the Club portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Here's an update on our consumer discretionary and consumer staples stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust, the 35 holdings that make up the CNBC Investing Club's portfolio. TJX Companies (TJX): TJX is a winner in a slower economy as shoppers love the treasure-hunting experience for cost-saving deals. If their stores have excess inventory, that could serve as a catalyst for TJX stock to go higher. Constellation Brands (STZ): Consumer demand for Constellation's premium alcoholic beverages is strong even as inflation weighs on consumers since people continue to drink beer in an economic slowdown. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ Wall Street is upping its expectations for rate hikes — and a recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The outlook comes ahead of the central bank's March meeting when investors expect another quarter-percentage point — or 25 basis point — rate increase. Bank of America, for instance, said it thinks policymakers may have to take the benchmark funds rate to the 6% range. "This will likely lead to a recession, because the non-consumer sectors of the economy already look soft. In the Cleveland Fed white paper , the authors suggested the central bank reconsider its 2% inflation target because it isn't likely to achieve it anytime soon. It said core PCE inflation is likely to cool only to 2.75% by 2025, adding that "a deep recession would be necessary" for the Fed to achieve its goal.

☆ First-Time CFOs Get a Crash Course in Managing Inflation, Volatile Markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Kristin Broughton | Anna Mutoh | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +11 min

Critical decisions made as CFO: Mr. Jepsen allowed the company to incur higher costs to expedite shipping for parts to factories and deliveries to customers. Enphase faced pressure last year from higher costs and the effects of a strong U.S. dollar. Ken Jacobson, CFO of Avnet Photo: AVNET INC.Ken Jacobson, Avnet Inc.Age: 45Career path: Mr. Jacobson, who had previously served as interim CFO from 2017 to 2018, stepped in officially as CFO in September. Mr. Jacobson says Avnet’s interest expenses on its debt have almost tripled over the past year. While there was some attrition in the beginning, it hasn’t been as bad as other companies, Mr. Jacobson said.

☆ GM to idle Indiana truck plant for two weeks as demand plateaus
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Priyamvada C | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 23 (Reuters) - General Motors (GM.N) said on Thursday it will halt production at its Fort Wayne Assembly truck plant in Indiana for two weeks from March 27 as inventory starts to outweigh demand with the easing of supply-chain snags. Shares of the U.S. automaker fell 3% in early trade, while rival Ford Motor Co (F.N) was about 1% lower. Analysts have warned that rising interest rates and high vehicle prices could begin to depress demand, even as inventories of new vehicles have been rising over recent weeks. GM said in a statement that its production was up over the past month while demand remained "fairly consistent", leading to an increase in inventory. Last year, GM's truck plant was idled for two weeks over semiconductor chip shortages.

☆ Off-price retailer TJX's quarterly results show strong demand. We're unconcerned by a softer profit outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Bottom line It was an overall decent quarter for the off-price retailer, with total revenue, same-store sales and operating cash flow exceeding expectations. On the pretax margin, management expects lower freight costs, better buying and strategic retailing to result in an 80-basis-point to 100-basis-point tailwind that will more than offset the headwinds of "incremental wage and supply chain costs." Excluding this benefit, management expects to realize a pretax margin of 10% to 10.2% and earnings in the range of $3.29 to $3.41 per share. On a constant currency basis, sales at TJX Canada were up 10% year-over-year, while sales at TJX International — which includes operations in Europe and Australia — were up 11% annually. This excludes new stores, stores closed permanently or those closed for an extended period of time, as well as e-commerce.

☆ China's Xi calls for tech self-reliance amid U.S. tension
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Eduardo Baptista | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Feb 22 (Reuters) - President Xi Jinping said China must resolve issues in key technological fields from the bottom up, state media reported, as the country deals with a growing number of mainly U.S. export controls on advanced technology. "To cope with international science and technology competition, achieve a high level of self-reliance and self-improvement ... we urgently need to strengthen basic research and solve key technology problems from the source," Xinhua quoted Xi as saying. The call comes as China faces growing headwind in its years-long effort to close the gap with the United States and its allies in advanced semiconductor technology. In January, Japan and the Netherlands agreed to comply with export restrictions against China's chip sector that the U.S. government had announced in October 2022, media reported. Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Robert Birsel and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Goldman Sachs says hedge funds’ favorite stocks are up 10% this year already after a brutal 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A group of hedge funds' favorite stocks staged a fierce comeback in the new year with a double-digit return, according to Goldman Sachs. It then compiled a basket of the most popular long positions, dubbed Goldman's "Hedge Fund VIP basket," consisting of 50 stocks that most frequently appear among the largest 10 holdings of hedge funds. These hedge fund darlings have rebounded more than 10% year to date as technology stocks rebounded from steep losses, the firm said. The strength in these VIPs lifted the average hedge fund to a 3% return in early 2023, Goldman said. Microsoft and Amazon remained the two most popular hedge fund long positions last quarter.

☆ Starbucks' Schultz highlights the Club case for investing in the coffeemaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Our business is quite strong," Schultz said Tuesday. But Schultz, who rejoined Starbucks as interim CEO in April 2022, will remain on the company's board. The Club take We were encouraged to hear upbeat comments from Schultz around inflation, demand and renewed momentum in China. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz speaks at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in Seattle, Washington on March 22, 2017.

☆ Citi says buy 3 stocks tied to the consumer for the same reasons we own them
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

What Citi thinks Analysts at Citi chose our three Club holdings among their top-rated picks — initiating coverage in U.S. beverages, household and personal care products. STZ YTD mountain Constellation Brands (STZ) YTD performance Citi also said it's time to buy Constellation Brands, the company behind Mexican beers Corona, Modelo and Pacifico. Analysts at Citi have a $265 price target on the stock, which fell slightly lower Friday to just under $227. EL YTD mountain Estee Lauder (EL) YTD performance Citi also estimates "strong topline/margin recovery" from Estee Lauder as China's economy continues to reopen. Buy Estee Lauder."

☆ ‘Young people are going to teach us to die better’: How ‘human composting,' already legal in 6 states, could help the planet
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The 31-year-old is a client of Return Home, a Seattle-area human composting facility. The first five people to sign up for Return Home's pre-planning services were under age 35, according to CEO Micah Truman. Human composting is legal in six states and countingOn a rapidly warming planet, the somewhat fringe concept is inching toward the mainstream. Human composting, also called "natural organic reduction," is now legal in six states and counting. Detractors are increasingly voicing their concernsNina Schoen first learned about Recompose in 2017, two years before human composting was even legal in Washington.

☆ Devon Energy's plunge after management fails to reassure investors makes us question our stake
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Shares of Club holding Devon Energy (DVN) fell sharply Wednesday, one day after delivering disappointing fourth quarter results , reducing its fixed-plus-variable dividend and barely buying back any stock. DVN 1Y mountain Devon Energy (DVN) 1-year performance Devon management on Wednseday did reassure investors of its commitment to financial discipline and shareholder returns. Production guidance On Devon's earnings call Wednesday morning, management said that the first quarter is expected to be the lowest production quarter of fiscal 2023. The facility is expected to be back up and running by mid-March, with no impact to second quarter production expected. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

His counterpart at Bank of America Corp (BAC.N), Brian Moynihan, cited resilient consumer finances and spending as positive signs. At a separate event, Bank of America's CEO reiterated what he has been saying for months - that consumer spending remains robust and is underpinning the economy. JOB CUTSDespite some easing concern about an economic slowdown, the bank chiefs said they were managing headcount to constrain costs. It aims to have a workforce of about 213,000 to 214,000 in the next three to four months, Moynihan said, down from 216,823 at the end of 2022. While consumer spending remains healthy, credit card delinquencies are increasing, and growth in Wells Fargo's commercial bank is moderating, he said.

☆ Is it time to buy Disney? Two market pros make their case for and against the stock
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Disney beat Wall Street expectations for its first-quarter earnings , but it was its vast restructuring plan that stole the headlines. Two investors faced off on CNBC's " Street Signs Asia " on Thursday to make their case for and against buying the stock. "Man, when you do a restructuring of that size with a company this big, it's not going to be easy. He believes the company is a "great business" and investors should take a long-term view. "Kids are thrown into the Disney franchises and the Disney business model will stay with them for life.

☆ A future European Super League could have 80 clubs - A22 CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationBERLIN, Feb 9 (Reuters) - A future European Super League could include as many as 80 teams, Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22 Sports Management, a company formed to sponsor and assist in the creation of a breakaway soccer league, said on Thursday. "The vast majority of them share the assessment that the very foundation of European football is under threat, and it is time for change," A22 said. "Feedback suggests a European football league that is open, based solely on sporting merit, multidivisional with 60 to 80 clubs and a minimum of 14 guaranteed European matches per club." Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus were among 12 clubs to announce a breakaway Super League in April 2021. "The walking corpse that is the European Super League twitches again with all the self-awareness one associates with a zombie," said FSA chief executive Kevin Miles in a statement.

Brent crude settled up $1.40, or 1.7%, to $85.09 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled up $1.33, or 1.7%, to $78.47. Investors hope less aggressive U.S. interest rate increases will help the world's biggest economy dodge a sharp economic slowdown or recession that would hit oil demand. "A looming oil demand surge together with lacklustre global supply growth will ensure that the oil balance tightens over the coming months," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM. The earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday stopped crude oil flows from Iraq and Azerbaijan out of the Turkish port of Ceyhan. U.S. Energy Information Administration data showing U.S. oil production rose last week to the highest level since April 2020, however, limited oil's gains.

☆ A disappointing quarter sends newest position Emerson Electric to the penalty box
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Emerson Electric (EMR) reported disappointing quarterly results on Wednesday, pushing shares of the technology and engineering company down 5% and forcing a downgrade on our newest holding. As a result, we are putting Emerson Electric in the "penalty box" and downgrading shares to a 2 rating from a 1. A penalty box means the stock has one quarter to show improvement — and should it fail to do so, it gets booted from the portfolio. Geographically, sales growth was driven by the Americas, which was up 13% versus the year-ago period. On the other hand, the earnings-per-share guide, which along with underlying sales growth is in line with the guidance previously provided, came in a penny short at the midpoint.

☆ Warren Buffett's Berkshire has beaten the market in past recessions, making it a 2023 defensive play
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

With a massive cash pile and diversified businesses, Warren Buffett 's Berkshire Hathaway has a track record of outperforming the market during economic downturns, according to UBS. It showed Berkshire shares outperforming the S & P 500 and other financials. The analyst also called Berkshire "a defensive play in an uncertain economic outlook." Berkshire agreed to buy insurance company Alleghany for $11.6 billion, or $848.02 per share, in cash, inking Buffett's biggest deal since 2016. Berkshire shares are now trading at a 20% discount to the conglomerate's intrinsic value , which may prompt the "Oracle of Omaha" to buy back more of his stock, UBS said.

☆ Here's why the US economy won't fall into a recession this year or next, according to a key market signal
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In that case, it may be wise to heed a key bond market signal that's saying we'll avoid a recession after all. But if you look at the bond market, there's a clear answer that seems to be forming: The US economy won't enter a downturn this year or next. That's because the spread between corporate bonds and Treasury yields is steadily narrowing, according to DataTrek Research. The spread between corporate bond yields and US Treasuries helps measure the risk appetite of bond traders. Strategists warned that markets have yet to price in an earnings recession, which could pose a major headwind in 2023.

☆ Here are Tuesday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Disney, Meta, Alphabet, Tyson Foods, Target & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Here are Tuesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Citi reiterates Disney as buy Citi said it's bullish heading into Disney earnings Wednesday. Goldman Sachs downgrades Tyson Foods to neutral from buy Goldman downgraded the poultry company after its earnings report on Monday and said it sees cyclical headwinds for Tyson. Jefferies reiterates Target as buy Jefferies said it sees "comp sales upside" ahead for Target. Wells Fargo initiates iRhythm Technologies as overweight Wells initiated the digital health care cardio company and said it sees upside and share gains. Goldman Sachs reiterates Pinterest as buy Goldman said it's standing by shares of Pinterest after its earnings report on Monday.

☆ Wall Street rewards Linde for a quarter that exemplifies why we own the stock
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The stock popped nearly 4% as Wall Street showed appreciation for what we've been saying all along about the durability of the company's businesses even in tough times. Excluding foreign exchange (forex) fluctuations, this marks the ninth quarter in a row of 20% or better annual earnings growth —especially remarkable during multi-decade high inflation. Linde's stock is about 5.7% from its intraday all-time high of $352.18 on Jan. 5, 2022. Although about two-thirds of Linde's sales are in more cyclical end markets, Linde's business model is very defensive. The table above is a look at Q4 sales growth numbers for each category.

☆ Here are 3 obstacles facing crypto in 2023 as the market looks to move on from the FTX disaster
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Crypto markets have erased losses since FTX's fallout last year, but new potential headwinds are looming. Insider asked four crypto execs about the biggest roadblocks facing the industry in 2023. For now, crypto markets are continuing to claw back losses since FTX's liquidity crisis, with the industry regaining a $1 trillion market cap. "I'm cautiously optimistic about the crypto markets this year," Timothy Shan, COO at decentralized exchange Dexalot, said. Regulation, inflation, and more crypto contagionAfter the fallout of major players, the biggest question on everyone's mind seems to be how regulation will unfold this year.

☆ Tesla just ignited a price war in electric vehicles. Investors should see it as an opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Carmen Reinicke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

The event may have created a compelling entry point for investors who have been on the sidelines of the long-term shift to electric vehicles. Electric vehicles are becoming much more popular in the U.S. but still make up a small portion of automobiles on the roads. Cutting prices certainly caught the eye of consumers and boosted interest in Tesla vehicles, according to data from Edmunds. And, there are still issues with electric vehicles that make them impractical for large groups of consumers, said Mike Ward, an analyst at The Benchmark Company. There’s also a huge potential in firms that make batteries, key parts of electric vehicles that are also seeing surging share prices.

☆ Cloud leaders Amazon, Google and Microsoft show the once-booming market is cooling down
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon , Microsoft and Alphabet , the three leaders in the market for cloud-based storage and servers, all reported deceleration in their respective businesses. On Thursday, Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud, which also includes Workplace productivity software, showed revenue for the fourth quarter that was below analysts' estimates. Google Cloud revenue growth slowed to 32% in the fourth quarter from almost 38% in the third period. Amazon , which pioneered the market over 15 years ago and maintains a commanding lead, said AWS revenue growth decelerated to 20% from 27%. "As we look ahead, we expect these optimization efforts will continue to be a headwind to AWS growth in at least the next couple of quarters," Olsavsky said.

☆ Apple forecasts another drop in revenue, proclaims iPhone production problems over
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Stephen Nellis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

For the just-ended quarter, Apple's profits missed Wall Street expectations for the first time since 2016, dragged down by iPhone sales falling for the first time since 2020. The stock was down about 2% after Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri said that iPhone sales were likely to improve compared with the quarter ended Dec. 31. In an interview, Cook told Reuters that the production disruptions that plagued Apple's key quarter were now over. During its fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 31, Apple faced a wave of challenges that left Wall Street expecting lower sales. Apple said iPhone sales were $65.8 billion, down 8% from the year before and the first fall since 2020.

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