ASML Holding N.V. develops, produces, markets, sells, and services advanced semiconductor equipment systems for chipmakers. It offers advanced semiconductor equipment systems, including lithography, metrology, and inspection systems. The company also provides extreme ultraviolet lithography systems; and deep ultraviolet lithography systems comprising immersion and dry lithography solutions to manufacture various range of semiconductor nodes and technologies. In addition, it offers metrology and inspection systems, including YieldStar optical metrology systems to assess the quality of patterns on the wafers; and HMI electron beam solutions to locate and analyze individual chip defects. Further, the company provides computational lithography solutions, and lithography systems and control software solutions; and refurbishes and upgrades lithography systems, as well as offers customer support and related services. It operates in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, China, rest of Asia, the Netherlands, rest of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the United States. The company was formerly known as ASM Lithography Holding N.V. and changed its name to ASML Holding N.V. in 2001. ASML Holding N.V. was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Veldhoven, the Netherlands.

ASML Holding N.V. демонстрирует сильные финансовые показатели, включая высокие значения ROE (53.79) и ROA (20.77), что указывает на высокую эффективность использования капитала и активов. Эти показатели значительно выше медианы по отрасли, что является позитивным сигналом для инвесторов. Однако, мультипликаторы, такие как P/E (28.82) и P/B (14.82), ниже медианы, что может указывать на недооцененность компании. Долговая нагрузка остается на низком уровне (debt/equity 0.21), что также является положительным фактором. Тем не менее, текущие уровни текущего (1.44) и быстрых (0.81) коэффициентов находятся ниже медианных значений по отрасли, что может вызывать опасения в отношении ликвидности. В то же время, дивиденды не выплачиваются, что также может негативно сказаться на привлекательности акций. Общая финансовая динамика показывает стабильный рост выручки и прибыли, что поддерживает положительный взгляд на компанию, несмотря на некоторые риски. Таким образом, ASML выглядит как надежная инвестиция в долгосрочной перспективе, но с учетом текущих мультипликаторов и ликвидности, целевая цена может потребовать корректировки.

ASML Holding N.V. - New York Registry Shares

Key Points
AI stocks led the S&P 500 higher over the past three years -- but earlier this year, they actually dragged the index down.
The first earnings reports of this season have offered a positive message about the AI story.
It's that time of year again. Another earnings season is upon us, with companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, ASML, and Intel among the first to report. These players all offered the same message: Demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips is soaring. And in each case, this is translating into revenue growth.
This message isn't new, as demand has been climbing quarter after quarter -- and yet, in the late part of last year and the first quarter of this year, AI stocks tumbled. These players, ones that actually drove the S&P 500 through the first three years of a bull market and helped the index post a 78% gain over the past three calendar years, rather suddenly fell out of favor. Investors turned away from them and rotated into completely different sectors, from consumer-related stocks to healthcare shares.
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Recently, AI stocks have regained positive momentum, but the big question in investors' minds is: Will this last? My prediction is that AI stocks will keep this going, soaring during and after this earnings season. Here's why.
AI stock valuations
So, first, let's consider why investors lost their appetite for AI stocks in recent months. A few elements contributed to this. AI stocks, after years of gains, in many cases had reached high valuations -- for example, top chip designer Nvidia peaked at about 50x forward earnings estimates. And AI software company Palantir Technologies reached a mind-boggling 285x forward earnings estimates.
This prompted investors to worry about the potential formation of an AI bubble. At the same time, tech giants continued to pour investment into AI infrastructure, raising spending forecasts well into the billions of dollars. And the following risk emerged: What happens if the AI revenue opportunity isn't as vast as expected?
Meanwhile, growing conflict in Iran that turned into war sparked worries about the general market and economic environment -- uncertain environments push investors toward "safer" bets, and we saw this shift in the sector rotation I mentioned above.
All of this meant that even positive earnings reports from AI companies weren't enough to push AI shares higher.
So, what has changed, and why do I think AI stocks now will climb? First, the general geopolitical environment has improved, with Iran and the U.S. progressing toward negotiations. The current ceasefire suggests that both parties are interested in reaching an agreement. Investors don't like major uncertainties, as they can lead to many headwinds for companies. So when uncertainty lifts, investors are more likely to invest in assets that depend on the economy, like growth stocks.
Questions about AI demand
At the same time, evidence of ongoing demand for AI continues to pile up -- and this brings me back to the subject of earnings season. Investors in past months questioned whether AI demand would continue -- even as companies talked about strong demand. It's logical that they would doubt the longevity of such a movement, as the pace of growth has been incredible.
But at a certain point, as a trend marches on and is observed by the industry's major players, and as the new technology is actually applied to real-world problems, it becomes clear that the growth story is real and has what it takes to last.
We may have reached this point right now. A couple of clues: Amazon, in a letter to shareholders earlier this month, mentioned that as companies expand their use of AI, they're increasingly signing up for additional cloud services. So AI could result in a broad growth opportunity for many AI players, such as cloud service providers. Amazon added that its chips business is "on fire," another clearly positive message. And TSMC, to kick off the current earnings season, said its customers' customers -- those serving companies using AI -- are seeing strong chip demand.
All of this sets the stage for additional positive earnings reports and messages from those selling AI products and services. And this time around, considering the points I made above, my prediction is AI stocks will go on to soar -- during earnings season and beyond.
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Adria Cimino has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, Amazon, Intel, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Prediction: AI Stocks Will Soar After This Earnings Season and Here's Why

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Tuesday closed down -0.49%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down -0.05%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed down -1.01%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) fell -0.46%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) fell -0.94%.
Stock indexes settled lower on Tuesday, led by losses in technology stocks amid concerns that the massive investment in artificial intelligence will not pay off. The Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI recently failed to meet its goals for new users and sales, undercutting the shares of OpenAI partners and AI infrastructure stocks, including Nvidia, Oracle, Advanced Micro Devices, and CoreWeave.
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On the positive side, Coca-Cola rose more than +3% to limit losses in the Dow Jones Industrials after reporting stronger-than-expected Q1 net revenue.
Stocks bounced from their worst levels on Tuesday amid better-than-expected US economic news. The Conference Board Apr consumer confidence index unexpectedly rose +0.6 to a 4-month high of 92.8, stronger than expectations of a decline to 89.0. Also, the Apr Richmond Fed manufacturing survey rose +3 to a 14-month high of 3, stronger than expectations of 1. In addition, the Feb S&P composite-20 home price index rose +0.90% y/y, weaker than expectations of +1.12% y/y and the smallest pace of increase in more than 2.5 years.
Soaring crude oil prices are boosting inflation expectations, pushing bond yields higher, and weighing on stocks. WTI crude oil jumped to a 2-week high on Tuesday after the New York Times reported that President Trump is not satisfied with Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, which includes postponing nuclear negotiations. Mr. Trump has said any deal must include agreements to curb Iran’s nuclear activities. The 10-year T-note yield climbed to a 3-week high of 4.38% on Tuesday. The 2-day FOMC meeting began on Tuesday and concludes on Wednesday, and the Fed is expected to keep monetary policy unchanged.
WTI crude oil prices (CLM26) rose by more than +3% on Tuesday as the US and Iran are locked in a battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides blocking the waterway to gain leverage during an extended ceasefire. The Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis. The ongoing blockade could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, as about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transits through the strait. Goldman Sachs estimates that crude output in the Persian Gulf has been curtailed by about 14.5 million bpd, or more than 50%, so far in April, and that the current disruption has drawn down nearly 500 million bbl from global crude stockpiles, which could hit a billion bbl by June.
Kevin Warsh now appears to be on a glide path toward Senate approval as the new Fed Chair after Senator Thom Tillis said on Sunday that he dropped his opposition to the nomination. Mr. Tillis dropped his opposition after the US Justice Department dropped its criminal investigation into the Fed’s overspending on the renovation of its building, in line with Mr. Tillis’ demand. Mr. Tillis views the investigation into Fed Chair Powell as an attempt to force the Fed to cut interest rates. The Senate Banking Committee is due to vote on Mr. Warsh’s appointment this Wednesday and then send the nomination to the full Senate for a vote.
The markets are discounting a 0% chance for a +25 bp FOMC rate hike at the Tue-Wed policy meeting. The markets are expecting the FOMC to leave policy unchanged this week as it awaits further developments in oil prices and inflation.
Earnings season ramps up this week with several Magnificent Seven technology stocks reporting. Earnings results thus far have been supportive of stocks. As of Tuesday, 80% of the 172 S&P 500 companies that reported Q1 earnings have beaten estimates. Q1 S&P 500 earnings are projected to climb +12% y/y, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Stripping out the technology sector, Q1 earnings are projected to increase around +3%, the weakest in two years.
Overseas stock markets settled lower on Tuesday. The Euro Stoxx 50 fell to a 2.5-week low and closed down -0.41%. China's Shanghai Composite closed down -0.19%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 closed down -1.02%.
Interest Rates
June 10-year T-notes (ZNM6) on Tuesday closed down -5.5 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield rose +1.0 bp to 4.350%. June T-notes fell to a 3-week low on Tuesday, and the 10-year T-note yield rose to a 3-week high of 4.378%. Tuesday’s +3% jump in WTI crude oil prices boosted inflation expectations and weighed on T-notes. The 10-year breakeven inflation rate rose to a 14-month high of 2.472% on Tuesday. Also, better-than-expected US economic news on Tuesday, including Apr consumer confidence and the Apr Richmond Fed manufacturing survey, was bearish for T-note prices.
T-notes recovered from their worst level on Tuesday amid strong demand for the Treasury’s $44 billion auction of 7-year T-notes that had a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.51, above the 10-auction average of 2.50.
European government bond yields moved higher on Tuesday. The 10-year German bund yield rose to a 2-week high of 3.086% and finished up +3.4 bp to 3.067%. The 10-year UK gilt yield climbed to a 1-month high of 5.028% and finished up +3.4 bp to 5.006%.
The ECB's Mar 1-year CPI expectations rate rose to 4.0% from 2.5% in Feb, stronger than expectations of 2.8% and the highest figure in nearly 2.5 years. The Mar 3-year CPI expectations rate rose to 3.0% from 2.5% in Feb, stronger than expectations of 2.6% and the highest figure in three years.
Swaps are discounting an 11% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on Thursday.
US Stock Movers
AI infrastructure stocks and OpenAI partners retreated on Tuesday after the Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI recently missed its own revenue and new-user targets. ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) closed down more than -7% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100, and Applied Digital (APLD), Applied Materials (AMAT), Sandisk (SNDK), CoreWeave (CRWV), and Vertiv Holdings (VRT) closed down more than -5%. Also, Broadcom (AVGO), Oracle (ORCL), and KLA Corp (KLAC) closed down more than -4%, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Micron Technology (MU), Marvell Technology (MRVL), ASML Holding NV (ASML), Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX), and Lam Research (LRCX) closed down more than -3%. In addition, GE Vernova (GEV) and Western Digital (WDC) closed down more than -2%.
Mining stocks fell on Tuesday, amid the sell-off in gold, silver, and copper prices. Newmont Corp (NEM) and Coeur Mining (CDE) closed down more than -5%, and Anglogold Ashanti (AU), Southern Copper (SCCO), and Hecla Mining (HL) closed down more than -4%. Also, Barrick Mining (B) and Freeport McMoRan (FCX) closed down more than -3%.
Packaging stocks rose on Tuesday after Citigroup said Smurfit WestRock would raise US containerboard prices by $50 per ton, effective June 1. Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and International Paper (IP) closed up by more than +4%, and Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW) closed up more than +1%.
Rambus (RMBS) closed down more than -20% after reporting Q1 EPS of 55 cents, weaker than the consensus of 65 cents.
Spotify Technology SA (SPOT) closed down more than -12% after reporting Q1 operating income of $737 million, below the consensus of $787 million.
Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE) closed down more than -11% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q1 revenue of $671.0 million, weaker than the consensus of $692.7 million.
Qiagen NV (QGEN) closed down more than -10% after forecasting full-year CER net sales of up +1% to +2%, well below the consensus of +4.62%.
Pentair Plc (PNR) closed down more than -10% after forecasting Q2 adjusted EPS of $1.47 to $1.50, below the consensus of $1.50.
Corning (GLW) closed down more than -8% after forecasting Q2 core EPS of 73 cents to 77 cents, the midpoint below the consensus of 76 cents.
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) closed down more than -3% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials after forecasting full-year adjusted EPS of $11.50 to $11.90, the midpoint below the consensus of $11.72, and saying it sees little chance of end-market recovery this year due to weak consumer sentiment.
United Parcel Service (UPS) closed down more than -3% after leaving its full-year financial guidance unchanged despite reporting better-than-expected Q1 sales and profit.
Centene (CNC) closed up more than +13% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q1 revenue of $49.94 billion, above the consensus of $47.41 billion, and raising its full-year revenue forecast to $187.5 billion to $191.5 billion from $186.5 billion to $190.5 billion, the midpoint above the consensus of $188.79 billion.
Franklin Resources (BEN) closed up more than +6% after reporting Q2 adjusted EPS of 71 cents, stronger than the consensus of 55 cents.
Nucor (NUE) closed up more than +4% after reporting Q1 net sales of $9.50 billion, stronger than the consensus of $8.87 billion.
Coca-Cola (KO) closed up more than +3% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials after reporting Q1 net revenue of $12.50 billion, better than the consensus of $12.25 billion.
Dynatrace (DT) closed up more than +1% after the Wall Street Journal reported that Starboard Value LP took a stake in the company and is pushing the company to better capitalize on the shift to AI.
Earnings Reports(4/29/2026)
AbbVie Inc (ABBV), Aflac Inc (AFL), Align Technology Inc (ALGN), Allstate Corp/The (ALL), Alphabet Inc (GOOGL), Amazon.com Inc (AMZN), American Water Works Co Inc (AWK), Amphenol Corp (APH), Automatic Data Processing Inc (ADP), Biogen Inc (BIIB), Bunge Global SA (BG), Carvana Co (CVNA), CH Robinson Worldwide Inc (CHRW), Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG), Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH), eBay Inc (EBAY), EMCOR Group Inc (EME), Entergy Corp (ETR), Equinix Inc (EQIX), Everest Group Ltd (EG), Ford Motor Co (F), Garmin Ltd (GRMN), GE HealthCare Technologies Inc (GEHC), Generac Holdings Inc (GNRC), General Dynamics Corp (GD), Humana Inc (HUM), IDEX Corp (IEX), Invitation Homes Inc (INVH), KLA Corp (KLAC), Lennox International Inc (LII), Meta Platforms Inc (META), MGM Resorts International (MGM), Microsoft Corp (MSFT), Mid-America Apartment Communities (MAA), Old Dominion Freight Line Inc (ODFL), O'Reilly Automotive Inc (ORLY), Phillips 66 (PSX), QUALCOMM Inc (QCOM), Regency Centers Corp (REG), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN), SBA Communications Corp (SBAC), Stanley Black & Decker Inc (SWK), Tyler Technologies Inc (TYL), UDR Inc (UDR), Verisk Analytics Inc (VRSK), VICI Properties Inc (VICI), Vulcan Materials Co (VMC), Yum! Brands Inc (YUM).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Fall on AI Jitters and Surging Crude Oil Prices

What happened
Shares of lithography giant ASML Holdings (NASDAQ: ASML) were down in Wednesday trading following its second-quarter earnings report, falling 5.1% as of 2:56 p.m. ET.
ASML broadly beat consensus figures while raising its full-year guidance. However, management's commentary was more subdued, and some of the guidance raise was due to an accounting change regarding its fast shipments to customers. Furthermore, the quarter's strength appeared concentrated in the China market, which may be at risk of further sanctions.
So what
In Q2, ASML posted revenue growth of 27.8% to 6.9 billion euros ($7.3 billion) compared with expectations for 6.74 billion euros ($7.6 billion), and net-profit growth of 35% to 1.9 billion euros ($2.13 billion) compared with analyst expectations for 1.82 billion euros ($2.04 billion). Furthermore, management raised its full-year revenue-growth guidance from over 25% to around 30%.
So, what exactly was the problem here? Well first, ASML has recovered nicely this year from last year's sell-off, posting a 31% gain year to date, even factoring in today's sell-off. So it may have been due for some profit-taking.
Second, the composition of revenue gains and commentary from management might have given investors pause.
In the video interview with CEO Peter Wennink, Wennink noted that while many chip markets are bottoming out, a recovery may be pushed out from later this year to next year. This is in spite of generative AI growth, as larger and more mature markets like PCs and smartphones are still feeling economic pressure from high interest rates and recession fears. Furthermore, Wennink noted some customers are pushing out extreme ultraviolet (EUV) orders, as new semiconductor fabrication plants (fabs) aren't yet ready due to the lack of expertise needed to get leading-edge fabs up and running.
So where did the strength come from? Actually, it wasn't with ASML's high-priced proprietary EUV tools on which it has a monopoly, but rather trailing-edge deep ultraviolet (DUV) tools, which are less sophisticated lithography tools for trailing-edge applications.
Demand for DUV is booming right now, as these are needed for power, sensor, and other trailing-edge chips needed for electrification. That's especially true of demand from Chinese customers. In fact, in the quarter, Chinese system sales made up a whopping 24% of sales, up from just 8% in the year-ago quarter.
However, the durability of those sales may be in question, as the U.S. and its allies are contemplating further restrictions on some DUV sales to China going forward. Wennink maintained that any new restrictions would not have a material impact on the company's sales this year or its long-term targets given at its Capital Markets Day. However, the new concentration in Chinese sales may be giving investors pause.
Finally, ASML's full-year guidance was also boosted by an accounting change, not entirely excess demand. During the period of supply-chain shortages since 2021, ASML adopted a "fast shipment" policy where it would ship tools to customers before final testing at the customer site. That got tools in the field faster, but ASML couldn't recognize revenue until final testing, delaying recognition. However, Wennink noted it had agreed on a reduced-testing protocol with customers for DUV tools, allowing DUV machines to be qualified faster and revenue recognized quicker. Management noted that would increase this year's revenue by about 700 million euros ($784 million).
Now what
It's not surprising to see ASML investors taking some profits amid cautious commentary from management and uncertainty over China. However, ASML seems like a stock to buy on any material dips and a hold for the long term, given its monopoly on crucial technology for advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
The stock is not cheap at around 37 times earnings, but it has never been particularly cheap, and lithography should have strong growth through the end of the decade.
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Billy Duberstein has positions in ASML. His clients may own shares of the companies mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why ASML Holdings Fell Today

Key Points
A helium shortage reveals semiconductor supply chains are still vulnerable.
Recycling, redesign, and diversification efforts help, but none solve helium dependence near term.
The semiconductor industry thought it had fixed its supply chain problem after the early COVID-era chip shortage. It had not. What it had fixed was its exposure to single-fabricator risk. What it hadn't fixed, and what the Strait of Hormuz crisis has now exposed, is its near-total dependence on Qatar for roughly 30% of the global helium supply.
Helium is a byproduct of LNG processing that is used in semiconductor manufacturing. Qatar's Ras Laffan facility -- the world's largest single helium production site -- has been largely offline since early March 2026 following Iranian attacks and an effective blockade of the Strait. Because helium is produced alongside LNG, when LNG tanks fill up and production stops, helium production stops too. When (and if) the Strait reopens, it is expected to take at least two additional months for helium supply to normalize.
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This is not a problem the semiconductor industry can quickly manufacture its way out of.
Why there isn't a substitute for helium
Helium's combination of properties makes it irreplaceable for EUV (extreme ultraviolet) lithography, wafer cooling, and mass spectrometry leak detection. No viable alternative exists for these applications.
South Korea, which imported roughly 64% of its helium from Qatar in 2025, is particularly exposed, meaning Samsung and SK Hynix -- the world's largest producers of the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips that power Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA) Blackwell GPUs -- face the most direct near-term production risk.
There are three real responses underway, and investors should understand their limits clearly.
Addressing the issue
First is Helium recycling. Most advanced fabrication companies (fabs) now run on-site helium recovery systems from Linde (NASDAQ: LIN), L'Air Liquide (OTC: AIQUF), and Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE: APD) that can recapture 90% to 95% of the helium used in certain processes. The flaw: Leak-detection helium is essentially unrecoverable, and even a 5% loss at high consumption volumes adds up fast. The industry is already running lean.
Second is tool redesign. ASML (NASDAQ: ASML) and Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) are designing next-generation tools to use less helium in certain processes, substituting nitrogen for non-critical cooling. These are incremental improvements measured in percentage points -- not a structural fix.
Third is supply diversification. New helium projects are under development in Canada, Tanzania (Helium One Global's Rukwa project), and Minnesota (Pulsar Helium's Topaz project). These are years away from meaningful production. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) reportedly locked in multiyear helium supply contracts as part of its Arizona fab planning.
What this means for investors
Linde is the most direct beneficiary. As the world's largest industrial gas company and a major supplier of on-site helium recovery infrastructure, rising helium prices and growing demand for recycling systems are genuine revenue tailwinds. Air Products and L'Air Liquide sit in a similar position.
TSMC has the greatest near-term buffer among chipmakers thanks to multiyear supply contracts and reported inventory of four to six months. Nvidia appears relatively insulated in the short term, with CEO Jensen Huang publicly downplaying the near-term risk. But if helium constraints slow HBM production at Samsung and SK Hynix, Nvidia's ability to ship Blackwell GPUs -- which require HBM -- becomes a downstream bottleneck.
The structural lesson here is not that AI is in trouble. It is that the industry's supply chain resilience, for all the investment in fab diversification, has a backdoor that runs through a single waterway. The companies that can hedge that exposure -- industrial gas infrastructure providers and software-layer AI companies that consume rather than fabricate chips -- are the ones best positioned, regardless of whether the Strait reopens next month or next year.
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Micah Zimmerman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, Applied Materials, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Linde. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

War or Peace, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chip Industry Just Learned Depending on One Route for 30% of Its Helium Is Risky

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.66%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.03%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -1.30%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) are down -0.63%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) are down -1.27%.
Stock indexes are under pressure today, led by losses in technology stocks amid concerns that the massive investment in artificial intelligence will not pay off. The Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI recently failed to meet its goals for new users and sales, undercutting the shares of OpenAI partners and AI infrastructure stocks, including Nvidia, Oracle, Advanced Micro Devices, and CoreWeave.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
On the positive side, Coca-Cola is up more than +6% to keep the Dow Jones Industrials in positive territory after reporting stronger-than-expected Q1 net revenue.
Also, better-than-expected US economic news today is supportive of stocks. The Conference Board Apr consumer confidence index unexpectedly rose +0.6 to a 4-month high of 92.8, stronger than expectations of a decline to 89.0. Also, the Apr Richmond Fed manufacturing survey rose +3 to a 14-month high of 3, stronger than expectations of 1. In addition, the Feb S&P composite-20 home price index rose +0.90% y/y, weaker than expectations of +1.12% y/y and the smallest pace of increase in more than 2.5 years.
Soaring crude oil prices are also boosting inflation expectations, pushing bond yields higher and weighing on stocks. WTI crude oil jumped to a 2-week high today after the New York Times reported that President Trump is not satisfied with Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, which includes postponing nuclear negotiations. Mr. Trump has said any deal must include agreements to curb Iran’s nuclear activities. The 10-year T-note yield climbed to a 3-week high of 4.38% today ahead of the start of the 2-day FOMC meeting, where the Fed is expected to keep monetary policy unchanged.
WTI crude oil prices (CLM26) are up by more than +3% today as the US and Iran are locked in a battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides blocking the waterway to gain leverage during an extended ceasefire. The Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis. The ongoing blockade could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, as about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transits through the strait. Goldman Sachs estimates that crude output in the Persian Gulf has been curtailed by about 14.5 million bpd, or more than 50%, so far in April, and that the current disruption has drawn down nearly 500 million bbl from global crude stockpiles, which could hit a billion bbl by June.
Kevin Warsh now appears to be on a glide path toward Senate approval as the new Fed Chair after Senator Thom Tillis said on Sunday that he dropped his opposition to the nomination. Mr. Tillis dropped his opposition after the US Justice Department dropped its criminal investigation into the Fed’s overspending on the renovation of its building, in line with Mr. Tillis’ demand. Mr. Tillis views the investigation into Fed Chair Powell as an attempt to force the Fed to cut interest rates. The Senate Banking Committee is due to vote on Mr. Warsh’s appointment this Wednesday and then send the nomination to the full Senate for a vote.
The markets are discounting a 0% chance for a +25 bp FOMC rate hike at the Tue-Wed policy meeting. The markets are expecting the FOMC to leave policy unchanged this week as it awaits further developments in oil prices and inflation.
Earnings season ramps up this week with several Magnificent Seven technology stocks reporting. Earnings results thus far have been supportive of stocks. As of today, 80% of the 150 S&P 500 companies that reported Q1 earnings have beaten estimates. Q1 S&P 500 earnings are projected to climb +12% y/y, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Stripping out the technology sector, Q1 earnings are projected to increase around +3%, the weakest in two years.
Overseas stock markets are lower today. The Euro Stoxx 50 fell to a 2.5-week low and is down -0.26%. China's Shanghai Composite closed down -0.19%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 closed down -1.02%.
Interest Rates
June 10-year T-notes (ZNM6) today are down -8 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is up +2.8 bp to 4.368%. June T-notes fell to a 3-week low today, and the 10-year T-note yield rose to a 3-week high of 4.378%. Today’s +3% jump in WTI crude oil prices is boosting inflation expectations and weighing on T-notes. The 10-year breakeven inflation rate rose to a 14-month high of 2.472% today. Also, better-than-expected US economic news today on Apr consumer confidence and the Apr Richmond Fed manufacturing survey were bearish for T-note prices. In addition, supply pressures are undercutting T-note prices, as the Treasury will auction $30 billion of 2-year floating rate notes and $44 billion of 7-year T-notes later today.
European government bond yields are moving higher today. The 10-year German bund yield rose to a 2-week high of 3.086% and is up +4.0 bp to 3.073%. The 10-year UK gilt yield climbed to a 1-month high of 5.028% and is up +4.4 bp to 5.016%.
The ECB's Mar 1-year CPI expectations rate rose to 4.0% from 2.5% in Feb, stronger than expectations of 2.8% and the highest figure in nearly 2.5 years. The Mar 3-year CPI expectations rate rose to 3.0% from 2.5% in Feb, stronger than expectations of 2.6% and the highest figure in three years.
Swaps are discounting a 13% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on Thursday.
US Stock Movers
AI infrastructure stocks and OpenAI partners are retreating today after the Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI recently missed its own revenue and new-user targets. ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) is down more than -8% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100, and Applied Digital (APLD), Sandisk (SNDK), and Vertiv Holdings (VRT) are down more than -6%. Also, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Applied Materials (AMAT), Micron Technology (MU), CoreWeave (CRWV), GE Vernova (GEV), and Lam Research (LRCX) are down more than -5%, and Western Digital (WDC), ASML Holding NV (ASML), Marvell Technology (MRVL), Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX), Broadcom (AVGO), Oracle (ORCL), and KLA Corp (KLAC) are down more than -4%. In addition, Nvidia (NVDA) is down more than -3% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials.
Mining stocks are retreating today with the sell-off in gold, silver, and copper prices. Newmont Corp (NEM), Coeur Mining (CDE), and Anglogold Ashanti (AU) are down more than -5%, and Hecla Mining (HL), Barrick Mining (B), and Southern Copper (SCCO) are down more than -4%. Also, Freeport McMoRan (FCX) is down more than -3%.
Rambus (RMBS) is down more than -24% after reporting Q1 EPS of 55 cents, weaker than the consensus of 65 cents.
Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE) is down more than -10% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q1 revenue of $671.0 million, weaker than the consensus of $692.7 million.
Spotify Technology SA (SPOT) is down more than -10% after reporting Q1 operating income of $737 million, below the consensus of $787 million.
Qiagen NV (QGEN) is down more than -9% after forecasting full-year CER net sales of up +1% to +2%, well below the consensus of +4.62%.
Corning (GLW) is down more than -8% after forecasting Q2 core EPS of 73 cents to 77 cents, the midpoint below the consensus of 76 cents.
Pentair Plc (PNR) is down more than -7% after forecasting Q2 adjusted EPS of $1.47 to $1.50, below the consensus of $1.50.
United Parcel Service (UPS) is down more than -3% after leaving its full-year financial guidance unchanged despite reporting better-than-expected Q1 sales and profit.
Centene (CNC) is up more than +7% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q1 revenue of $49.94 billion, above the consensus of $47.41 billion, and raising its full-year revenue forecast to $187.5 billion to $191.5 billion from $186.5 billion to $190.5 billion, the midpoint above the consensus of $188.79 billion.
Coca-Cola (KO) is up more than +6% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials after reporting Q1 net revenue of $12.50 billion, better than the consensus of $12.25 billion.
Dynatrace (DT) is up more than +3% after the Wall Street Journal reported that Starboard Value LP took a stake in the company and is pushing the company to better capitalize on the shift to AI.
S&P Global Inc (SPGI) is up more than +3% after reporting Q1 revenue of $4.17 billion, above the consensus of $4.07 billion.
Nucor (NUE) is up more than +3% after reporting Q1 net sales of $9.50 billion, stronger than the consensus of $8.87 billion.
Franklin Resources (BEN) is up more than +2% after reporting Q2 adjusted EPS of 71 cents, stronger than the consensus of 55 cents.
Earnings Reports(4/28/2026)
Allegion plc (ALLE), American Tower Corp (AMT), Arch Capital Group Ltd (ACGL), Avery Dennison Corp (AVY), Booking Holdings Inc (BKNG), BXP Inc (BXP), Centene Corp (CNC), CMS Energy Corp (CMS), Coca-Cola Co/The (KO), Corning Inc (GLW), CoStar Group Inc (CSGP), Ecolab Inc (ECL), Edison International (EIX), Equity Residential (EQR), Essex Property Trust Inc (ESS), Expand Energy Corp (EXE), Extra Space Storage Inc (EXR), F5 Inc (FFIV), Fair Isaac Corp (FICO), FirstEnergy Corp (FE), Franklin Resources Inc (BEN), General Motors Co (GM), Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc (HLT), Incyte Corp (INCY), Ingersoll Rand Inc (IR), Invesco Ltd (IVZ), Kimberly-Clark Corp (KMB), Mondelez International Inc (MDLZ), NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), Omnicom Group Inc (OMC), ONEOK Inc (OKE), PACCAR Inc (PCAR), Pentair PLC (PNR), PPG Industries Inc (PPG), Robinhood Markets Inc (HOOD), S&P Global Inc (SPGI), Seagate Technology Holdings PL (STX), Sherwin-Williams Co/The (SHW), Starbucks Corp (SBUX), Sysco Corp (SYY), Teradyne Inc (TER), T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS), United Parcel Service Inc (UPS), Veralto Corp (VLTO), Visa Inc (V), Waste Management Inc (WM), Welltower Inc (WELL), Xylem Inc/NY (XYL), Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc (ZBH).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

AI Fears and Surging Crude Oil Prices Weigh on Stocks

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.38%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.25%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.78%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) are down -0.44%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) are down -0.83%.
Stock indexes are mostly lower today, led by losses in technology stocks amid concerns that the massive investment in artificial intelligence will not pay off. The Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI recently failed to meet its goals for new users and sales, undercutting the shares of OpenAI partners and AI infrastructure stocks, including Nvidia, Oracle, Advanced Micro Devices, and CoreWeave.
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On the positive side, Coca-Cola is up more than +5% to lead the Dow Jones Industrials higher after reporting stronger-than-expected Q1 net revenue.
Soaring crude oil prices are also boosting inflation expectations, pushing bond yields higher and weighing on stocks. WTI crude oil jumped to a 2-week high today after the New York Times reported that President Trump is not satisfied with Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, which includes postponing nuclear negotiations. Mr. Trump has said any deal must include agreements to curb Iran’s nuclear activities. The 10-year T-note yield climbed to a 3-week high of 4.38% today ahead of the start of the 2-day FOMC meeting, where the Fed is expected to keep monetary policy unchanged.
WTI crude oil prices (CLM26) are up by more than +3% today as the US and Iran are locked in a battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides blocking the waterway to gain leverage during an extended ceasefire. The Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis. The ongoing blockade could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, as about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transits through the strait. Goldman Sachs estimates that crude output in the Persian Gulf has been curtailed by about 14.5 million bpd, or more than 50%, so far in April, and that the current disruption has drawn down nearly 500 million bbl from global crude stockpiles, which could hit a billion bbl by June.
Kevin Warsh now appears to be on a glide path toward Senate approval as the new Fed Chair after Senator Thom Tillis said on Sunday that he dropped his opposition to the nomination. Mr. Tillis dropped his opposition after the US Justice Department dropped its criminal investigation into the Fed’s overspending on the renovation of its building, in line with Mr. Tillis’ demand. Mr. Tillis views the investigation into Fed Chair Powell as an attempt to force the Fed to cut interest rates. The Senate Banking Committee is due to vote on Mr. Warsh’s appointment this Wednesday and then send the nomination to the full Senate for a vote.
The markets are discounting a 0% chance for a +25 bp FOMC rate hike at the Tue-Wed policy meeting. The markets are expecting the FOMC to leave policy unchanged this week as it awaits further developments in oil prices and inflation.
Earnings season ramps up this week with several Magnificent Seven technology stocks reporting. Earnings results thus far have been supportive of stocks. As of today, 80% of the 150 S&P 500 companies that reported Q1 earnings have beaten estimates. Q1 S&P 500 earnings are projected to climb +12% y/y, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Stripping out the technology sector, Q1 earnings are projected to increase around +3%, the weakest in two years.
Overseas stock markets are lower today. The Euro Stoxx 50 fell to a 2.5-week low and is down -0.35%. China's Shanghai Composite closed down -0.19%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 closed down -1.02%.
Interest Rates
June 10-year T-notes (ZNM6) today are down -7 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is up +2.2 bp to 4.362%. June T-notes fell to a 3-week low today, and the 10-year T-note yield rose to a 3-week high of 4.378%. Today’s +3% jump in WTI crude oil prices is boosting inflation expectations and weighing on T-notes. The 10-year breakeven inflation rate rose to a 14-month high of 2.472% today. Also, supply pressures are undercutting T-note prices, as the Treasury will auction $30 billion of 2-year floating rate notes and $44 billion of 7-year T-notes later today.
European government bond yields are moving higher today. The 10-year German bund yield rose to a 2-week high of 3.086% and is up +4.3 bp to 3.076%. The 10-year UK gilt yield climbed to a 1-month high of 5.028% and is up +3.8 bp to 5.010%.
The ECB's Mar 1-year CPI expectations rate rose to 4.0% from 2.5% in Feb, stronger than expectations of 2.8% and the highest figure in nearly 2.5 years. The Mar 3-year CPI expectations rate rose to 3.0% from 2.5% in Feb, stronger than expectations of 2.6% and the highest figure in three years.
Swaps are discounting a 13% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on Thursday.
US Stock Movers
AI infrastructure stocks and OpenAI partners are retreating today after the Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI recently missed its own revenue and new-user targets. ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) is down more than -6% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100, and Applied Materials (AMAT) is down more than -5%. Also, Lam Research and KLA Corp (KLAC) are down more than -4%, and Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Broadcom (AVGO), Western Digital (WDC), ASML Holding NV (ASML), Marvell Technology (MRVL), Oracle (ORCL), and CoreWeave (CRWV) are down more than -3%. In addition, Nvidia (NVDA) is down more than -2% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials, and Vertiv Holdings (VRT), Qualcomm (QCOM), Applied Digital (APLD), and GE Vernova (GEV) are down more than -2%.
Rambus (RMBS) is down more than -17% after reporting Q1 EPS of 55 cents, weaker than the consensus of 65 cents.
Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE) is down more than -13% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q1 revenue of $671.0 million, weaker than the consensus of $692.7 million.
Spotify Technology SA (SPOT) is down more than -10% after reporting Q1 operating income of $737 million, below the consensus of $787 million.
Pentair Plc (PNR) is down more than -9% after forecasting Q2 adjusted EPS of $1.47 to $1.50, below the consensus of $1.50.
Qiagen NV (QGEN) is down more than -7% after forecasting full-year CER net sales of up +1% to +2%, well below the consensus of +4.62%.
Corning (GLW) is down more than -5% after forecasting Q2 core EPS of 73 cents to 77 cents, the midpoint below the consensus of 76 cents.
United Parcel Service (UPS) is down more than -4% after leaving its full-year financial guidance unchanged despite reporting better-than-expected Q1 sales and profit.
Centene (CNC) is up more than +6% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q1 revenue of $49.94 billion, above the consensus of $47.41 billion, and raising its full-year revenue forecast to $187.5 billion to $191.5 billion from $186.5 billion to $190.5 billion, the midpoint above the consensus of $188.79 billion.
Coca-Cola (KO) is up more than +5% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials after reporting Q1 net revenue of $12.50 billion, better than the consensus of $12.25 billion.
LendingClub (LC) is up more than +5% after reporting Q1 new originations of $2.67 billion, stronger than the consensus of $2.63 billion.
Dynatrace (DT) is up more than +4% after the Wall Street Journal reported that Starboard Value LP took a stake in the company and is pushing the company to better capitalize on the shift to AI.
Crane Co. (CR) is up more than +1% after reporting Q1 net sales of $696.4 million, better than the consensus of $667.3 million.
Nucor (NUE) is up more than +1% after reporting Q1 net sales of $9.50 billion, stronger than the consensus of $8.87 billion.
Earnings Reports(4/28/2026)
Allegion plc (ALLE), American Tower Corp (AMT), Arch Capital Group Ltd (ACGL), Avery Dennison Corp (AVY), Booking Holdings Inc (BKNG), BXP Inc (BXP), Centene Corp (CNC), CMS Energy Corp (CMS), Coca-Cola Co/The (KO), Corning Inc (GLW), CoStar Group Inc (CSGP), Ecolab Inc (ECL), Edison International (EIX), Equity Residential (EQR), Essex Property Trust Inc (ESS), Expand Energy Corp (EXE), Extra Space Storage Inc (EXR), F5 Inc (FFIV), Fair Isaac Corp (FICO), FirstEnergy Corp (FE), Franklin Resources Inc (BEN), General Motors Co (GM), Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc (HLT), Incyte Corp (INCY), Ingersoll Rand Inc (IR), Invesco Ltd (IVZ), Kimberly-Clark Corp (KMB), Mondelez International Inc (MDLZ), NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), Omnicom Group Inc (OMC), ONEOK Inc (OKE), PACCAR Inc (PCAR), Pentair PLC (PNR), PPG Industries Inc (PPG), Robinhood Markets Inc (HOOD), S&P Global Inc (SPGI), Seagate Technology Holdings PL (STX), Sherwin-Williams Co/The (SHW), Starbucks Corp (SBUX), Sysco Corp (SYY), Teradyne Inc (TER), T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS), United Parcel Service Inc (UPS), Veralto Corp (VLTO), Visa Inc (V), Waste Management Inc (WM), Welltower Inc (WELL), Xylem Inc/NY (XYL), Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc (ZBH).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Pressured by AI Fears and Soaring Crude Oil Prices

Key Points
Okta reported impressive 2025 earnings per share that grew more than 200%.
ASML is the only company that makes extreme ultraviolet lithography machines.
Midstream energy operator Enbridge boasts 31 consecutive years of dividend increases.
Investing with a 20-year horizon requires looking past quarterly volatility and focusing on structural shifts in the global economy.
Okta (NASDAQ: OKTA), ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML), and Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) are all set to benefit from long-term trends in technology and industry. Okta's shares are down more than 12% this year, while Enbridge and ASML are up more than 11% and 36%, respectively.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Yet, all three companies enjoy competitive moats that will drive revenue growth for decades. Here's why I like each stock for the next 20 years.
Okta is the guard dog of cybersecurity
In the past, cybersecurity focused on protecting a physical office or a closed private network, but as permanent hybrid work and cloud-based operations become the norm, the network perimeter has evaporated.
In this new environment, identity is the constant. Whether an employee is logging in from a coffee shop or an automated bot is accessing a server, verifying who is requesting access is the most critical security layer. Okta's position as a cloud-native, independent provider of workforce identity (employees) and customer identity (users) makes it a utility platform for the modern internet.
Unlike tech competitors such as Microsoft and its EntraID, a cloud-based identity and access management (IAM) service, Okta does not care which ecosystem a company uses. If a company uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) from Amazon for cloud, Gmail from Alphabet for email, and Slack from Salesforce for communication, Okta integrates seamlessly across all of them.
As companies increasingly adopt best-of-class software stacks rather than sticking to a single vendor, Okta serves as a connector that ties disparate systems together. Over 20 years, as new tech giants emerge and old ones fade, Okta's ability to remain the universal translator for login credentials provides it with a durable moat.
It has an outstanding growth profile
In 2025, Okta showed strong results, reporting yearly revenue of $2.92 billion, an increase of 12%, with subscription revenue climbing 12% to $2.86 billion. Earnings per share (EPS) were $1.31, up 208%. In 2026, the company anticipates revenue of $3.17 billion to $3.19 billion, up 9% at the midpoint, and non-GAAP EPS of $3.74 to $3.82, up 8% at the midpoint.
By consolidating its various services into a single platform, the San Francisco company increases its stickiness. Once a company has integrated its entire employee lifecycle and customer login portal into Okta, the switching costs become incredibly high, creating a reliable stream of recurring revenue that can compound over decades.
ASML has a huge moat
ASML, based in the Netherlands, is the only company in the world that manufactures EUV (extreme ultraviolet) lithography machines. These machines, used to print the microscopic patterns onto silicon wafers that become the world's most advanced semiconductor chips, are roughly the size of a bus, cost more than $200 million (or upwards of $350 million for the new "High-NA" models), and have been called the most sophisticated machines ever built.
The barrier to entry for a competitor is huge. It took ASML nearly three decades of research and development and billions in investment to perfect EUV. For a rival to catch up now would require decades of trial and error and a supply chain of thousands of specialized partners that simply doesn't exist elsewhere.
High-yield exposure to every megatrend
While specific tech companies (such as those in AI, cloud computing, or EV manufacturing) may rise and fall over 20 years, they all share one common requirement: more powerful, more efficient chips. ASML acts as a toll booth for the entire semiconductor industry.
Whether the next two decades are dominated by artificial general intelligence, the Internet of Things (IOT), autonomous transportation, or quantum computing, none of it can happen without the lithography steps that ASML controls. By holding ASML, you aren't trying to guess which software or hardware company wins.
Impressive margins, steady growth
In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, ASML reported revenue of €8.8 billion ($10.3 billion), up 13.3%, and EPS of €7.15 ($8.4 billion), up 19.2%. It also provided 2026 guidance for annual revenue between €36 billion ($42.2 billion) and €40 billion ($46.9 billion), up 30% at the midpoint, and for annual gross margin between 51% and 53%.
The most promising metric for long-term investors is its reported €46.5 billion ($54.5 billion) in customer commitments for systems and services over the next five years. Roughly 83% of the 2026 revenue target is already covered by existing orders, providing significant protection against a sudden economic downturn.
Enbridge can easily adapt to a lower-carbon future
Midstream operator Enbridge is seen as an oil and gas pipeline company, but its current strategy focuses on becoming a diversified energy delivery utility that can survive the transition to a lower-carbon economy.
The company is seeing significant growth in demand for its natural gas services as data centers require a steady stream of power and Enbridge, after purchasing three gas utilities from Dominion Energy in 2023 for $14 billion, is now the largest natural gas utility provider in North America. The company is also ramping up its renewable power offerings, with solar and wind power projects in Europe and the U.S.
The company's miles of pipelines are a type of moat
The Canadian energy company, through its 18,085 miles of pipelines, transports approximately 30% of all crude oil produced in North America and nearly 20% of the natural gas consumed in the U.S. These are mission-critical assets that are nearly impossible to replicate today due to regulatory and environmental hurdles, giving existing pipelines immense scarcity value over the next two decades.
Those pipelines are essentially toll booths that pay off regardless of oil or natural gas prices. In 2025, the company reported EPS of CAD $3.23 ($2.36), up 38%, and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, deprecation, and amortization (EBITDA) of CAD $19.9 billion ($14.6 billion), up 7%.
Different reasons to stay the course
Okta and ASML are both expected to ride the growth of artificial intelligence and data center needs over the next 20 years, making them revenue growth machines. Enbridge's yearly revenue has only grown 78% over the past 10 years, lower that Okta's or ASML's, but it makes up for that with a dividend that it has increased for 31 consecutive years, including a 3% bump this year, delivering a yield at its current share price of around 5.15%, another great reason to hold onto the stock for 20 years.
Should you buy stock in Okta right now?
Before you buy stock in Okta, consider this:
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Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $492,752!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,327,935!*
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James Halley has positions in ASML, Alphabet, Enbridge, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, Alphabet, Amazon, Enbridge, Microsoft, Okta, and Salesforce. The Motley Fool recommends Dominion Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 Monster Stocks to Hold for the Next 20 Years

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (Symbol: SMH) where we have detected an approximate $734.1 million dollar inflow -- that's a 1.3% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 113,391,874 to 114,841,874). Among the largest underlying components of SMH, in trading today Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Symbol: TSM) is off about 3.4%, KLA Corp (Symbol: KLAC) is off about 4%, and ASML Holding NV (Symbol: ASML) is lower by about 3.6%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the SMH Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of SMH, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, SMH's low point in its 52 week range is $203.89 per share, with $510.10 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $490.97. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
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Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Also see:
Technology Dividend Stock List
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding CEM
Historical PE Ratio
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

SMH, TSM, KLAC, ASML: Large Inflows Detected at ETF

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Monday closed up +0.12%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down -0.13%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.01%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) rose +0.14%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) fell -0.02%.
Stock indexes settled mostly higher on Monday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 posting new all-time highs. Optimism that demand for AI-infrastructure will remain strong and continue to power technology earnings boosted stocks on Monday. The megacap technology stocks of Alphabet, Apple, Amazon.com, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms all report quarterly earnings this week.
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The broader market saw some downward pressure from Monday’s +2% rally in WTI crude oil prices, which raised inflation expectations. Crude oil prices jumped after President Trump on Saturday canceled planned negotiations with Iran in Pakistan, saying Iran "offered a lot, but not enough" to continue negotiations. Iranian President Pezeshkian said Iran won't enter "imposed negotiations under threats or blockade." Secretary of State Rubio said Iran still wants to retain control of the Strait of Hormuz, and that was "unacceptable" to the US.
However, AI-infrastructure stocks found support on Monday after TF International Securities said that Qualcomm is working with OpenAI and Taiwan’s MediaTek to develop smartphone processors. Also, Micron Technology and SanDisk both received buy ratings from Melius Research. In addition, strength in health insurers was a positive factor for the market.
Stock indexes found support from the Axios report that Iran has given the US a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, which includes postponing nuclear negotiations. The plan calls for extending the ceasefire so the parties can work toward a permanent end to the war, and nuclear talks would come later, only after a US blockade of the strait is lifted. The White House said Monday afternoon that President Trump is discussing the proposal with national security and foreign policy officials.
The US and Iran are locked in a battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides blocking the waterway to gain leverage during an extended ceasefire. The US increased pressure on Iran with its naval blockade as it seeks to get Iran to agree to talks, while Israel and Lebanon are set to extend a ceasefire for three weeks.
WTI crude oil prices (CLM26) rose by more than +2% on Monday after President Trump canceled a planned weekend trip by US envoys to Pakistan and Iran said it won’t negotiate while the US naval blockade of Iran remains in force. The Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis. The ongoing blockade could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, as about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transits through the strait. Goldman Sachs estimates that crude output in the Persian Gulf has been curtailed by about 14.5 million bpd, or more than 50%, so far in April, and that the current disruption has drawn down nearly 500 million bbl from global crude stockpiles, which could hit a billion bbl by June.
Kevin Warsh now appears to be on a glide path toward Senate approval as the new Fed Chair after Senator Thom Tillis said on Sunday that he dropped his opposition to the nomination. Mr. Tillis dropped his opposition after the US Justice Department dropped its criminal investigation into the Fed’s overspending on the renovation of its building, in line with Mr. Tillis’ demand. Mr. Tillis views the investigation into Fed Chair Powell as an attempt to force the Fed to cut interest rates. The Senate Banking Committee is due to vote on Mr. Warsh’s appointment this Wednesday and then send the nomination to the full Senate for a vote.
The markets are discounting a 0% chance for a +25 bp FOMC rate hike at the Tue-Wed policy meeting. The markets are expecting the FOMC to leave policy unchanged this week as it awaits further developments in oil prices and inflation.
Earnings season ramps up this week with several Magnificent Seven technology stocks reporting. Earnings results thus far have been supportive of stocks. As of Monday, 80% of the 139 S&P 500 companies that reported Q1 earnings have beaten estimates. Q1 S&P 500 earnings are projected to climb +12% y/y, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Stripping out the technology sector, Q1 earnings are projected to increase around +3%, the weakest in two years.
Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Monday. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed down -0.39%. China's Shanghai Composite closed up +0.16%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 rallied to a new record high and closed up +1.38%.
Interest Rates
June 10-year T-notes (ZNM6) on Monday closed down -6 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield rose +3.6 bp to 4.337%. June T-notes retreated on Monday due to the +2% increase in the price of WTI crude oil, which boosts inflation expectations. The 10-year breakeven inflation rate rose to a 14-month high of 2.457% on Monday. Supply pressures also weighed on T-note prices, as the Treasury auctioned $69 billion of 2-year T-notes and $70 billion of 5-year T-notes.
Demand for Monday’s Treasury auctions was mixed. The 2-year T-note auction saw decent demand, with a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.65, above the 10-auction average of 2.60, while demand for the 5-year T-note auction was tepid, with a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.33, below the 10-auction average of 2.35.
European government bond yields moved higher on Monday. The 10-year German bund yield rose +3.9 bp to 3.033%. The 10-year UK gilt yield rose +6.0 bp to 4.972%.
The German May GfK consumer confidence index fell -5.2 to a 3.25-year low of -33.3, weaker than expectations of -30.0.
Swaps are discounting a 6% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on Thursday.
US Stock Movers
Health insurance stocks rallied on Monday to provide support to the overall market. Centene (CNC) closed up more than +4%, and Elevance Health (ELV) and Humana (HUM) closed up more than +3%. Also, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) and the Cigna Group (CI) closed up more than +2%, and Cardinal Health (CAH) and Molina Healthcare (MOH) closed up more than +1%.
Airline stocks and cruise line operators fell on Monday after WTI crude oil rose more than +2%, which raises fuel costs and weighs on corporate profits. American Airlines Group (AAL) closed down more than -3%, and Alaska Air Group (ALK), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL), and Southwest Airlines (LUV) closed down more than -2%. Also, United Airlines Holdings (UAL), Carnival (CCL), and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH) closed down more than -1%, and Delta Air Lines (DAL) closed down -0.37%.
Chipmakers moved lower on Monday, weighing on the broader market. ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) closed down more than -8% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100. Also, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Marvell Technology (MRVL), and Lam Research (LRCX) closed down more than -3%. In addition, Applied Materials (AMAT), Microchip Technology (MCHP), NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), KLA Corp (KLAC), and Texas Instruments (TXN) closed down more than -2%, and Analog Devices (ADI) and ASML Holding NV (ASML) closed down more than -1%.
Sandisk (SNDK) closed up more than +8% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, and Micron Technology (MU) closed up more than +5% after Melius Research LLC initiated coverage on the stocks with buy recommendations.
Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) closed up more than +4% after its board authorized a $500 million stock buyback program.
Verizon Communications (VZ) closed up more than +1% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials after boosting its full-year adjusted EPS forecast to $4.95-$4.99 from a previous forecast of $4.90-$4.95, stronger than the consensus of $4.90.
Fortinet (FTNT) closed up more than +1% after Arete double-upgraded the stock to buy from sell with a price target of $104.
Crowdstrike Holdings (CRWD) closed up more than +1% after Mizuho Securities upgraded the stock to outperform from neutral with a price target of $520.
VeraDermics (MANE) closed up more than +46% after reporting that its oral extended-release minoxidil formulation VDPHL01 met all primary and key secondary endpoints with high statistical significance in a Phase 2/3 clinical trial for male pattern baldness.
Organon & Co. (OGN) closed up more than +16% after Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. had lined up a short-term loan to finance its $12 billion acquisition of the company.
Oruka Therapeutics (ORKA) closed up more than +10% after giving positive results from a mid-stage trial of its therapy to treat plaque psoriasis.
Domino’s Pizza (DPZ) closed down more than -8% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q1 revenue of $1.15 billion, below the consensus of $1.16 billion.
GE Vernova (GEV) closed down more than -2% after BNP Paribas downgraded the stock to neutral from buy.
Adobe (ADBE) closed down more than -2% after Mizuho Securities downgraded the stock to neutral from outperform.
Earnings Reports(4/28/2026)
Allegion plc (ALLE), American Tower Corp (AMT), Arch Capital Group Ltd (ACGL), Avery Dennison Corp (AVY), Booking Holdings Inc (BKNG), BXP Inc (BXP), Centene Corp (CNC), CMS Energy Corp (CMS), Coca-Cola Co/The (KO), Corning Inc (GLW), CoStar Group Inc (CSGP), Ecolab Inc (ECL), Edison International (EIX), Equity Residential (EQR), Essex Property Trust Inc (ESS), Expand Energy Corp (EXE), Extra Space Storage Inc (EXR), F5 Inc (FFIV), Fair Isaac Corp (FICO), FirstEnergy Corp (FE), Franklin Resources Inc (BEN), General Motors Co (GM), Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc (HLT), Incyte Corp (INCY), Ingersoll Rand Inc (IR), Invesco Ltd (IVZ), Kimberly-Clark Corp (KMB), Mondelez International Inc (MDLZ), NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), Omnicom Group Inc (OMC), ONEOK Inc (OKE), PACCAR Inc (PCAR), Pentair PLC (PNR), PPG Industries Inc (PPG), Robinhood Markets Inc (HOOD), S&P Global Inc (SPGI), Seagate Technology Holdings PL (STX), Sherwin-Williams Co/The (SHW), Starbucks Corp (SBUX), Sysco Corp (SYY), Teradyne Inc (TER), T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS), United Parcel Service Inc (UPS), Veralto Corp (VLTO), Visa Inc (V), Waste Management Inc (WM), Welltower Inc (WELL), Xylem Inc/NY (XYL), Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc (ZBH).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Tech Earnings Optimism Powers Stocks Higher

Key Points
ASML is a key equipment supplier to the major semiconductor manufacturers.
Recent capex guidance and orders from manufacturers suggest more growth is coming.
Management's long-term guidance from 2024 now looks conservative.
Semiconductor stocks have been some of the strongest performers in 2026. The vast majority of that performance has come in the month of April. As geopolitical tensions ease (or at least potentially move into the rearview mirror), investors are once again focused on the growing demand for artificial intelligence and the chips that power the technology.
One company that's benefited greatly from the increased demand for semiconductors of all types is ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML), the Dutch company that makes key manufacturing equipment. Its most recent earnings report shows soaring demand for its products, and that's backed by recent developments among the world's largest semiconductor manufacturers.
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Despite the stock already climbing 36% in 2026, as of this writing, it's not too late to buy.
Demand is soaring
ASML is the leading manufacturer of lithography machines used to print circuit patterns onto silicon wafers to create microchips. Its machines are used for the most advanced manufacturing processes used in AI accelerator chips and graphics processing units (GPUs), as well as less complex chips like memory. Both have seen surging demand.
First-quarter results show just how strong demand has been. ASML's revenue exceeded management's outlook, climbing 13% year over year. What's more, management increased its full-year outlook for 2026, indicating revenue acceleration through the rest of the year. The midpoint of its guidance calls for 16% growth for the full year.
Those expectations are backed up by recent developments at key semiconductor manufacturers. Memory chipmakers SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics placed orders for ASML's extreme ultraviolet machines worth approximately $8 billion each in the past month. Samsung also ordered 50 lithography machines that use older ASML technology, representing billions more in revenue. Micron Technology is likely placing large orders as well, with plans to expand its capital expenditures to $25 billion this year.
Indeed, ASML's memory chip-related revenue soared to 3.2 billion euros last quarter, up 32% year over year and notably exceeding its logic chip equipment sales. But that doesn't mean its logic chip business is struggling. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing indicated plans to spend closer to the high end of its $52 billion to $56 billion 2026 capital expenditure guidance this year. That would represent a 37% year-over-year increase. Additionally, Intel could increase purchase orders, especially with plans to partner with Tesla and SpaceX for its Terafab project, which set aside $20 billion for its initial facility.
All of these developments point to very strong long-term growth for ASML. Management targeted 44 billion euros to 60 billion euros in revenue by 2030 at its last investor day in 2024, but a lot has changed since then. It looks increasingly likely that it'll reach the high end of that guidance, perhaps exceeding it, based on the growing demand for both logic and memory chips.
The stock may seem expensive at 38 times forward earnings expectations, but with a virtual monopoly on a key component of a growing market, ASML should deliver substantial earnings growth through the end of the decade.
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Adam Levy has positions in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, Intel, Micron Technology, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

ASML Holding N.V. - New York Registry Shares

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