Citigroup Inc., a diversified financial service holding company, provides various financial product and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide. It operates through five segments: Services, Markets, Banking, U.S. Personal Banking, and Wealth. The Services segment includes Treasury and Trade Solutions, which provides cash management, trade, and working capital solutions to multinational corporations, financial institutions, and public sector organizations; and Securities Services, such as cross-border support for clients, local market expertise, post-trade technologies, data solutions, and various securities services solutions. The Markets segment offers sales and trading services for equities, foreign exchange, rates, spread products, and commodities to corporate, institutional, and public sector clients; and market-making services, including asset classes, risk management solutions, financing, prime brokerage, research, securities clearing, and settlement. The banking segment includes investment banking; advisory services related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, and corporate defense activities; and corporate lending, which includes corporate and commercial banking. The U.S. Personal Banking segment provides co-branded cards and retail banking services. The Wealth segment provides financial services to high-net-worth clients through banking, lending, mortgages, investment, custody, and trust product offerings; and to professional industries, including law firms, consulting groups, accounting, and asset management. The company was founded in 1812 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Citigroup, Inc.

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Citigroup Inc (Symbol: C), where a total of 73,770 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 7.4 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 55.2% of C's average daily trading volume over the past month of 13.4 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $100 strike call option expiring September 19, 2025, with 8,338 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 833,800 underlying shares of C. Below is a chart showing C's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $100 strike highlighted in orange:
Five Below Inc (Symbol: FIVE) saw options trading volume of 7,946 contracts, representing approximately 794,600 underlying shares or approximately 55% of FIVE's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.4 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $160 strike call option expiring October 17, 2025, with 2,836 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 283,600 underlying shares of FIVE. Below is a chart showing FIVE's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $160 strike highlighted in orange:
And Target Corp (Symbol: TGT) saw options trading volume of 47,628 contracts, representing approximately 4.8 million underlying shares or approximately 53.9% of TGT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 8.8 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $110 strike put option expiring September 19, 2025, with 5,000 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 500,000 underlying shares of TGT. Below is a chart showing TGT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $110 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for C options, FIVE options, or TGT options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding BRS
Institutional Holders of FNFV
GRAL Options Chain
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy Tuesday Option Activity: C, FIVE, TGT

Six of the largest banks, including JPMorgan JPM, Citigroup C, Wells Fargo WFC, Morgan Stanley MS, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs, have been instructed by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to focus more on boosting lending activities rather than raising dividends and share buybacks.
Per a Reuters report, the senators sent joint letters to the CEOs of these banks because they were of the opinion that, in the name of easing regulations, these banks have been making wealthy shareholders richer and raising executive compensation at the cost of financial stability and economic growth.
The senators said that while these banks lobby for deregulation in Washington under the banner of boosting lending and economic growth, their actual behavior prioritizes shareholder returns, rather than significantly increasing loans.
While JPM, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley declined to comment, BofA and Goldman Sachs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Recent Capital Actions by Major Banks
After clearing the Federal Reserve's annual stress test this year, which reflected that lenders had enough capital to withstand scenarios such as a severe economic downturn, banks announced plans to raise their third-quarter dividends.
JPMorgan approved a $50-billion share repurchase program and hiked its quarterly dividend to $1.50 per share. Goldman Sachs raised its dividend 33.3% to $4 per share and Citigroup hiked its dividend 7.1% to 60 cents.
Likewise, Morgan Stanley announced an 8% hike in dividend to $1.00 per share and reauthorized a multi-year share repurchase program of up to $20 billion. Wells Fargo raised its third-quarter stock dividend 12.5% to 45 cents per share.
Warren & Sanders Push to Keep Banks Strong
The senators’ recent actions come as they seek to preserve and strengthen post-2008 banking safeguards. They have been opposing Wall Street’s push to roll back capital requirements and annual stress testing rules, which were put in place after the global financial crisis.
The senators argue that loosening capital and liquidity standards would weaken the financial system and increase the risk of another crisis. They urge regulators to maintain rigorous oversight, require greater transparency on bank practices such as overdraft fees, and redirect bank profits toward responsible lending rather than shareholder payouts.
They emphasize that higher capital requirements and stress tests are not burdens but essential tools for economic stability because they believe that renewed deregulatory efforts, particularly under a second Trump administration, can leave the economy more vulnerable in the next downturn.
Notably, the Fed has recently finalized new capital rules for the largest banks, reinforcing resilience against future crises, an outcome that aligns with the senators’ push for stricter safeguards.
How Will Increased Lending Affect Banks’ Profitability?
In the short term, if economic conditions are robust, higher lending generally lifts bank’s profits as net interest income (NII) increases. Increased lending leads to a rise in the total interest collected, aiding bank profits, especially when interest rates allow for a healthy margin.
However, in the long run, if banks are obliged to lend to riskier clients or during economic downturns, loan losses may eventually erode profits. Loan loss provisions and non-performing assets typically rise with aggressive lending, diminishing returns over time.
Quantum Computing Stocks Set To Soar
Artificial intelligence has already reshaped the investment landscape, and its convergence with quantum computing could lead to the most significant wealth-building opportunities of our time.
Today, you have a chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this technological revolution. In our urgent special report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power, you'll discover the little-known stocks we believe will win the quantum computing race and deliver massive gains to early investors.
Access the Report Free Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

JPM, C & Others Face Pressure to Lend More Than Reward Shareholders

Citigroup Inc. C has announced a new customized portfolio offering for its global wealth clients, appointing BlackRock, Inc. BLK to manage approximately $80 billion in assets. The offering, Citigroup Portfolio Solutions powered by BlackRock, is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2025, subject to customary approvals and conditions. The agreement is not expected to affect Citigroup’s previously disclosed revenue or return targets materially.
Details of Citigroup’s Agreement
BlackRock will oversee a broad set of investment strategies, including Equities, Fixed Income, Multi-Asset Class, and, over time, Private Markets. The firm’s Aladdin Wealth technology platform, offering advanced risk management, portfolio oversight, and data insights, will be deployed to C’s private bankers and investment professionals.
Citigroup’s Wealth clients, whose assets will be managed by BLK, are domiciled in nearly 100 countries, reflecting the offering’s broad global reach. The clients will continue to maintain a primary relationship with their Citigroup Private Banker, who will guide strategic asset allocation, long-term financial goals, and the selection of investment strategies. Subject to ongoing review and monitoring by Citigroup Wealth, BlackRock will manage and implement specific investment strategies tailored to meet clients’ objectives.
Andy Sieg, head of Wealth at Citigroup, stated, “We want to bring best-in-class advice, solutions and service to our clients, and we want to serve more of the world’s changemakers. With this offering, we can accomplish both.” Sieg further added, “It brings together the sophisticated relationship-driven and market-based advice of our bankers, backed by the insights of our own Chief Investment Office, with the renowned investment expertise and innovative technology capabilities of BlackRock.”
Further, certain members of Citigroup Investment Management will transition to BlackRock to continue serving as portfolio managers for existing strategies. Over time, Citigroup and BlackRock plan to develop new investment products and solutions that will further benefit clients, leveraging BlackRock’s scale, infrastructure, and capabilities.
Rationale Behind C’s Partnership With BLK
The initiative brings together Citigroup’s strategic advisory strengths and BlackRock’s expertise in investment management and technology to deliver a more sophisticated client experience. It aims to provide clients with access to customized portfolio solutions spanning public and private markets, improve investment outcomes through advanced portfolio construction, and streamline operations while expanding the range of global investment options.
Our Take on C-BLK Agreement
The deal reflects a broader trend in wealth management, where banks are increasingly collaborating with asset managers to enhance client offerings without building in-house capabilities. By combining Citigroup’s advisory services with BlackRock’s technology and investment prowess, both firms are positioned to scale globally while improving client outcomes.
Price Performance & Zacks Rank of Citigroup
Over the past six months, shares of Citigroup have risen 34% compared with the industry’s growth of 25.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
At present, the company carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Similar Steps by Other Finance Firms
In June 2025, U.S. Bancorp USB has entered a partnership with Fiserv to integrate its Elan Financial Services credit card program into Fiserv’s Credit Choice solution. The collaboration aims to enhance digital card issuance capabilities, providing financial institutions with a seamless, integrated experience.
The integration of Elan’s credit card program into Fiserv’s Credit Choice solution strengthens USB’s digital-first strategy. This integration will enable consumers and small businesses to access both debit and credit card account details within a unified digital platform. This will create a better user experience, allowing customers to manage both types of cards in one place.
#1 Semiconductor Stock to Buy (Not NVDA)
The incredible demand for data is fueling the market's next digital gold rush. As data centers continue to be built and constantly upgraded, the companies that provide the hardware for these behemoths will become the NVIDIAs of tomorrow.
One under-the-radar chipmaker is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. It specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be.
See This Stock Now for Free >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
BlackRock (BLK) : Free Stock Analysis Report
U.S. Bancorp (USB) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Citigroup to Launch $80B Portfolio Offering With BlackRock

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Invesco KBW Bank ETF (Symbol: KBWB) where we have detected an approximate $171.8 million dollar inflow -- that's a 3.6% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 61,570,000 to 63,810,000). Among the largest underlying components of KBWB, in trading today Goldman Sachs Group Inc (Symbol: GS) is up about 0.9%, Wells Fargo & Co (Symbol: WFC) is up about 1.4%, and Citigroup Inc (Symbol: C) is up by about 1.5%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the KBWB Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of KBWB, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, KBWB's low point in its 52 week range is $51.125 per share, with $77.9399 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $77.30. 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 ».
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:
QINC Options Chain
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding INTC
THMG Insider Buying
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

KBWB, GS, WFC, C: ETF Inflow Alert

A U.S. Judge has dismissed an antitrust lawsuit against 10 large banks, namely Bank of America BAC, JPMorgan JPM, Morgan Stanley MS, Citigroup C, Barclays BCS, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, NatWest and Wells Fargo.
The lawsuit alleged that BAC, JPM, MS, C and BCS conspired with five other banks to manipulate corporate bond prices at the expense of retail investors.
Details of the Lawsuit
Investors alleged that Bank of America, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and Barclays, along with five other banks, earned billions of dollars by levying excessive charges on “odd-lot” trades since 2006.
Such trades are valued under $1 million or involve fewer than 1,000 bonds that are primarily corporate bonds. Investors accused the banks of wrongly charging 25% to 300% higher charges compared with larger “round-lot” trades to boost their profits, according to Reuters.
In October 2021, the case was originally dismissed by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman. However, after a few months, he revealed that his wife held Bank of America’s shares while the case was pending, claiming that it didn’t impair his judgment on the case. In July 2024, the federal government appealed to the Manhattan court, reviving the case, stating that Liman’s conflict could call his impartiality into question.
Valerie Caproni, U.S. District Judge in Manhattan, stated that investors failed to demonstrate that the banks conspired to operate the Bond Desk, Trading Edge and Trade Web platforms or to shut out alternative platforms that promoted fairer pricing.
She further noted that, though the institutions accounted for roughly 65% of underwriting and 90% of trading in corporate bonds, this did not establish control over secondary market pricing. She also didn’t find any evidence of illegal activity in the four years preceding the April 2020 filing, a gap that undermined the case under the Sherman Antitrust Act. Caproni’s dismissal was issued with prejudice, implying that the lawsuit cannot be filed again.
Higher. Faster. Sooner. Buy These Stocks Now
A small number of stocks are primed for a breakout, and you have a chance to get in before they take off.
At any given time, there are only 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. On average, this list more than doubles the S&P 500. We’ve combed through the latest Strong Buys and selected 7 compelling companies likely to jump sooner and climb higher than any other stock you could buy this month.
You'll learn everything you need to know about these exciting trades in our brand-new Special Report, 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.
Download the report free now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

BAC, JPM, MS, C, BCS & 5 Other Big Banks Win U.S. Antitrust Lawsuit

Citigroup (C) ended the recent trading session at $94.71, demonstrating a -1.93% change from the preceding day's closing price. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.69%. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.55%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.82%.
The stock of U.S. bank has risen by 4.88% in the past month, leading the Finance sector's gain of 4.76% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.79%.
Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Citigroup in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to be unveiled on October 14, 2025. The company is expected to report EPS of $1.86, up 23.18% from the prior-year quarter. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $20.81 billion, showing a 2.41% escalation compared to the year-ago quarter.
In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $7.57 per share and a revenue of $84.51 billion, indicating changes of +27.23% and +4.15%, respectively, from the former year.
It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Citigroup. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged. Citigroup is holding a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) right now.
Looking at valuation, Citigroup is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 12.76. This signifies a discount in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 16.44 for its industry.
It's also important to note that C currently trades at a PEG ratio of 0.83. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The Financial - Investment Bank industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 1.58 as of yesterday's close.
The Financial - Investment Bank industry is part of the Finance sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 17, finds itself in the top 7% echelons of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
5 Stocks Set to Double
Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the months ahead. They include
Stock #1: A Disruptive Force with Notable Growth and Resilience
Stock #2: Bullish Signs Signaling to Buy the Dip
Stock #3: One of the Most Compelling Investments in the Market
Stock #4: Leader In a Red-Hot Industry Poised for Growth
Stock #5: Modern Omni-Channel Platform Coiled to Spring
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +171%, +209% and +232%.
Download Atomic Opportunity: Nuclear Energy's Comeback free today.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Citigroup (C) Declines More Than Market: Some Information for Investors

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Citigroup Inc (Symbol: C), where a total volume of 61,529 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 6.2 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 44.8% of C's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 13.7 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $96 strike put option expiring August 29, 2025, with 10,199 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.0 million underlying shares of C. Below is a chart showing C's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $96 strike highlighted in orange:
CVS Health Corporation (Symbol: CVS) saw options trading volume of 27,810 contracts, representing approximately 2.8 million underlying shares or approximately 43.7% of CVS's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 6.4 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $72 strike put option expiring September 05, 2025, with 4,278 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 427,800 underlying shares of CVS. Below is a chart showing CVS's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $72 strike highlighted in orange:
And General Electric Co (Symbol: GE) saw options trading volume of 17,481 contracts, representing approximately 1.7 million underlying shares or approximately 43.1% of GE's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 4.1 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $300 strike call option expiring November 21, 2025, with 2,655 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 265,500 underlying shares of GE. Below is a chart showing GE's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $300 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for C options, CVS options, or GE options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
Computers Dividend Stocks
BMTC shares outstanding history
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding MSDI
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy Friday Option Activity: C, CVS, GE

Nu Holdings (NYSE: NU), the parent company of Brazil-based Nubank, closed at $14.77, up $0.13 (0.89%) on Thursday. Trading volume reached 54.6 million shares, below its three-month average of 64 million. The company holds a market capitalization of $71.3 billion and trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.4. Shares remain within their 52-week range of $9.01 to $16.15, after moving between $14.66 and $15.11 intraday.
The broader market also finished higher. The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) gained 20.46 points (0.32%) to close at 6,501.86, while the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) advanced 115.02 points (0.53%) to end at 21,705.16.
Among peers, Itaú Unibanco (NYSE: ITUB) rose to $7.11, up $0.15 (2.16%), while MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: MELI) advanced to $2,472.29, a gain of $58.86 (2.44%).
Investor sentiment toward Nu Holdings has been supported by a series of positive analyst actions, including Susquehanna lifting its price target to $17 with a positive rating, alongside recent upgrades from Citigroup and Banco Bradesco BBI. Reports also surfaced that Nubank is considering a billion-dollar acquisition of Argentina-based Brubank, which could accelerate its regional expansion. The company's fundamentals remain strong, with its customer base up 17% year-over-year to 123 million and net income rising 38% in the first half of 2025.
Investors will be watching for developments on the potential Brubank acquisition and continued growth trends across Latin America as the next catalysts.
Market data sourced from Google Finance and Yahoo! Finance on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2025.
Should you invest $1,000 in Nu Holdings right now?
Before you buy stock in Nu Holdings, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nu Holdings wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $659,823!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,113,120!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,068% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of August 25, 2025
Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money.This article was generated with GPT-5, OpenAI's large-scale language generation model and has been reviewed by The Motley Fool's AI quality control systems. Daily Stock News has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends MercadoLibre. The Motley Fool recommends Nu Holdings. 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.

Stock Market Today: Nu Holdings Rises on Analyst Optimism and Expansion Plans

Have we seen the normal August trading lull that we usually see during the Dog Days of Summer?
Our Chief Equity Strategist and Economist, John Blank, has been keeping his eye on that. He’s here now with the answer.
1. So, until last Friday, have we seen lower daily trading volumes causing higher volatility that would indicate many traders are on summer vacation and, overall, there has been an August lull?
2. Back on August fourth, published data showed the Dow 30 index was the only benchmark that had yet to hit a new peak after April's tariff panic. But that changed last Friday when Fed Chairman Powell signaled the Fed could begin easing monetary policy next month, in his annual Jackson Jole speech. That sent the Dow to an all time high. In fact, there was a pretty broad based stock rally as well. I guess he gave the market exactly what it wanted to hear?
3. September is typically not a good month for stocks. Might this late summer rally extend into next month aided by a rate cut?
4. Is there still uncertainty affecting the market?
5. Is there any reason for stock market bulls to be cautious going into fall?
6. Tech stocks sold off a bit recently. Are investors rotating out of the riskier stocks into previously lagging sectors because they’re worried about the staying power of AI?
7. Will it be difficult to pick winners out of the AI universe going forward?
8. But against this backdrop, does a stronger than expected Q2 earnings season and a bullish outlook for earnings into next year, suggest to you that the S&P500 has more room to run higher, at least, for the rest of this year?
9. Two major U.S. financial services stocks and one major French industrial have been on your radar lately. Charles Schwab SCHW, Citigroup C and Schneider Electric SBGSY.
Our Chief Equity Strategist and Economist, John Blank, on stocks and the August trading lull. With John, I’m Terry Ruffolo.
Quantum Computing Stocks Set To Soar
Artificial intelligence has already reshaped the investment landscape, and its convergence with quantum computing could lead to the most significant wealth-building opportunities of our time.
Today, you have a chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this technological revolution. In our urgent special report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power, you'll discover the little-known stocks we believe will win the quantum computing race and deliver massive gains to early investors.
Access the Report Free Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Citigroup Inc. (C) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Schneider Electric SE (SBGSY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

How Do Major Stocks Trade This Fall?

At Jackson Hole, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell struck a more dovish tone, hinting that a rate cut could be on the horizon. He described the labor market as in a “curious balance,” wherein hiring is slowing and the pool of available workers is shrinking due to demographic shifts and the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Markets were already betting on lower rates, with the policy range currently at 4.25-4.5%. Weakening job data has only strengthened those expectations. According to the CME FedWatch tool, nearly 87% of traders now see a 25-basis-point cut in September as the most likely outcome.
Stocks rallied on Powell’s remarks. During Friday’s trading session, the KBW Nasdaq Bank Index jumped 3.2%, the Dow Jones gained 1.9% and major banks advanced — Citigroup C up 2.9%, Bank of America BAC 2.5%, JPMorgan Chase JPM 2.1% and Wells Fargo WFC 1.6%.
Reasons for Signalling Rate Cut
Rising Risks in the Labor Market: Powell highlighted that while unemployment remains low, both hiring and labor supply are slipping, raising the risks of sudden layoffs or rising joblessness. Even a modest slowdown may trigger layoffs and rising unemployment, prompting the central bank to take a dovish stance to cushion the economy before those risks materialize.
Balancing Inflation & Growth: While inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, Powell signaled a shift in priorities. Earlier in the tightening cycle, the Fed was willing to slow growth to bring prices down. Now, protecting jobs and sustaining economic momentum appear to outweigh the risk of inflation staying sticky. In effect, the Fed’s reaction function has turned more dovish, with greater sensitivity to weakening growth than to lingering price pressures.
Financial Conditions & Credit Flows: Beyond inflation and employment, elevated borrowing costs have strained both households and businesses, especially those with debt maturing after years of near-zero rates. Prolonged high interest rates risk dampening credit flows, stifling business investment and curbing consumer demand. By lowering rates, the Fed aims to ease financing pressures and prevent a slowdown in lending activity, which is critical to sustaining overall economic growth.
How Are Banks Likely to be Affected?
The Fed’s rate reductions, already totaling 100 basis points in 2024, have begun to stabilize funding costs, particularly deposit costs that had been rising during the tightening cycle. Any further rate cut will support net interest income (NII) expansion, a critical earnings driver for banks such as WFC, C, BAC and JPM. While lower benchmark rates can compress yields on loans and securities, the easing of funding pressures helps preserve margins.
Lower rates also relieve financial stress for borrowers. Many households and businesses took on debt during the near-zero interest rate era and are now facing maturities at significantly higher costs. A rate cut makes refinancing more affordable, reducing the risks of defaults. This, in turn, can help banks improve credit quality and limit the need for higher loan-loss provisions.
Also, it is expected to encourage consumers and businesses to borrow. Such increased lending activity can result in larger profitability for banks as they earn more interest on these loans.
Despite these positives, the full impact will not be immediate. Loan growth and improved asset quality take time to work through balance sheets, while margin compression may still weigh on near-term earnings. As a result, investors should expect a gradual rather than an immediate improvement in bank profitability.
5 Stocks Set to Double
Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the coming year. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +112%, +171%, +209% and +232%.
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Periodand min./max. price, $	Price change, %		Volatility, %		Volume, $
Periodand min./max. price, $	C	Industry	C	Industry	Volume, $
Yesterday 95.5 - 98.1	-0.74	3.68	22.57	0.67	1.38B
Week 93.4 - 98.1	-0.10	5.52	3.43	3.66	5.30B
Month 90.7 - 98.1	3.07	12.89	8.03	9.01	19.40B
3 Months 76.1 - 98.1	21.80	12.66	15.55	16.63	59.23B
6 Months 55.5 - 98.1	38.41	14.72	22.11	26.47	105.96B
Year 55.5 - 98.1	58.30	20.20	33.28	34.65	182.39B
3 years 38.2 - 98.1	88.42	98.40	49.82	64.33	467.51B
5 years 38.2 - 98.1	83.29	88.11	67.40	94.61	983.46B
All time 9.7 - 591.3	-78.76	154.28	—	—	998.86B

Citigroup, Inc.

Price and volatility history

Risk ratios