CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. provides cybersecurity solutions in the United States and internationally. Its unified platform offers cloud-delivered protection of endpoints, cloud workloads, identity, and data. The company offers corporate endpoint and cloud workload security, managed security, security and vulnerability management, IT operations management, identity protection, SIEM and log management, threat intelligence, data protection, security orchestration, automation and response and AI powered workflow automation, and securing generative AI workload services. It primarily sells subscriptions to its Falcon platform and cloud modules. The company was incorporated in 2011 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc.

The cybersecurity industry is one of the attractive industries for investors right now.
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*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of July 15, 2025. The video was published on July 17, 2025.
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Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends CrowdStrike, Fortinet, Okta, and SentinelOne. The Motley Fool recommends Palo Alto Networks. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The Best Cybersecurity Stock to Buy Now?

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in CrowdStrike Holdings Inc (Symbol: CRWD), where a total volume of 40,247 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 4.0 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 129.8% of CRWD's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 3.1 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $465 strike put option expiring July 18, 2025, with 1,814 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 181,400 underlying shares of CRWD. Below is a chart showing CRWD's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $465 strike highlighted in orange:
Cheniere Energy Inc. (Symbol: LNG) options are showing a volume of 21,117 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 2.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 129.3% of LNG's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.6 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $265 strike call option expiring July 25, 2025, with 2,892 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 289,200 underlying shares of LNG. Below is a chart showing LNG's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $265 strike highlighted in orange:
And Advanced Micro Devices Inc (Symbol: AMD) options are showing a volume of 713,138 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 71.3 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 129.2% of AMD's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 55.2 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $160 strike call option expiring July 18, 2025, with 86,884 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 8.7 million underlying shares of AMD. Below is a chart showing AMD's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $160 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for CRWD options, LNG options, or AMD options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
PKE shares outstanding history
Institutional Holders of SSLT
LNC Dividend History
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable Friday Option Activity: CRWD, LNG, AMD

Fortinet FTNT stock’s trajectory reveals underlying strength in a challenging market environment. While shares have delivered a respectable 10.5% gain in six months, this performance demonstrates resilience compared to the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector's 6.8% return. The cybersecurity specialist's solid fundamentals suggest significant upside potential as the industry enters accelerated digital transformation and heightened security awareness.
The company’s upcoming results are likely to complement the company’s first-quarter 2025 performance, which demonstrates robust operational excellence, with record operating margins of 34% and impressive billing growth of 14% year over year. Total revenues grew 14% to $1.54 billion, driven by strong product and service revenues with product revenue growth of 12%. Service revenues of $1.08 billion grew 14% to 70% of total revenues, indicating healthy demand across Fortinet's comprehensive cybersecurity portfolio despite competition from Check Point Software Technologies CHKP, Zscaler ZS and CrowdStrike CRWD.
6-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Market Leadership in High-Growth Segments
Fortinet's competitive positioning has been dramatically strengthened by recent analyst recognition. In July 2025, the company was recognized as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for SASE Platforms and ranked #1 in the Secure Branch Network Modernization use case. This achievement places Fortinet among top-tier vendors in the rapidly expanding Secure Access Service Edge market, representing a significant growth catalyst for 2025 and beyond.
The company's SASE strategy is gaining tremendous traction, with unified SASE building growth of 18%, accounting for 25% of total business, and security service edge building growth exceeding 110%. This momentum reflects Fortinet's unique advantage in converging networking and security solutions through its proprietary FortiOS platform, creating a unified approach that competitors struggle to match.
AI-Driven Innovation and Platform Integration
Fortinet's investment in AI and platform integration positions the company for sustained growth in the evolving cybersecurity landscape. The company now holds over 500 issued and pending AI patents, more than any competitors, with AI technology integrated into a dozen products. This deep AI integration, combined with their ASIC-based hardware advantage, creates a formidable moat in performance and total cost of ownership.
The Security Fabric platform strategy is resonating strongly with enterprise customers, evidenced by AI-driven secure operations building increasing 29%, accounting for 10% of business, and deals greater than $1 million rising 30%. Large enterprises are increasingly consolidating cybersecurity vendors, favoring integrated platforms over point solutions.
Firewall Refresh Cycle Catalyst
A significant catalyst for Fortinet's growth trajectory is the approaching firewall refresh cycle. The company expects the firewall upgrade cycle to gain momentum in both purchasing and planning activities in the second half of 2025. This multi-year replacement cycle represents a substantial revenue opportunity as organizations upgrade aging infrastructure to meet modern security requirements.
The introduction of new products like the FortiGate 700G series demonstrates Fortinet's ability to capitalize on this refresh cycle. The FortiGate 700G series delivers a 5x to 10x performance advantage over competitors and is powered by FortiOS, the only operating system recognized across five secure networking Gartner Magic Quadrants.
Financial Strength and Margin Expansion
Fortinet's financial performance showcases impressive margin expansion and cash generation capabilities. The company achieved record free cash flow of $783 million with a margin of 51%, while total gross margin increased 380 basis points to 81.9%. This strong cash generation supports continued investment in research and development while providing flexibility for strategic acquisitions and shareholder returns.
Management's guidance for 2025 reflects confidence in sustained growth momentum. The company expects full-year billings in the range of $7.2 billion to $7.4 billion, representing 12% growth at the midpoint, with revenue growth of 13% and service revenue growth of 15%.
The consensus mark for second-quarter 2025 earnings is pegged at 59 cents per share, which has remained steady over the past 30 days, indicating 3.51% year-over-year growth.
Fortinet, Inc. Price and Consensus
Find the latest earnings estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Investment Recommendation for 2025
Despite valuation concerns reflected in the current Price/Book ratio of 40.34 compared to the broader Zacks Security industry, Fortinet's strategic positioning in high-growth cybersecurity segments justifies premium valuations. The company's leadership in SASE, AI integration, and platform convergence creates multiple avenues for sustained growth and market share expansion.
FTNT’s Price/Book Ratio Suggests Premium Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The convergence of several growth catalysts, including the firewall refresh cycle, SASE market expansion, and AI-driven security solutions, positions Fortinet for accelerated growth in the second half of 2025. With strong competitive moats, expanding margins, and leadership positions in critical growth markets, FTNT stock appears well-positioned to significantly outperform its modest 10.5% year-to-date gain.
Conclusion
Investors seeking exposure to the cybersecurity boom should consider Fortinet as a core holding, given its comprehensive platform approach and proven execution in capturing market share across multiple security segments. Fortinet currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Can Cybersecurity Boom Push FTNT Stock Past its 10.5% Gain in 6 Months?

Wednesday, July 16, 2025
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), The Home Depot, Inc. (HD) and ISM Corp. (IBM), as well as a micro-cap stock Friedman Industries, Inc. (FRD). The Zacks microcap research is unique as our research content on these small and under-the-radar companies is the only research of its type in the country.
These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>
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The daily 'Ahead of Wall Street' article is a must-read for all investors who would like to be ready for that day's trading action. The article comes out before the market opens, attempting to make sense of that morning's economic releases and how they will affect that day's market action. You can read this article for free on our home page and can actually sign up there to get an email notification as this article comes out each morning.
You can read today's AWS here >>> Strong Q2 Earnings, Cooling PPI Lead Pre-Markets Higher
Today's Featured Research Reports
Exxon Mobil’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry over the year-to-date period (+6.7% vs. +4.9%). The company’s high-value assets in the Permian Basin and Guyana drive robust production growth, doubling upstream earnings since 2019. The Pioneer acquisition and Guyana ramp-up have enhanced profitability, while a robust structural savings strengthen resilience.
With a lower exposure to debt capital, XOM supports steady cash flows, dividends, buybacks and investments in high-return projects. The company reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings fueled by higher production from Guyana, Permian, and structural cost savings.
Yet, refining profits weakened due to a significant fall in industry refining margins. The refining margin pressure intensifies the reliance on upstream operations which is vulnerable to fluctuating oil and gas prices. Commodity price volatility challenges profitability, especially as crude prices dipped due to the impact of OPEC+ output hikes.
(You can read the full research report on Exxon Mobil here >>>)
Shares of Home Depot have declined -1.3% over the past year against the Zacks Retail - Home Furnishings industry’s decline of -5.2%. The company faces softer demand in big-ticket discretionary categories, reflecting consumer caution amid high interest rates. Margin pressure, currency headwinds, and macroeconomic uncertainty also remain key risks.
HD is also navigating a complex global trade environment, with rising tariffs. Nevertheless, the company continues to benefit from its progress in building an interconnected shopping experience, synergies from the SRS acquisition, expansion of its Pro ecosystem, strategic digital investments, and new store openings.
These factors contributed to robust top-line growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, driven by increased engagement in Spring-related purchases and smaller-scale home improvement projects.
(You can read the full research report on Home Depot here >>>)
IBM’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Computer - Integrated Systems industry over the past year (+54.8% vs. +16.8%). The company is poised to benefit from strong demand for hybrid cloud and AI, driving growth in Software and Consulting. The company’s growth is expected to be driven primarily by analytics, cloud computing, and security in the long haul.
The acquisition of Hakkoda has strengthened its data expertise and augmented its capability to support clients’ AI transformation initiatives. IBM is collaborating with SAP to tap generative AI technology within the retail industry. The collaboration is likely to facilitate higher productivity and help accelerate business transformation in consumer-packaged goods and retail firms.
However, declining net sales in the Consulting segment, owing to soft demand in some end markets, are straining margins. Macroeconomic headwinds are worrisome. IBM’s frequent acquisitions have escalated integration risks.
(You can read the full research report on IBM here >>>)
Shares of Friedman Industries have gained +5.8% over the year-to-date period against the Zacks Metal Products - Procurement and Fabrication industry’s gain of +9.9%. This microcap company, with a market capitalization of $112.03 million, is executing a value-driven transformation marked by tangible book value growth through strategic acquisitions, capital-efficient expansion (notably the high-margin Sinton facility) and disciplined capital allocation.
The Sinton plant, now fully operational, delivers superior margins and supports long-term flat-roll growth. Hedging programs enhance margin stability amid steel price volatility, while flat-roll scale, customer diversification and geographic reach enhance stability.
Yet, structural margin compression from falling prices and weak demand in both flat-roll and tubular segments, persistent inventory turnover risk, elevated debt and rising interest costs pose headwinds. Despite challenges, FRD’s low valuation and exposure to steel market tailwinds offer long-term upside with risks tied to pricing and execution.
(You can read the full research report on Friedman Industries here >>>)
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Abbott Laboratories (ABT), ServiceNow, Inc. (NOW) and CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD).
Mark Vickery
Senior Editor
Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
Today's Must Read
Featured Reports
Abbott (ABT) EPD Gains in Emerging Space on Branded Generics
The Zacks analyst is hopeful about Abbotts branded generics model which may help the company to further intensify its Established Pharmaceuticals Division (EPD) arm in key emerging countries.
Growing Customer Base & Partnerships Aid ServiceNow (NOW)
Per the Zacks analyst, ServiceNow benefits from rising adoption of its workflows from companies undergoing digital transformation. Also, expanding partner base is a tailwind.
CrowdStrike (CRWD) Rides on Product Strength, Acquisitions
Per the Zacks analyst, CrowdStrike is gaining from solid contributions of its growth-oriented products, primarily Falcon platform. Also, buyouts like Adaptive Shield and Flow Security are positive.
Strong Revenue Growth & Liquidity Aid Deutsche Bank (DB)
Per the Zacks analyst, Deutsche Bank's rising revenues from capital-light units boost growth. Also, strong liquidity and stable deposits support capital distribution efforts.
Acquisitions & Strong Balance Sheet Benefits Rollins (ROL)
Per the Zacks analyst, buyouts accelerate Rollins' business development and expand its global reach. A robust balance sheet position strengthens financial stability, raising investor appeal.
Investments, Clean Generation Focus Aid PPL Corporation (PPL)
Per the Zacks analyst, PPL's strategic investment of $20 billion during 2025-2028 should strengthen its infrastructure. Focus on renewables projects should further boost margins.
Cost Cuts Aid Scotts Miracle-Gro (SMG) Amid Hawthorne Woes
While the company faces headwinds in the Hawthorne segment, it should gain from supply-chain cost savings, leading to margin improvements, per the Zacks analyst.
New Upgrades
Affirm (AFRM) Rides On Active Merchant Numbers & GMV Growth
The Zacks Analyst expects growth in Affirm's active merchant count and improvement in Gross Merchandise Value to drive its top line. New deals and expansions will further enhance performance.
Strong Demand for Key Drugs Drive BioMarin's (BMRN) Sales
While BioMarin's key drugs like Vimzim and Naglazyme continue to drive sales, the Zacks Analyst is encouraged by rapid uptake for dwarfism drug Voxzogo which has opened up a new sales opportunity.
Sturdy Comps Run to Fuel Grocery Outlet's (GO) Top Line
Per the Zacks analyst, Grocery Outlet's opportunistic purchasing, marketing efforts and new product offerings facilitate comparable-store sales growth. Management expects comps growth of 1-2% in 2025.
New Downgrades
U.S. Cellular (USM) Plagued by Soft Demand, Stiff Competition
Per the Zacks analyst, intensifying competition in the wireless market combined with a declining postpaid and prepaid retail connections will likely hinder U.S. Cellular's top line.
Rising Expenses Squeeze Acadia Healthcare's (ACHC) Margins
Per the Zacks analyst, rising salaries, benefits and supply costs are likely to keep pressuring Acadia Healthcare's margins. It is also still recovering from last year's reputational hit.
Caesars (CZR) Struggles With Rising Costs & Regional Setbacks
Per the Zacks analyst, Caesars Entertainment faces pressure from rising expenses and external challenges. Adverse weather events and localized disruptions have weighed on the company's operations.
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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.

Top Analyst Reports for Exxon Mobil, Home Depot & IBM

Starbucks' China Challenge and Decoding Meta's AI Push

Key Points
Investors have had their eye on big AI names such as Nvidia and Palantir, two stocks that have soared.
But other AI investing opportunities exist, and the following two that delivered in the first half could continue to climb.
The S&P 500 has recovered and advanced after a rough patch in the middle of the first half. Investors, initially worried about the impact of President Trump's import tariffs at home, are feeling more optimistic that the economy and companies can manage the challenge. As a result, they've once again started piling into the growth stocks that led indexes higher last year, from Nvidia to Palantir Technologies.
But while these companies are attracting a lot of attention, they aren't the only ones that have benefited from positive sentiment in recent days. In fact, two artificial intelligence (AI) stocks in particular have been quietly outperforming the market. They've climbed in the double digits since the start of the year, while the S&P 500 has advanced a little more than 6%. Let's check out these market-beating players.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) stock has jumped 38% since the start of the year, buoyed by demand from AI customers. You may associate Oracle most with database management software, and that was the company's bread and butter for years, but Oracle has built upon those strengths -- adding cloud infrastructure and related services to its offerings.
In fact, Oracle recently said it's on track to become the world's top cloud application company and one of the biggest cloud infrastructure players, with a total cloud growth rate to increase from 24% in the recently completed fiscal year to 40% in this new fiscal year. This is music to the ears of customers looking to build AI platforms as well as those seeking general cloud capacity. During the recent quarter, a customer asked Oracle for all available capacity -- regardless of the location -- and regarding this level of demand, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison said he's "never seen anything remotely like this."
Customers also like Oracle because it offers them a multicloud experience, or the ability to leverage the Oracle database and accomplish their projects across many clouds. So they don't have to choose just one cloud. Multicloud database revenue from Amazon, Alphabet's Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, surged 115% last quarter from the previous quarter, and the company expects this triple-digit growth to continue.
All of this, along with the idea that the general AI market is expected to reach into the trillions in the coming decade, should drive Oracle's earnings and share price higher. So this AI stock may have what it takes to outperform the market over the long term.
CrowdStrike
CrowdStrike Holdings (NASDAQ: CRWD) has seen its shares advance 39% this year, recovering and going on to gain after a major challenge last July. A bug in a software update led to the world's biggest information technology outage -- halting everything from air travel to scheduled surgeries as CrowdStrike customers couldn't access data. The AI-driven cybersecurity giant took immediate action to remedy the problem, showing its proactive nature, and maintained solid relationships with most customers.
Of course, the incident weighed on earnings as CrowdStrike offered customers compensation packages, and this effort continues to represent a headwind. But in spite of this, CrowdStrike has continued to grow, and its Falcon Flex system, allowing customers to pick and choose CrowdStrike services as needed, has been a big growth driver.
In the recent quarter, Falcon Flex deals surpassing $3.2 billion increased by more than six times year over year. Total revenue and annual recurring revenue both increased in the double digits, and net cash from operations reached a record level of more than $384 million. The company predicts Falcon Flex deal momentum will boost annual recurring revenue and margin expansion in the second half of the year. Another reason to be optimistic? CrowdStrike just announced a $1 billion share repurchase authorization, a sign it's confident in its future.
So as CrowdStrike's earnings continue to recover from the outage last year -- and as growth potentially accelerates -- this AI cybersecurity company may continue to roar higher, making it a top growth stock to own in the second half.
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Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Adria Cimino has positions in Amazon and Oracle. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, CrowdStrike, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. 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.

These Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Are Quietly Outperforming the Market

Okta’s OKTA subscription business is booming, driven by strong customer demand and continued product innovation. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, subscription revenues grew 12% year over year to $673 million, representing 98% of the company’s total revenues. Backing this growth is a 21% year-over-year increase in remaining performance obligations (RPO), with current RPO (cRPO) up 14%, highlighting a solid pipeline of future subscription revenues already under contract.
Several strategic moves are fueling this momentum. Okta has expanded its identity platform with high-impact modules such as Identity Governance, Privileged Access and Device Access, broadening its relevance in zero-trust security environments. These new offerings accounted for 15% of new bookings in first-quarter fiscal 2026.
Meanwhile, Okta’s sales organization has been restructured to better serve distinct customer segments, with separate teams focused on Workforce Identity and Customer Identity (Auth0). This targeted approach is translating into results, as the number of customers generating over $1 million in annual contract value (ACV) climbed 20% year over year.
Okta’s strong financial performance, with a 27% non-GAAP operating margin and 35% free cash flow, enables continued investment in product development and market entry initiatives. This positions its subscription business as a catalyst for sustainable growth.
Okta Faces Rising Pressure in Security Race
Microsoft MSFT continues to dominate enterprise IT with Entra ID’s deep integration into Azure and Microsoft 365, offering seamless identity and access management. Microsoft’s expanding data and AI portfolio, including PostgreSQL, Microsoft Fabric and Azure, fuels strong cloud adoption. With breakthroughs like its Majorana quantum chip, Microsoft is advancing future tech while sustaining robust growth, making it a cornerstone of scalable, secure, and innovative enterprise infrastructure.
CrowdStrike CRWD is strengthening its cybersecurity edge with AI-driven innovations and product expansion. Its Falcon platform now boasts 29 modules, including the new Falcon Data Protection tool, enhancing data loss prevention and compliance. These upgrades, alongside rising demand for threat protection, position CrowdStrike as a leader in identity security. CrowdStrike’s sustained innovation and platform growth continue to attract customers seeking robust, all-in-one cybersecurity solutions.
OKTA’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of Okta have appreciated 16.2% year to date compared with the Zacks Security industry’s return of 17%.
OKTA's YTD Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Okta currently trades at a premium with a forward Price/Cash Flow ratio of 21.56, slightly higher than the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s 21.5X. OKTA has a Value Score of D.
OKTA Forward 12-Month Price/CF Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OKTA’s second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at 84 cents per share, up by 5 cents over the past 60 days, indicating 16.67% year-over-year growth.
The consensus mark for fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.28 per share, which increased 2.8% over the past 60 days. The earnings figure suggests 16.73% growth over the figure reported in fiscal 2025.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
OKTA currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks 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.

Okta's Subscription Revenues Accelerate: Which Factors Are Driving it?

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.21%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is down -0.05%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.22%. September E-mini S&P futures (ESU25) are down -0.21%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU25) are down -0.39%.
Stock indexes today are under pressure after President Trump ramped up tariff threats against US trading partners. Over the weekend, President Trump said the US will impose 30% tariffs on goods from the European Union and Mexico, beginning August 1. The markets are still reeling from last Thursday when President Trump said a 35% tariff on some Canadian products would take effect on August 1, up from the current 25%.
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Stocks have been undercut as President Trump vowed to push forward with his aggressive tariff regime, stressing he would not offer additional extensions on country-specific tariffs set to take effect on August 1. Last week, Mr. Trump imposed a 50% tariff on copper imports that will include semi-finished goods and said that drug companies could face tariffs as high as 200% on imports if they don't relocate production to the US within the next year. In addition, despite stating that the US was close to a trade deal with India, Mr. Trump said he would still impose a 10% tariff on India's goods for their participation in BRICS, a group of developing nations he claimed were "set up to hurt" the US.
Hawkish comments today from Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack weighed on stocks and bonds when she said she wants to see inflation lowered further before she'd support cutting interest rates. She said, "We're not there yet on the inflation side of the Fed's mandate, and I think it's important that we wait and see how all the new policies that have been put forward are going to impact inflation."
Trade news from China was better than expected, a positive factor for global economic growth. China June exports rose +5.8% y/y, stronger than expectations of +5.0% y/y. Also, June imports rose +1.1% y/y, stronger than expectations of +0.3% y/y.
The price of Bitcoin (^BTSUSD) continues to soar and is up by more than +3% today at a new record high as the US House prepares to consider legislation this week that would advance President Trump's crypto-friendly agenda. The US House Committee on Financial Services said this week will be "Crypto Week." The US House Committee on Ways and Means has planned an oversight subcommittee hearing on July 16 entitled, "Making America the Crypto Capital of the World," which may lead to more crypto-friendly regulations.
The markets this week will focus on any fresh news on tariffs or trade deals. On Tuesday, the US June CPI is expected to strengthen to +1.9% y/y from +1.7% y/y in May, and the June core CPI is expected to strengthen to +2.9% y/y from +2.8% y/y in May. On Wednesday, June PPI final demand is expected to ease to +2.5% y/y from +2.6% in May, and June core PPI is expected to ease to +2.7% y/y form +3.0% y/y in May. Also, on Wednesday, Jun manufacturing production is expected to fall -0.1% y/y. Finally on Wednesday, the Fed will release its Beige Book. On Thursday, June retail sales are expected to climb by +0.1% m/m and +0.3% ex-autos, and weekly initial unemployment claims are expected to climb by +7,000 to 234,000. Also, on Thursday, the Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey is expected to climb +3.0 points to -1.0 and the July NAHB housing market index is expected to rise +1 to 33. On Friday, June housing starts are expected to climb +3.3% m/m to 1.298 million, and June building permits are expected to slip -0.6% m/m to 1.386 million. Also, the University of Michigan US July consumer sentiment index is expected to climb +0.8 to 61.5.
Another hurdle for stocks is the upcoming earnings season, which begins in earnest this week with the release of big bank earnings results. Bloomberg Intelligence data show that the consensus for Q2 earnings of S&P 500 companies is for a rise of +2.8% year-over-year, the smallest increase in two years. Also, only six of the eleven S&P 500 sectors are projected to post an increase in earnings, the fewest since Q1 of 2023, according to Yardeni Research.
Federal funds futures prices are discounting the chances at 5% for a -25 bp rate cut at the July 29-30 FOMC meeting.
Overseas stock markets today are mixed. The Euro Stoxx 50 is down -0.72%. China's Shanghai Composite closed up +0.27%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 closed down -0.28%.
Interest Rates
September 10-year T-notes (ZNU25) today are down by -2 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is up by +1.0 bp to 4.419%. T-note prices are under pressure after President Trump said over the weekend that the US will impose 30% tariffs on goods from the European Union and Mexico, beginning August 1, which could boost inflation and prevent the Fed from cutting interest rates. Rising US inflation expectations are also weighing on T-notes as the 10-year breakeven inflation rate today rose to a 3.5-month high of 2.398%.
T-note prices are also being undercut by hawkish comments from Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, who said she wants to see inflation lowered further before she'd support cutting interest rates. Finally, negative carryover from a slide in 10-year German bunds to a 3.5-month low today is bearish for T-notes.
European government bond yields today are mixed. The 10-year German bund yield rose to a 3.5-month high of 2.739% and is up +1.3 bp at 2.738%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is down -0.6 bp to 4.616%.
Swaps are discounting the chances at 2% for a -25 bp rate cut by the ECB at the July 24 policy meeting.
US Stock Movers
The weakness in semiconductor chip stocks is weighing on the broader market. Micron Technology (MU) is down more than -5% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100. Also, ON Semiconductor (ON) and Lam Research (LRCX) are down more than -2%. In addition, Marvell Technology (MRVL), NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), Microchip Technology (MCHP), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Intel (INTC), KLA Corp (KLAC), Qualcomm (QCOM), and Texas Instruments (TXN) are down more than -1%. Nvidia (NVDA) is down more than -1% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials.
Cryptocurrency-exposed stocks are moving higher with the price of Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) up more than +3% to a new record high. MARA Holdings (MARA) is up more than +10%, Riot Platforms (RIOT) is up more than +6%, MicroStrategy (MSTR) is up more than +4%, and Coinbase Global (COIN) is up more than +2%.
Waters (WAT) is down more than -9% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after the company said it will combine a Reverse Morris Trust transaction valued at about $17.5 billion with Becton's Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions, in which Waters' will assume about $4 billion of incremental debt.
Best Buy (BBY) is down more than -2% after Piper Sandler downgraded the stock to neutral from overweight.
Crowdstrike Holdings (CRWD) is down more than -1% after Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock to equal weight from overweight.
Starbucks (SBUX) is down more than -1% after Melius Research LLC initiated coverage on the stock with a recommendation of sell and a price target of $80.
Intapp (INTA) is down more than -1% after Barclays downgraded the stock to underweight from equal weight with a price target of $44.
Nebius Group NV (NBIS) is up more than +14% after Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of the stock with a recommendation of buy and a price target of $68.
Fastenal (FAST) is up more than +4% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 after reporting Q2 net sales of $2.08 billion, better than the consensus of $2.07 billion.
Autodesk (ADSK) is up more than +3% after it said it is allocating its capital to organic investment, targeted and tuck-in acquisitions, and continuing its share repurchase program as its free cash flow grows.
Global Payments (GPN) is up by more than +2% after TD Cowen upgraded the stock to buy from hold with a price target of $84.
Kenvue (KVUE) is up more than +1% after saying CEO Mongon is leaving the company and that a strategic view of the company's options is underway.
Visteon Corp (VC) is up more than +1% after UBS upgraded the stock to buy from neutral with a price target of $142.
Earnings Reports (7/14/2025)
Equity Bancshares Inc (EQBK), Fastenal Co (FAST), FB Financial Corp (FBK), Immersion Corp (IMMR), Kestra Medical Technologies Ltd (KMTS), Rezolve AI PLC (RZLV), Simulations Plus Inc (SLP).
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.

Latest Tariff Threats Weigh on Stocks

Looking at options trading activity among components of the S&P 500 index, there is noteworthy activity today in CrowdStrike Holdings Inc (Symbol: CRWD), where a total volume of 31,599 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 3.2 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 99.5% of CRWD's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 3.2 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $500 strike call option expiring July 11, 2025, with 2,274 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 227,400 underlying shares of CRWD. Below is a chart showing CRWD's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $500 strike highlighted in orange:
Advanced Micro Devices Inc (Symbol: AMD) options are showing a volume of 541,644 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 54.2 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 97.6% of AMD's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 55.5 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $145 strike call option expiring July 11, 2025, with 48,510 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 4.9 million underlying shares of AMD. Below is a chart showing AMD's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $145 strike highlighted in orange:
And Eli Lilly (Symbol: LLY) saw options trading volume of 24,598 contracts, representing approximately 2.5 million underlying shares or approximately 81.4% of LLY's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 3.0 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $830 strike call option expiring June 17, 2027, with 3,320 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 332,000 underlying shares of LLY. Below is a chart showing LLY's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $830 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for CRWD options, AMD options, or LLY options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Top Stocks Held By Ray Dalio
CPS Historical Stock Prices
Funds Holding YDKN
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: CRWD, AMD, LLY

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) Thursday closed up +0.27%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +0.43%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed down -0.16%. September E-mini S&P futures (ESU25) are up +0.26%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU25) are down -0.17%.
Stock indexes on Thursday settled mixed, with the S&P 500 posting a new all-time high. Strength in airline stocks was positive for the broader market Thursday, with Delta Air Lines jumping more than +12% after restoring its full-year guidance. Stocks also found support after the weekly US initial unemployment report showed jobless claims unexpectedly fell to an 8-week low, a sign that the US labor market remains strong.
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Bond yields fell from early highs Thursday to give equities a lift after solid demand was seen for the Treasury's $22 billion auction of 30-year T-bonds. Dovish comments from San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly were also supportive for stocks when she said she "still expects two 25 bp interest rate cuts this year."
The price of Bitcoin (^BTSUSD) rose more than +2% Thursday and posted a new record high, which sparked a rally in cryptocurrency-exposed stocks. The US House Committee on Financial Services announced the week of July 14 as "Crypto Week," and the US House Committee on Ways and Means has planned an oversight subcommittee hearing on July 16, "Making America the Crypto Capital of the World," which may lead to more crypto-friendly regulations.
Stocks continue to see downward pressure due to uncertainty about President Trump's trade policies. On Wednesday, President Trump issued a new set of tariff demands on several countries, including a 50% tariff rate on Brazil. Mr. Trump also confirmed that the US will begin levying a 50% tariff on copper imports, effective August 1.
President Trump has vowed to push forward with his aggressive tariff regime, stressing he would not offer additional extensions on country-specific tariffs set to take effect on August 1. Mr. Trump also stated that drug companies could face tariffs as high as 200% on imports if they don't relocate production to the US within the next year. In addition, despite stating that the US was close to a trade deal with India, Mr. Trump said he would still impose a 10% tariff on India's goods for their participation in BRICS, a group of developing nations he claimed were "set up to hurt" the US.
US weekly initial unemployment claims unexpectedly fell -5,000 to an 8-week low of 227,000, showing a stronger labor market than expectations of an increase to 235,000. However, weekly continuing claims rose +10,000 to a 3.5-year high of 1.965 million, right on expectations and a sign that out-of-work Americans are finding it difficult to secure a new job.
Comments Thursday from St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem were slightly hawkish, as he noted that he sees upside risks to inflation, but it is too early to determine whether tariffs will have a persistent impact on prices. However, comments from San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly were dovish when she said she "still expects two 25 bp interest rate cuts this year," and sees a greater chance that the price effects from tariffs may be more muted than anticipated.
Another hurdle for stocks is the upcoming earnings season, which begins in earnest next week. Bloomberg Intelligence data show that the consensus for Q2 earnings of S&P 500 companies is for a rise of +2.8% year-over-year, the smallest increase in two years. Also, only six of the eleven S&P 500 sectors are projected to post an increase in earnings, the fewest since Q1 of 2023, according to Yardeni Research.
Federal funds futures prices are discounting the chances at 7% for a -25 bp rate cut at the July 29-30 FOMC meeting.
Overseas stock markets on Thursday settled mixed. The Euro Stoxx 50 fell from a 3.5-month high and closed down -0.14%. China's Shanghai Composite rallied to a 9-month high and closed up +0.48%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 closed down -0.44%.
Interest Rates
September 10-year T-notes (ZNU25) Thursday closed down -1.5 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield rose +1.8 bp to 4.350%. T-notes were under pressure Thursday after US weekly jobless claims unexpectedly fell to an 8-week low, a sign of labor market strength that was hawkish for Fed policy. T-notes were also weighed down by concern that US tariff increases could boost inflation and prevent the Fed from cutting interest rates. T-notes extended their losses today after St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem said he sees upside risks to inflation.
However, T-notes recouped most of their decline on solid demand for the Treasury's $22 billion auction of 30-year T-bonds, which saw the bonds awarded at a yield of 4.889%, slightly lower than the 4.890% pre-auction yield just before the bidding deadline, a sign of strong demand. Also, dovish comments from San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly gave T-notes a boost when she said she "still expects two 25 bp interest rate cuts this year,"
European government bond yields on Thursday were mixed. The 10-year German bund yield rose to a 3-month high of 2.710% and finished up +3.2 bp at 2.705%. The 10-year UK gilt yield fell -1.6 bp to 4.595%.
Italy May industrial production fell -0.7% m/m, weaker than expectations of -0.2% m/m.
Swaps are discounting the chances at 3% for a -25 bp rate cut by the ECB at the July 24 policy meeting.
US Stock Movers
Airline stocks rallied sharply Thursday, as Delta Air Lines (DAL) jumped more than +12% after it restored its full-year guidance and projected full-year adjusted EPS of $5.25-$6.25, the midpoint well above the consensus of $5.35. United Airlines Holdings (UAL) closed up more than +14% to lead gainers in the S&P 500, and American Airlines Group (AAL) closed up more than +12%. Also, Alaska Air Group (ALK) and Southwest Airlines (LUV) closed up more than +8%.
Cryptocurrency-exposed stocks moved higher Thursday as the price of Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) rose more than +2% to a new record high. As a result, Coinbase Global (COIN) closed up more than +3%. Also, MARA Holdings (MARA) and Riot Platforms (RIOT) closed up more than +2%, and MicroStrategy (MSTR) closed up more than +1%.
MP Materials (MP) closed up more than +50% after the company struck a multi-billion-dollar public-private deal with the US Department of Defense to build a new magnet plant and expand rare earth capabilities.
WK Kellogg (KLG) closed up more than +30% after Ferrero International SA acquired the company for about $3.1 billion or $23 per share.
Tesla (TSLA) closed up more than +4% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100 after CEO Musk said the company will launch deployment of its driverless taxis in the San Francisco Bay area "in a month or two," pending regulatory approvals.
Advance Micro Devices (AMD) closed up more than +4% after HSBC upgraded the stock to buy from hold with a price target of $200.
Trex Co (TREX) closed up more than +6% after Baird upgraded the stock to outperform from neutral with a price target of $75.
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) closed up more than +3% after TD Cowen upgraded the stock to buy from hold with a price target of $300.
McDonald's (MCD) closed up more than +1% after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to buy from neutral with a price target of $345.
Methode Electronics (MEI) closed down more than -25% after reporting a Q4 loss per share of -77 cents versus a loss of -23 cents y/y.
Helen of Troy (HELE) closed down more than -22% after reporting Q1 net sales of $371.7 million, weaker than the consensus of $396.5 million.
Autodesk (ADSK) closed down more than -6% on reports that the company is considering the acquisition of PTC Inc.
Crowdstrike Holdings (CRWD) closed down more than -5% after CFRA downgraded the stock to hold from buy.
Workday (WDAY) closed down more than -4% after Piper Sandler downgraded the stock to underweight from neutral with a price target of $235.
Conagra Brands (CAG) closed down more than -4% after reporting Q4 net sales of $2.78 billion, below the consensus of $2.84 billion.
Earnings Reports (7/11/2025)
Hingham Institution For Saving (HIFS), Lifezone Metals Ltd (LZM), PACS Group Inc (PACS), Smith-Midland Corp (SMID), Unity Bancorp Inc (UNTY).
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.