MicroStrategy Incorporated provides artificial intelligence-powered enterprise analytics software and services in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and internationally. It offers MicroStrategy ONE, which provides non-technical users with the ability to directly access novel and actionable insights for decision-making; and MicroStrategy Cloud for Government service, which offers always-on threat monitoring that meets the rigorous technical and regulatory needs of governments and financial institutions. The company also provides MicroStrategy Support that helps customers achieve their system availability and usage goals through highly responsive troubleshooting and assistance; MicroStrategy Consulting, which provides architecture and implementation services to help customers realize their desired results; and MicroStrategy Education that offers free and paid learning options. In addition, it engages in the development of bitcoin. The company offers its services through direct sales force and channel partners. It serves the U.S. government, state and local governments, and government agencies, as well as a range of industries, including retail, banking, technology, manufacturing, insurance, consulting, healthcare, telecommunications, and the public sector. The company was incorporated in 1989 and is headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

Компания Strategy Inc (MSTR) демонстрирует смешанную финансовую картину. С одной стороны, ее мультипликатор P/E значительно ниже медианы отрасли, что указывает на потенциальную недооцененность, однако значение P/S крайне высоко, что может говорить о переоцененности. Показатели рентабельности, такие как ROE и ROA, значительно выше медианных значений, что свидетельствует о высокой эффективности использования капитала. Тем не менее, текущие значения EPS и его прогнозы остаются отрицательными, что вызывает опасения о будущих доходах. Долговая нагрузка компании относительно низкая, что является положительным моментом, однако текущие коэффициенты ликвидности (current ratio, quick ratio) указывают на возможные проблемы с платежеспособностью. Выручка и валовая прибыль растут, что положительно сказывается на оценке компании, но высокая зависимость от рыночной цены усиливает риски. В целом, у компании есть как сильные, так и слабые стороны, что создает неопределенность для будущей оценки.

Strategy Inc

Key Points
Vita Coco crushed first quarter estimates.
The coconut water category appears to be taking off, and Vita Coco is a first-mover here.
The company also got relief on tariffs, lifting margins, which should continue to benefit the company going forward.
Shares of coconut water category leader Vita Coco (NASDAQ: COCO) skyrocketed 28.1% as of 3:54 p.m. EDT on Wednesday.
Vita Coco was a first mover in the coconut water category, with leading market share. The category appears to be resonating with consumers, as the company delivered a massive earnings beat in the first quarter.
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 »
Viva, Vita Coco!
In the first quarter, Vita Coco delivered 37.4% revenue growth to $179.8 million, while earnings per share grew 61.3% to $0.50. Both figures absolutely trounced analyst expectations. Management also raised its guidance for the rest of the year. It now anticipates sales of $720 million to $735 million, up from a prior range of $680 million to $700 million, and adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) between $132 million and $138 million, up from a prior range of $122 million and $128 million.
Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Michael Kirban noted in the press release:
The coconut water category continues to be one of the fastest-growing beverage categories in both the United States and our core international markets, which we believe is due to consumers choosing coconut water for a greater share of their hydration needs. I believe this growth is being largely driven by our investments as the category leader, resulting in increased household penetration and new consumption occasions for coconut water and for the Vita Coco brand. The global momentum in our category and our brand has me very excited for our long-term potential.
Coconut water seems to be transitioning from a novelty to a daily staple for many households. Not only that, but Vita Coco received relief from the higher tariffs it experienced in recent quarters, after the Supreme Court struck down the Trump Administration's country-by-country tariffs in February.
Tariff relief and execution lifted gross margins from 37% a year ago to 40%, fueling the outsize profit growth.
Is Vita Coco just getting started?
Niche beverage stocks can make for tremendous stock market winners, as evidenced by the long-term outperformance of Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) or, more recently, Monster Beverage (NASDAQ: MSTR).
Could Vita Coco become one of these revered beverage brands in the future? First-quarter earnings showed the company on all cylinders, so it's certainly a possibility.
Should you buy stock in Vita Coco right now?
Before you buy stock in Vita Coco, 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 Vita Coco 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 $497,606!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,306,846!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 985% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 200% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 29, 2026.
Billy Duberstein and/or his clients have positions in Vita Coco. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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 Vita Coco Skyrocketed Today

Key Points
Bitcoin is a long-term asset early in its adoption curve, so Strategy should be viewed in a similar way.
By constantly raising capital to build a high-beta Bitcoin treasury, this company possesses tremendous upside.
Anything can happen in the short term because volatility is a normal component of markets.
Strategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) is back on a winning streak. Since the start of April, shares of the Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) treasury company have soared 35% (as of April 27). And although they trade an alarming 64% below their record, their incredible 1,260% gain since Aug. 10, 2020 (more on this below) is too difficult to ignore.
With such volatile price swings being a normal occurrence for this innovative business, investors with an itch for speculation will want to trade the stock. That's a losing game, in my opinion. Strategy is best viewed as a 10-year buy-and-hold investment opportunity.
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 »
Here are three reasons why.
Strategy is betting on Bitcoin's rise
In 2025, Strategy generated $477 million in revenue from its enterprise software operations. But this business has now become the leading Bitcoin treasury company, thanks to billionaire founder and Executive Chairman Michael Saylor's firm belief that the top cryptocurrency is the best asset to own. He thinks Bitcoin's price will reach $21 million by 2046, up a jaw-dropping 27,000% from the current price of $76,785.
Bitcoin isn't a short-term trade. Consequently, Strategy can't be viewed this way either.
The dominant digital asset, which has been around for almost two decades, is slowly being adopted as a more popular store of value by individuals, corporations, financial institutions, and governments. It's scarce, neutral, decentralized, and digital.
And it benefits from expanding global liquidity. Just in the last 10 years, the combined M2 money supply of the four biggest central banks has nearly doubled. This is a long-term trend, coinciding with Bitcoin's price rising 17,440%, which isn't going to reverse course.
Financial engineering at its finest
Strategy is not your typical business. It conducts advanced financial engineering to accumulate more Bitcoin to store on its balance sheet. As of April 27, the company owned more than 818,000 Bitcoin units valued at $62.7 billion at the current price. This makes it the largest Bitcoin holder in the world.
Through equity, preferred, and fixed-income markets, Strategy is constantly raising copious amounts of fresh capital. It has recently been using proceeds from stock sales, which happen when shares trade at a premium to the value of Bitcoin holdings, to pay dividends on preferred equity. And proceeds from preferred equity raises go toward buying more Bitcoin.
This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity that investors need to fully understand. But what's impressive is that Saylor and his team have figured out a way to funnel constantly debased fiat currency into Bitcoin. It's a powerful financial machine.
Because of the leverage involved, Strategy gives investors high-beta exposure to Bitcoin's price. The stock experiences greater volatility than the cryptocurrency.
Over the next decade, however, the upside is significant. Look at what happened in the past. Since Strategy first bought Bitcoin on Aug. 10, 2020, its share price has skyrocketed 1,260%, while Bitcoin is up 590%. Assuming this relationship doesn't change, which isn't guaranteed, it means Strategy's price could climb 2,136% in the next 10 years if the digital asset goes up 1,000%.
Anything can happen in the short term
Since hitting a peak in November 2024, Strategy shares have tanked 64%. While not as dramatic, stock prices of even the most successful businesses can fluctuate over any six- or 12-month time frame. For example, Apple's 52-week high is 49% higher than its 52-week low.
This is how markets work. Volatility is normal, as investors all have different perspectives and beliefs that shape their actions and convictions. Market sentiment is always shifting in unpredictable ways.
The smartest investors understand that having a long-term mindset is a non-negotiable behavioral trait. Real wealth isn't built over 10 months. Impactful compounding takes 10 years or more. This is where the money is made.
When it comes to Strategy, it's best to move forward with your attention fixated on the next decade and beyond.
Should you buy stock in Strategy right now?
Before you buy stock in Strategy, 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 Strategy 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 $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!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 991% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 201% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 29, 2026.
Neil Patel has positions in Strategy. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Bitcoin. 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 Strategy Makes More Sense as a 10-Year Hold Than a 10-Month Trade

Key Points
Strategy loves to accumulate Bitcoin.
It now has a lot of the crypto.
That means it has some sway over it.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) was purpose-built for being uncontrollable. It can't be issued by any central bank, and it has no single point of failure, nor any real gatekeepers. On April 20, Strategy (NASDAQ: MSTR), formerly known as MicroStrategy, disclosed a $2.5 billion purchase that lifted its Bitcoin holdings to 815,061 coins, or roughly 4% of the circulating supply. For an asset whose narrative is built on decentralization and a wide distribution, having one company as its largest single holder is a strange plot twist, to say the least.
But does this concentration in Strategy's coffers threaten Bitcoin's investment thesis, or is it something worth monitoring rather than an emergency?
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 »
This business is (still) buying Bitcoin like it's priced for a fire sale
Strategy now holds more than 76% of all Bitcoin owned by publicly listed treasury companies. During the past 30 days, every other corporate buyer combined purchased roughly 1,000 coins. Strategy bought about 45,000.
The digital asset treasury (DAT) fad of August 2025, when dozens of public companies mimicked Strategy's playbook, has since evaporated. The copycats went home when Bitcoin prices tumbled, whereas Strategy just bought faster.
To accomplish that, Strategy issues a few different classes of stock, as well as convertible debt, and then it buys Bitcoin with the proceeds. It has spent $63.6 billion in total, at an average cost of about $75,527 per coin.
Here's what makes this different from a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) holding a similar amount. When an ETF holds 802,000 bitcoins, like the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, those coins belong to thousands of independent investors who can sell their ETF shares without forcing a dump of the underlying Bitcoin. In contrast, Strategy's stack resides on one corporate balance sheet, funded by one somewhat controversial capital structure. If something goes wrong at the corporate level, the selling pressure could hit Bitcoin in one concentrated wave, rather than being diffused across millions of investors over time and with varying levels of intensity.
This is a real risk, but don't be too worried about it
So, what might the implications of Strategy's grip on Bitcoin?
The doomsday version of the answer to that question imagines a margin call of sorts, wherein Bitcoin drops, and Strategy's lenders panic and demand the company immediately return their capital. This would force Strategy to liquidate its holdings into a falling market, making prices spiral downward even more intensely. Thankfully, things don't actually work this way.
Strategy's $8.2 billion in debt consists of unsecured convertible senior notes, which are not collateralized by Bitcoin. Therefore, no margin calls can be triggered by a price decline in the coin. Forced liquidation probably wouldn't even become a realistic possibility until Bitcoin fell to about $8,000, which is almost unthinkable.
Even if it falls that low, the company also maintains a $2.2 billion cash reserve that covers about 30 months of its fixed obligations without selling a coin.
The more realistic vulnerability starts in 2028, when its convertible bonds begin maturing. If Bitcoin is deep in the dumps at that point, the company's bond holders may not want to convert their debt to equity, meaning Strategy would need to find some cash with which to repay the principal.
Then there's the other side of the coin, which argues that it's incredibly handy for Bitcoin to have a high-profile evangelist -- Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor -- backed by corporate financing capabilities. During a stretch when nearly every other corporate buyer has retreated, Strategy has been the only whale still absorbing Bitcoin supply. Its buying thus creates some demand that supports the coin's price, and that shouldn't be dismissed.
Overall, Strategy's Bitcoin holdings are not an existential risk for the coin. Nothing about Strategy being forced to sell its coins would invalidate the investment thesis for buying the asset.
Therefore, what investors should take from all this is awareness. Know that one company holds a disproportionate share of the coin's supply, and understand the conditions that could turn that fact into a problematic one. If Strategy stops buying one day -- regardless of why that might be -- you should be aware that the price of Bitcoin might offer you a great buying opportunity shortly afterward.
Should you buy stock in Bitcoin right now?
Before you buy stock in Bitcoin, 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 Bitcoin 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 $498,522!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,276,807!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 983% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 200% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 27, 2026.
Alex Carchidi has positions in Bitcoin and iShares Bitcoin Trust. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and iShares Bitcoin Trust. 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.

Does Bitcoin Have a "Strategy" Problem?

Key Points
Billionaire Michael Saylor’s Strategy is the single-biggest Bitcoin owner, with a position valued at $64 billion today.
Financial services entities continue to launch new products that give their clients easy access to Bitcoin.
At the end of the day, these investors are all after huge returns, something Bitcoin can offer.
It's been a difficult period for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) ever since it reached an all-time high of $126,198.07 in October 2025. Right now, the world's top cryptocurrency trades almost 40% off that record (as of April 23).
But in the past two months, Bitcoin has proven its worth. Since the current Iran war started on Feb. 28, the digital asset's price has risen 19%, outperforming both the S&P 500 index and gold.
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 »
While this is just a small sample size, it supports the argument that this cryptocurrency belongs in portfolios. Institutional investors are leading the next wave of adoption by adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets.
Michael Saylor's Strategy is now the biggest Bitcoin hodler
When it comes to institutional Bitcoin owners, no entity beats Strategy (NASDAQ: MSTR). Through unique financial engineering tactics, this company raises capital from equity and fixed-income markets to acquire more of the cryptocurrency. It owns a whopping 815,061 Bitcoin units, valued at nearly $64 billion, on its balance sheet. Saylor is a notable long-term hodler of this important cryptocurrency.
Michael Saylor, the billionaire technology entrepreneur who transformed Strategy from a software enterprise into a Bitcoin treasury company, believes the cryptocurrency is the best asset to own in the face of fiat currencies being constantly debased. Bitcoin's scarce supply limit of 21 million units is a very compelling feature. Plus, its impressive long-term performance is hard to overlook.
Other notable publicly traded companies that hold Bitcoin directly on their balance sheets are Coinbase, Tesla, and Block. Should Bitcoin's price continue to appreciate, other businesses will follow.
Financial companies are driven by the incentive to make more money
The Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), launched more than two years ago in January 2024, have been an extremely successful product introduction in the financial services industry. With under $64 billion in net assets, BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust is the dominant offering in the market.
Activity hasn't calmed down. Earlier in April, Morgan Stanley launched its own ETF, the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust. After 13 trading days, it has amassed $163 million in net assets.
Generating more revenue is the primary goal of these ETF sponsors. As they realize that their clients demand access to Bitcoin, they are incentivized to create these investment vehicles that can rake in fee income.
The ETFs provide a frictionless and regulatory-friendly way for allocators to gain Bitcoin exposure. The iShares Bitcoin Trust is owned by numerous investment firms, including Jane Street and Brevan Howard Capital Management. Even Harvard University's endowment fund owns this ETF. Of course, individual investors have access, too.
These investment managers and individuals are obviously after the huge returns that Bitcoin can possibly provide. They also see the digital asset as a tool for portfolio diversification.
It's becoming clear, however, that institutions are driving Bitcoin adoption now.
Should you buy stock in Bitcoin right now?
Before you buy stock in Bitcoin, 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 Bitcoin 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 $498,522!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,276,807!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 983% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 200% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
Neil Patel has positions in Strategy and iShares Bitcoin Trust. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, BlackRock, Block, Tesla, and iShares Bitcoin Trust. The Motley Fool recommends Coinbase Global. 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 More Institutional Investors Are Adding Bitcoin to Their Balance Sheets

Key Points
Strategy's stock can be considered as a leveraged bet on the price of Bitcoin.
Ethereum is a bet on the growth of its project ecosystem, which includes many segments.
One of these investments is probably a lot safer than the other.
Investors should be careful about which stories they buy, as some assets offer a straightforward growth narrative of their own, whereas others are leveraged plays on the growth of other assets. That frame is one way to evaluate whether to buy Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), crypto's premier smart contract and decentralized finance (DeFi) venue, versus Strategy (NASDAQ: MSTR), formerly known as MicroStrategy, and widely known as the company that has never seen a Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) price level that it wasn't a buyer at.
On the surface, both are crypto growth plays, but if you look closer, the underlying mechanisms could not be more different. Let's investigate which is the better choice for a growth-targeted investment of $500.
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 »
Strategy's financial flywheel isn't based on organic growth
Strategy's game plan is to issue new shares of its stock and new convertible debt so as to finance its purchasing and hoarding of vast quantities of Bitcoin, with the idea being that Bitcoin's long-run price appreciation will pump Strategy's stock, thereby enabling the buying of even more Bitcoin. It's typically a price-insensitive buyer of the coin, which has allowed it to accumulate a lot of it over time.
Today, Strategy holds 815,061 BTC, acquired for roughly $61.6 billion at an average cost of $75,500. With Bitcoin's price recently near $78,000, those holdings are currently held near their breakeven level despite numerous massive purchases made at higher prices. So the company's approach is working for the moment, as there isn't any price overhang which would prevent it from raising more money on the basis of the value of the coins it owns.
Another piece of evidence that the plan is working is that over the last five years, Bitcoin is up by 59%, whereas Strategy's stock is up by 181%.
If Bitcoin continues to behave as it has, Strategy could amplify those gains substantially. That could be especially true as it implements more financial engineering, creating new classes of its shares and repackaging its Bitcoin equity into cash-flowing assets like its latest offering, Stretch, to attract even more capital from investors and then funnel it back into Bitcoin.
But the catch is that the company is still effectively entirely reliant on Bitcoin's advance to deliver any kind of returns to shareholders across its various shares.
Ethereum's broader posture makes it safer
For the purposes of evaluating Ethereum as a growth investment worth holding long term, the key is to understand how many different ways it can grow. And as an ever-improving smart contract chain with massive bases of users, developers, investors, capital, and projects, almost any growth avenue available in crypto is going to be available to and represented on Ethereum, and usually before anywhere else.
Decentralized finance (DeFi) is one such avenue; today, Ethereum has $45 billion in total value locked (TVL), commanding a large majority of all DeFi activity. While the DeFi segment is in a sharp decline at the moment across all of crypto, if it bounces back, it's reasonable to assume that Ethereum will capture a big portion of the recovery, as it's home to $167 billion in stablecoin capital, which is the source of liquidity that DeFi needs to thrive.
Then there's the tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) segment. There, Ethereum has approximately $16.6 billion in distributable tokenized assets, including a deep market for U.S. Treasuries.
In contrast to DeFi, RWAs are growing quickly; the network's base of tokenized assets is up by 9% over the 30-day period ending on April 24. So if financial institutions continue to transition over to blockchains for the purpose of managing their assets, Ethereum is likely to continue to be a winner of the lion's share of the capital inflows, which will increase demand for its blockspace and thus boost the transaction fees remitted to the network.
Which is the better play with $500?
Ethereum is the better place to invest $500 for growth today.
Strategy's fortunes are tethered to Bitcoin's price and the company's ability to raise capital on favorable terms; it has one path to winning. In contrast, Ethereum's value can accrue from DeFi growth, staking demand, RWA adoption, or emerging areas like AI agent infrastructure. If one tailwind stalls -- and at least one certainly will, based on the network's history -- others can (and do) eventually compensate.
An investment in Ethereum is not without risks. It faces fierce competition from other chains, and Strategy could deliver a bigger payday in a raging bull market. But, Ethereum offers more ways to win across more scenarios, and therefore less downside vulnerability, and that's worth paying for.
Should you buy stock in Ethereum right now?
Before you buy stock in Ethereum, 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 Ethereum 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 $498,522!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,276,807!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 983% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 200% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 25, 2026.
Alex Carchidi has positions in Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and Ethereum. 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.

Better Growth Investment to Buy With $500: Ethereum vs. Strategy

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Wednesday closed up +1.05%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +0.69%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +1.73%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) rose +0.99%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) rose +1.76%.
Stock indexes settled higher on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq 100 posting a new record high. Stocks found support today as President Trump, after the markets closed on Tuesday, extended his ceasefire with Iran for three to five days. Strong corporate earnings results also lifted stocks on Wednesday after GE Vernova, Boeing, and Masco reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings. In addition, strength in chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks boosted the overall market on Wednesday.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
Planned talks between the US and Iran were called off on Tuesday, and President Trump said the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will remain. Iran said it will not reopen the strait or restart peace talks until the US blockade ends.
WTI crude oil prices (CLM26) rose more than +3% on Wednesday as the Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis. Iran seized two ships on Wednesday in the strait for “endangering maritime security,” and the UK Navy said Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboats fired upon two other cargo ships. The 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. Iran has recently been able to export crude oil during the war, with exports of about 1.7 million bpd in March.
US MBA mortgage applications rose +7.9% in the week ended April 17, with the purchase mortgage sub-index up +10.1% and the refinancing sub-index up +5.8%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell -7 bp to 6.35% from 6.42% in the prior week.
Earnings season continues this week. So far, 82% of the 71 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.
The markets are discounting a 1% chance for a +25 bp FOMC rate hike at the April 28-29 policy meeting.
Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Wednesday. The Euro Stoxx 50 fell to a 1-week low and closed down -0.41%. China's Shanghai Composite climbed to a 5-week high and closed up +0.52%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 rallied to an all-time high and closed up +0.40%.
Interest Rates
June 10-year T-notes (ZNM6) on Wednesday closed down -0.5 of a tick. The 10-year T-note yield was unchanged at 4.292%. T-notes gave up early gains on Wednesday after WTI crude oil prices rose by more than 3%, which raised inflation expectations and is bearish for T-notes. Also, Wednesday’s stock rally reduced some safe-haven demand for T-notes.
T-notes initially moved higher on Wednesday on an increase in safe-haven demand after Iranian gunboats fired on two ships and seized two ships on Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz, potentially leading to escalation of the US-Iran war. Also, solid demand for the Treasury’s $13 billion auction of 20-year T-bonds was supportive of T-notes, as the auction had a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.68, above the 10-auction average of 2.65.
European government bond yields moved higher on Wednesday. The 10-year German bund yield rose +0.5 bp to 3.008%. The 10-year UK gilt yield rose to a 2-week high of 4.914% and finished up by +2.5 bp to 4.909%.
The Eurozone Apr consumer confidence index fell -4.2 to a 3.25-year low of -20.6, weaker than expectations of -17.2.
The German government today cut its 2026 GDP forecast to 0.5% from 1.0%, due to the effects of the US-Iran war.
ECB Governing Council member Martins Kazaks said there is no urgency for the ECB to raise interest rates from 2%, as the current data does not yet justify a move.
ECB Governing Council member Gediminas Simkus said the ECB shouldn't raise interest rates at its April meeting, but he can't rule out a rate hike later this year.
UK Mar CPI rose +3.3% y/y, right on expectations. Mar core CPI rose +3.1% y/y, weaker than expectations of +3.2% y/y.
Swaps are discounting a 13% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on April 30.
US Stock Movers
The Magnificent Seven technology stocks moved higher on Wednesday, a supportive factor for the overall market. Alphabet (GOOGL), Apple (AAPL), Amazon.com (AMZN), and Microsoft (MSFT) closed up more than +2%. Also, Nvidia (NVDA) closed up more than +1%, Meta Platforms (META) closed up +0.88%, and Tesla (TSLA) closed up +0.28%.
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks rallied on Wednesday, boosting the broader market. ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) closed up more than +12% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100, and Micron Technology (MU) and Sandisk (SNDK) closed up more than +8%. Also, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) closed up more than +6%, and Broadcom (AVGO) closed up more than +5%. In addition, Marvell Technology (MRVL) closed up more than +4%, and Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) closed up more than +3%. Finally, Lam Research (LRCX), Applied Materials (AMAT), and ON Semiconductor (ON) closed up more than +2%.
Cryptocurrency-exposed stocks rallied on Wednesday as Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) rose more than +4% to a 2.5-month high. Strategy (MSTR) is up more than +9%, and Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY) closed up more than +7%. Also, Riot Platforms (RIOT) closed up more than +6%, and Coinbase Global (COIN) and MARA Holdings (MARA) closed up more than +5%.
Credit reporting agencies retreated on Wednesday after the US government announced steps to lower the cost of credit scores. Equifax (EFX) closed down more than -7%, Fair Isaac (FICO) closed down more than -6%, and TransUnion (TRU) closed down more than -4%.
GE Vernova (GEV) closed up more than +13% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q1 revenue of $9.34 billion, above the consensus of $9.11 billion.
Masco (MAS) closed up more than +10% after reporting Q1 net sales of $1.92 billion, stronger than the consensus of $1.84 billion.
Boston Scientific (BSX) closed up more than +8% after reporting Q1 net sales of $5.20 billion, stronger than the consensus of $5.17 billion.
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) closed up more than +7% after reporting Q1 adjusted EPS of $2.50, better than the consensus of $2.10, and raising its full-year adjusted gross margin forecast to 67.5%-68.5% from a prior estimate of 67%-68%, above the consensus of 67.4%.
Boeing (BA) closed up more than +5% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials after reporting Q1 negative adjusted free cash flow of -$1.45 billion, smaller than the consensus of -$2.61 billion.
Twilio (TWLO) closed up more than +3% after Bank of America Global Research double-upgraded the stock to buy from underperform with a price target of $190.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) closed up more than +2% after Argus Research upgraded the stock to buy from hold with a price target of $400.
Sonoco Products (SON) closed down more than -16% after reporting Q1 net sales of $1.68 billion, weaker than the consensus of $1.70 billion, and saying it sees full-year adjusted EPS at the low end of a $5.80 to $6.20 range, below the consensus of $5.92.
TE Connectivity (TEL) closed down more than -9% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q2 net sales of $4.74 billion, below the consensus of $4.77 billion.
United Airlines Holdings (UAL) closed down more than -5% after cutting its full-year adjusted EPS estimate to $7.00 to $11.00 from a previous estimate of $12.00 to $14.00, the midpoint below the consensus of $9.08.
NVR Inc (NVR) closed down more than -4% after reporting Q1 EPS of $67.76, weaker than the consensus of $77.01.
Vertiv Holdings (VRT) closed down more than -2% after forecasting Q2 net sales of $3.25 billion to $3.45 billion, the midpoint below the consensus of $3.40 billion.
Earnings Reports(4/23/2026)
American Express Co (AXP), Ameriprise Financial Inc (AMP), Baker Hughes Co (BKR), Blackstone Inc (BX), CBRE Group Inc (CBRE), CenterPoint Energy Inc (CNP), Comcast Corp (CMCSA), Comfort Systems USA Inc (FIX), Digital Realty Trust Inc (DLR), Dover Corp (DOV), Dow Inc (DOW), Edwards Lifesciences Corp (EW), Erie Indemnity Co (ERIE), Freeport-McMoRan Inc (FCX), Hartford Insurance Group Inc/The (HIG), Honeywell International Inc (HON), Huntington Bancshares Inc/OH (HBAN), Intel Corp (INTC), Keurig Dr Pepper Inc (KDP), Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT), Nasdaq Inc (NDAQ), Newmont Corp (NEM), NextEra Energy Inc (NEE), PG&E Corp (PCG), Pool Corp (POOL), Principal Financial Group Inc (PFG), PulteGroup Inc (PHM), Roper Technologies Inc (ROP), Snap-on Inc (SNA), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc (TMO), Union Pacific Corp (UNP), VeriSign Inc (VRSN), West Pharmaceutical Services Inc (WST).
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.

Stocks Settle Higher as Nasdaq Posts a Record High on Tech Strength

Key Points
Since Strategy made its first Bitcoin purchase in August 2020, the stock has outperformed the top cryptocurrency and the broader S&P 500 by wide margins.
Because this business raises capital from various sources to accumulate more Bitcoin, its share price is more volatile to the upside and downside.
Investors who understand the heightened risk profile are the only ones who should consider buying Strategy stock.
In August 2020, Strategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) made headlines by buying $250 million worth of Bitcoin to hold on its balance sheet. Since that move, shares have climbed 1,170% (as of April 20), outperforming the digital asset and absolutely crushing the S&P 500 index, despite Strategy trading 64% off its peak.
Strategy is now the world's leading Bitcoin treasury company and essentially a leveraged Bitcoin exchange-traded fund, taking on debt and selling stock to finance more Bitcoin buys. Is that a good thing?
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 »
For long-term Bitcoin bulls with high risk tolerance, yes. For most investors, probably not.
Strategy's strategy is to accumulate more Bitcoin
Strategy's business model relies on raising capital from various sources (equity, preferred, and fixed-income markets) to accumulate more Bitcoin and add it to the balance sheet. According to research from The Motley Fool, this company is the largest corporate holder of this cryptocurrency in the world. After a $2.5 billion purchase on April 20, Strategy now owns more than 815,000 units of Bitcoin, a bigger position than iShares parent BlackRock, valued at $62 billion at today's price.
The company's billionaire co-founder and executive chairman, Michael Saylor, is perhaps the strongest and most visible proponent of Bitcoin in the world. Management's plan is to raise $84 billion in the "medium-to-long term" to continue running this playbook, including money raised for a prior goal of $42 billion announced in October 2024.
Strategy calls its stock "amplified Bitcoin." Instead of pushing for higher earnings per share like regular companies, this business prioritizes growing its Bitcoin per share (BPS). This is a novel financial metric that indicates ownership of the cryptocurrency rising over time for investors. BPS surged 74% in 2024 and climbed 23% in 2025. And so far in 2026, it's up 9.5%.
Investors must be comfortable taking on more risk
There are investors out there who are bullish on Bitcoin, so they buy and hold the top digital asset. There are other investors willing to accept greater uncertainty in order to achieve higher returns. These people will turn to Strategy stock.
The fact that it can be viewed as a leveraged Bitcoin ETF is not necessarily a good or bad thing. It's the result of financial innovation.
But it's important to understand that volatility can be extreme. Right now, Strategy shares are 64% below their record. And Bitcoin is 41% off its peak. In the next bull market, investors can expect Strategy to outperform the crypto, as its price swings are more pronounced (to the upside and downside) due to its capital structure.
Investors considering buying Strategy stock must obviously be optimistic about Bitcoin. But it's also critical that the company continue to raise capital when it needs to. And leadership must operate with rigorous financial discipline and risk management.
Should you buy stock in Strategy right now?
Before you buy stock in Strategy, 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 Strategy 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 $499,277!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,225,371!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 972% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 198% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 22, 2026.
Neil Patel has positions in Strategy. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin. The Motley Fool recommends BlackRock. 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.

Strategy (MSTR) Is Essentially a Leveraged Bitcoin ETF -- Is That a Good Thing?

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.84%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.76%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +1.28%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) are up +0.80%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) are up +1.22%.
Stock indexes are moving higher today, with the Nasdaq 100 posting a new record high. Stocks found support today as President Trump, after the markets closed on Tuesday, extended his ceasefire with Iran for three to five days. Strong corporate earnings results are also lifting stocks today after GE Vernova, Boeing, and Masco reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
Planned talks between the US and Iran were called off on Tuesday, and President Trump said the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will remain. Iran said it will not reopen the strait or restart peace talks until the US blockade ends.
Stocks added to their gains today after Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iran's UN representative said, "We have received some sign" the US is ready to break the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, without elaborating. He added that "as soon as they break this blockade, I think the next round of the negotiations will take place in Islamabad."
WTI crude oil prices (CLM26) are up more than +2% today as the Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis. Iran seized two ships today in the strait for “endangering maritime security,” and the UK Navy said Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboats fired upon two other cargo ships. The 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. Iran has recently been able to export crude oil during the war, with exports of about 1.7 million bpd in March.
US MBA mortgage applications rose +7.9% in the week ended April 17, with the purchase mortgage sub-index up +10.1% and the refinancing sub-index up +5.8%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell -7 bp to 6.35% from 6.42% in the prior week.
Earnings season continues this week. So far, 82% of the 71 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.
The markets are discounting a 1% chance for a +25 bp FOMC rate hike at the April 28-29 policy meeting.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 fell to a 1-week low and is down -0.27%. China's Shanghai Composite climbed to a 5-week high and closed up +0.52%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 rallied to an all-time high and closed up +0.40%.
Interest Rates
June 10-year T-notes (ZNM6) today are up by +2 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is down by -0.9 bp to 4.283%. T-notes found safe-haven support after Iranian gunboats fired on two ships and seized two ships today in the Strait of Hormuz, potentially leading to escalation of the US-Iran war. Supply pressures are limiting gains in T-notes as the Treasury will auction $13 billion of 20-year T-bonds later today. Also, today’s +2% rally in WTI crude oil is raising inflation expectations, a bearish factor for T-notes.
European government bond yields are moving lower today. The 10-year German bund yield is down by -0.9 bp to 2.995%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is down by -0.8 bp to 4.879%.
The Eurozone Apr consumer confidence index fell -4.2 to a 3.25-year low of -20.6, weaker than expectations of -17.2.
The German government today cut its 2026 GDP forecast to 0.5% from 1.0%, due to the effects of the US-Iran war.
ECB Governing Council member Martins Kazaks said there is no urgency for the ECB to raise interest rates from 2%, as the current data does not yet justify a move.
ECB Governing Council member Gediminas Simkus said the ECB shouldn't raise interest rates at its April meeting, but he can't rule out a rate hike later this year.
UK Mar CPI rose +3.3% y/y, right on expectations. Mar core CPI rose +3.1% y/y, weaker than expectations of +3.2% y/y.
Swaps are discounting a 13% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on April 30.
US Stock Movers
The Magnificent Seven technology stocks are moving higher today, a supportive factor for the overall market. Alphabet (GOOGL), Apple (AAPL), Amazon.com (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT), and Tesla (TSLA) are up more than +1%. Also, Meta Platforms (META) is up +0.76%, and Nvidia (NVDA) is up +0.61%.
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks are climbing today, boosting the broader market. ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) and Micron Technology (MU) are up more than +5%, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is up more than +3%. Also, Broadcom (AVGO), Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX), Marvell Technology (MRVL), and Sandisk (SNDK) are up more than +2%. In addition, Analog Devices (ADI), Qualcomm (QCOM), and KLA Corp (KLAC) are up more than +1%.
Cryptocurrency-exposed stocks are moving higher today, with Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) up more than +4% at a 2.5-month high. Strategy (MSTR) is up more than +9% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100. Also, Coinbase Global (COIN), MARA Holdings (MARA), and Riot Platforms (RIOT) are up more than +6%. In addition, Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY) is up more than +3%.
GE Vernova (GEV) is up more than +12% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q1 revenue of $9.34 billion, above the consensus of $9.11 billion.
Masco (MAS) is up more than +12% after reporting Q1 net sales of $1.92 billion, stronger than the consensus of $1.84 billion.
Boston Scientific (BSX) is up more than +9% after reporting Q1 net sales of $5.20 billion, stronger than the consensus of $5.17 billion.
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) is up more than +8% after reporting Q1 adjusted EPS of $2.50, better than the consensus of $2.10, and raising its full-year adjusted gross margin forecast to 67.5%-68.5% from a prior estimate of 67%-68%, above the consensus of 67.4%.
Amneal Pharmaceuticals (AMRX) is up more than +4% after boosting its full-year adjusted Ebitda forecast to $740 million-$770 million from a previous forecast of $720 million-$760 million, stronger than the consensus of $748.6 million.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is up more than +3% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials after Argus Research upgraded the stock to buy from hold with a price target of $400.
Twilio (TWLO) is up more than +3% after Bank of America Global Research double-upgraded the stock to buy from underperform with a price target of $190.
Boeing (BA) is up more than +2% after reporting Q1 negative adjusted free cash flow of -$1.45 billion, smaller than the consensus of -$2.61 billion.
Sonoco Products (SON) is down more than -14% after reporting Q1 net sales of $1.68 billion, weaker than the consensus of $1.70 billion, and saying it sees full-year adjusted EPS at the low end of a $5.80 to $6.20 range, below the consensus of $5.92.
TE Connectivity (TEL) is down more than -10% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q2 net sales of $4.74 billion, below the consensus of $4.77 billion.
United Airlines Holdings (UAL) is down more than -6% after cutting its full-year adjusted EPS estimate to $7.00 to $11.00 from a previous estimate of $12.00 to $14.00, the midpoint below the consensus of $9.08.
NVR Inc (NVR) is down more than -5% after reporting Q1 EPS of $67.76, weaker than the consensus of $77.01.
Vertiv Holdings (VRT) is down more than -2% after forecasting Q2 net sales of $3.25 billion to $3.45 billion, the midpoint below the consensus of $3.40 billion.
Earnings Reports(4/22/2026)
AT&T Inc (T), Boeing Co/The (BA), Boston Scientific Corp (BSX), CME Group Inc (CME), Crown Castle Inc (CCI), CSX Corp (CSX), Elevance Health Inc (ELV), GE Vernova Inc (GEV), Globe Life Inc (GL), International Business Machine (IBM), Kinder Morgan Inc (KMI), Lam Research Corp (LRCX), Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS), Masco Corp (MAS), Moody's Corp (MCO), NVR Inc (NVR), Otis Worldwide Corp (OTIS), Packaging Corp of America (PKG), Philip Morris International Inc (PM), Raymond James Financial Inc (RJF), Rollins Inc (ROL), ServiceNow Inc (NOW), Southwest Airlines Co (LUV), TE Connectivity PLC (TEL), Teledyne Technologies Inc (TDY), Tesla Inc (TSLA), Texas Instruments Inc (TXN), United Rentals Inc (URI), Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT), Westinghouse Air Brake Technol (WAB).
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.
More news from Barchart
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Supported by Iran Ceasefire Extension and Strong Earnings

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.65%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.70%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.79%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) are up +0.68%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) are up +0.80%.
Stock indexes are moving higher today, with the Nasdaq 100 posting a new record high. Stocks found support today as President Trump, after the markets closed on Tuesday, indefinitely extended his ceasefire with Iran. Strong corporate earnings results are also lifting stocks after GE Vernova, Boeing, and Masco reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
Planned talks between the US and Iran were called off on Tuesday, and President Trump said the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will remain. Iran said it will not reopen the strait or restart peace talks until the US blockade ends.
Stocks added to their gains, and crude oil prices fell from their highs today after Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iran's UN representative said, "We have received some sign" the US is ready to break the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, without elaborating. He added that "as soon as they break this blockade, I think the next round of the negotiations will take place in Islamabad."
WTI crude oil prices (CLM26) are up more than +1% today as the Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis. Iran seized two ships today in the strait for “endangering maritime security,” and the UK Navy said Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboats fired upon two other cargo ships. The 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. Iran has recently been able to export crude oil during the war, with exports of about 1.7 million bpd in March.
US MBA mortgage applications rose +7.9% in the week ended April 17, with the purchase mortgage sub-index up +10.1% and the refinancing sub-index up +5.8%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell -7 bp to 6.35% from 6.42% in the prior week.
Earnings season continues this week. So far, 82% of the 71 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.
The markets are discounting a 1% chance for a +25 bp FOMC rate hike at the April 28-29 policy meeting.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 fell to a 1-week low and is down -0.09%. China's Shanghai Composite climbed to a 5-week high and closed up +0.52%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 rallied to an all-time high and closed up +0.40%.
Interest Rates
June 10-year T-notes (ZNM6) today are up by +3 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is down by -1.1 bp to 4.281%. T-notes found safe-haven support after Iranian gunboats fired on two ships and seized two ships today in the Strait of Hormuz, potentially leading to escalation of the US-Iran war. Supply pressures are limiting gains in T-notes as the Treasury will auction $13 billion of 20-year T-bonds later today. Also, today’s +1% rally in WTI crude oil is raising inflation expectations, a bearish factor for T-notes.
European government bond yields are moving lower today. The 10-year German bund yield is down by -1.1 bp to 2.993%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is down by -1.7 bp to 4.868%.
The German government today cut its 2026 GDP forecast to 0.5% from 1.0%, due to the effects of the US-Iran war.
ECB Governing Council member Martins Kazaks said there is no urgency for the ECB to raise interest rates from 2%, as the current data does not yet justify a move.
ECB Governing Council member Gediminas Simkus said the ECB shouldn't raise interest rates at its April meeting, but he can't rule out a rate hike later this year.
UK Mar CPI rose +3.3% y/y, right on expectations. Mar core CPI rose +3.1% y/y, weaker than expectations of +3.2% y/y.
Swaps are discounting a 13% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on April 30.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks are climbing today, boosting the broader market. ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) is up more than +4%, and Micron Technology (MU) and Western Digital (WDC) are up more than +3%. Also, Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) and Marvell Technology (MRVL) are up more than +2%, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Analog Devices (ADI), Microchip Technology (MCHP), Broadcom (AVGO), NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), and Texas Instruments (TXN) are up more than +1%.
Cryptocurrency-exposed stocks are moving higher today, with Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) up more than +3% at a 2.5-month high. Strategy (MSTR) is up more than +9% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100, and Coinbase Global (COIN) is up +6%. Also, MARA Holdings (MARA) and Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY) are up more than +5%, and Riot Platforms (RIOT) is up more than +4%.
GE Vernova (GEV) is up more than +13% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q1 revenue of $9.34 billion, above the consensus of $9.11 billion.
Masco (MAS) is up more than +10% after reporting Q1 net sales of $1.92 billion, stronger than the consensus of $1.84 billion.
Boston Scientific (BSX) is up more than +5% after reporting Q1 net sales of $5.20 billion, stronger than the consensus of $5.17 billion.
Twilio (TWLO) is up more than +5% after Bank of America Global Research double-upgraded the stock to buy from underperform with a price target of $190.
Boeing (BA) is up more than +4% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials after reporting Q1 negative adjusted free cash flow of -$1.45 billion, smaller than the consensus of -$2.61 billion.
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) is up more than +4% after reporting Q1 adjusted EPS of $2.50, better than the consensus of $2.10, and raising its full-year adjusted gross margin forecast to 67.5%-68.5% from a prior estimate of 67%-68%, above the consensus of 67.4%.
Amneal Pharmaceuticals (AMRX) is up more than +4% after boosting its full-year adjusted Ebitda forecast to $740 million-$770 million from a previous forecast of $720 million-$760 million, stronger than the consensus of $748.6 million.
Sonoco Products (SON) is down more than -6% after reporting Q1 net sales of $1.68 billion, weaker than the consensus of $1.70 billion, and saying it sees full-year adjusted EPS at the low end of a $5.80 to $6.20 range, below the consensus of $5.92.
TE Connectivity (TEL) is down more than -10% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q2 net sales of $4.74 billion, below the consensus of $4.77 billion.
NVR Inc (NVR) is down more than -6% after reporting Q1 EPS of $67.76, weaker than the consensus of $77.01.
Vertiv Holdings (VRT) is down more than -2% after forecasting Q2 net sales of $3.25 billion to $3.45 billion, the midpoint below the consensus of $3.40 billion.
United Airlines Holdings (UAL) is down more than -2% after cutting its full-year adjusted EPS estimate to $7.00 to $11.00 from a previous estimate of $12.00 to $14.00, the midpoint below the consensus of $9.08.
Earnings Reports(4/22/2026)
AT&T Inc (T), Boeing Co/The (BA), Boston Scientific Corp (BSX), CME Group Inc (CME), Crown Castle Inc (CCI), CSX Corp (CSX), Elevance Health Inc (ELV), GE Vernova Inc (GEV), Globe Life Inc (GL), International Business Machine (IBM), Kinder Morgan Inc (KMI), Lam Research Corp (LRCX), Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS), Masco Corp (MAS), Moody's Corp (MCO), NVR Inc (NVR), Otis Worldwide Corp (OTIS), Packaging Corp of America (PKG), Philip Morris International Inc (PM), Raymond James Financial Inc (RJF), Rollins Inc (ROL), ServiceNow Inc (NOW), Southwest Airlines Co (LUV), TE Connectivity PLC (TEL), Teledyne Technologies Inc (TDY), Tesla Inc (TSLA), Texas Instruments Inc (TXN), United Rentals Inc (URI), Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT), Westinghouse Air Brake Technol (WAB).
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.

Stocks Advance as US Extends Iran Ceasefire

In early trading on Wednesday, shares of Strategy topped the list of the day's best performing components of the Nasdaq 100 index, trading up 8.8%. Year to date, Strategy registers a 17.4% gain.
And the worst performing Nasdaq 100 component thus far on the day is T-Mobile US, trading down 2.3%. T-Mobile US is lower by about 6.0% looking at the year to date performance.
Two other components making moves today are Booking Holdings, trading down 1.1%, and Intuitive Surgical, trading up 6.0% on the day.
VIDEO: Nasdaq 100 Movers: TMUS, MSTR
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.