Star Stock Pickers Must Now Beat Their Clones
When Danoff took the helm at Contrafund in 1990, the measure of a US stock picker was whether they could beat the S&P 500 Index. That's because investors had essentially two options in those days: Buy the market, usually by way of an S&P 500 index fund, or find a fund manager who can beat it.
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Stock market today: Dow rises, S&P 500, Nasdaq slide as tech stocks slip again amid rate-cut uncertainty
US stocks mostly slid on Wednesday, continuing a bruising stretch for tech stocks as investors weighed the latest retail earnings and assessed Federal Reserve minutes for clues on interest-rate cuts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) closed slightly higher, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) slipped 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) led the losses, declining about 0.7%. The Nasdaq had been down nearly 2% earlier in the session before recovering. After a nearly 10% drop on Tuesday, Palantir (PLTR) fell another 1% in afternoon trade after slipping as much as 9% earlier in the day. The tech-led sell-off has put markets on edge, as investors rotate out of riskier stocks into previously lagging sectors amid concerns about the AI boom's staying power. Meanwhile, Wednesday's release of minutes from the Fed's July meeting showed the two policymakers who voted against the decision to leave rates unchanged appeared largely alone in that opinion. Investors are eager for a sense of where policymakers stand on interest rate cuts after economic data this month revealed they face a tricky dilemma between a weakening labor market and stubborn inflation. Attention is also on the latest batch of big retail earnings, with Target's (TGT) results the highlight on Wednesday. Target eked out a profit beat and held to its guidance, but pressures from tariffs and a squeezed consumer added up to another downbeat quarter — and will pose challenges for newly announced CEO Michael Fiddelke. Its shares sank 6%. Next up are Walmart (WMT) earnings on Thursday, watched for further signs of how companies and consumers are handing President Trump's tariffs. Read more: The latest on Trump's tariffs The main event for Wall Street lands on Friday, when Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will deliver remarks at the Jackson Hole symposium in Wyoming. Tech, chip stock sell-off continues as AI bubble fears mount Yahoo Finance's Laura Bratton reports: Tech stocks fell for a second day on Wednesday as investors sold off a slew of tech names amid concerns over the sustainability of the AI boom and a recent market rotation away from some of this year's biggest winners. Among the Magnificent Seven Big Tech stocks, Nvidia (NVDA) was down about 0.3%, and Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG) stock fell more than 1%. Amazon (AMZN) and Apple (AAPL), shares fell over 1%. Chip stocks Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Broadcom (AVGO) both fell less than 1%; Micron (MU) shares plummeted nearly 4%. Read more here. Retail traders double down on Palantir despite recent stock slide Palantir (PLTR) shares dropped another 1% on Wednesday following a sharp 9% slide on Tuesday. But retail investors saw the drop as a buying opportunity. According to data provided to Yahoo Finance from Vanda Research, small investors poured over $59 million into Palantir during Tuesday's sell-off, marking the biggest single-day retail inflow in a week. That came on top of another $40 million in inflows the day before. The surge in retail demand highlights a classic 'buy the dip' mentality that has dominated markets since the April bottom. In the days leading up to the sell-off, retail flows had been steady but more modest, averaging in the $20 to $30 million range, according to Vanda. The jump in activity suggests everyday traders were not scared off by the stock's sudden slide. Instead, they leaned in. But even with retail piling in, the stock still fell hard. That divergence underscores a familiar market reality: while retail can be a powerful force, institutional selling pressure often sets the tone. "Retail has gotten to be such a huge percentage of the market in terms of day-to-day trading," Interactive Brokers chief strategist Steve Sosnick told Yahoo Finance on Wednesday. "But if a series of institutions decide to reallocate their portfolio holdings, you're standing in the way of a much larger piece of momentum." "Collectively, a whole lot of small traders can push back, but if [institutions] are relentless about the selling, that's going to move the market lower.' Sosnick called Palantir's 9% plunge a 'shocking move down,' but also pointed out that the stock's meteoric rise has left it trading at "about as expensive of a stock as we've seen." James Hardie stock collapses 35% as US housing slump hits building materials Yahoo Finance's Ines Ferre reports: James Hardie (JHX) stock tumbled 35% on Wednesday as the maker of high-end home siding pointed to a weak US housing market and homeowners reluctant to spend on big projects. The stock, listed in the US and Australia, saw its biggest one-day drop since 1973, according to Bloomberg data. The company's profit declined 28% year over year during its fiscal first quarter. Net sales tumbled 9% over the same period. "Uncertainty is a common thread throughout conversations with customer and contractor partners," CEO Aaron Erter said during the company's earnings call. James Hardie pointed to "softer demand," citing a slowdown in single-family construction activity, especially in the southern part of the US. Read more here. Fed minutes show majority of officials more concerned about inflation than employment Minutes from the Federal Reserve's July meeting showed the "majority" of officials were more concerned about the upside risk to inflation than downside risks to the Fed's mandate for maximum employment. "Regarding upside risks to inflation, participants pointed to the uncertain effects of tariffs and the possibility of inflation expectations becoming unanchored," the minutes read. "In addition to tariff-induced risks, potential downside risks to employment mentioned by participants included a possible tightening of financial conditions due to a rise in risk premiums, a more substantial deterioration in the housing market, and the risk that the increased use of AI in the workplace may lower employment." Read more about the Fed minutes here. Eight sectors are outperforming the S&P 500 on Wednesday Citi head of US equity trading strategy Stuart Kaiser noted on Tuesday that the recent pain the stock market has "remained localized." And that's holding true on Wednesday too despite a roughly 1% decline in the Nasdaq Composite. The pain is mostly in technology and other related areas of the market with eight of 11 sectors in the S&P 500 (^GSPC)outperforming the benchmark index. While the size of tech in the index is pulling down the overall S&P 500 there are actually still 265 stocks in positive territory with a little over two hours left in the trading session. For now the rotation in the market isn't shaking a bullish stance from Kaiser who remains positive on US equities with a "quality preference." Below is a look at the sector action thus far in Wednesday's trade. Google unveils latest Pixel phones, including foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Google (GOOG, GOOGL) announced its latest line of Pixel smartphones on Wednesday as part of its Made By Google event in New York City on Wednesday. The Pixel 10 lineup includes four phones: the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The company also showed off its newest smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 4. The devices get Google's latest Gemini AI capabilities, including the company's new Magic Cue for its smartphones and enhanced smart replies for the watch. Starting at $799, the entry-level Pixel 10 now comes with three rear cameras, up from two. That includes a 5x telephoto camera. Inside, the 6.3-inch phone gets Google's latest Tensor G5 processor, 12GB of RAM, and upwards of 256GB of storage. The Pixel 10 Pro starts at $999 and gets a sharper 6.3-inch display and more-advanced triple-camera setup. And while the phone packs the same Tensor G5 processor as the standard Pixel 10, the Pro sports 16GB of RAM rather than 12GB and offers up to 512GB of storage. Read more here. Hertz stock jumps on deal to sell its used cars on Amazon Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports: Rental car firm Hertz (HTZ) struck a deal with Amazon Autos (AMZN) on Wednesday to sell some of its used car inventory. The company said this will make it easier for customers to purchase cars from its fleet. Starting today, customers can search Amazon Autos to browse, finance, and purchase from thousands of used Hertz fleet vehicles from brands like Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, Nissan, and others. Hertz Car Sales, the rental car firm's used car sales arm, will be the first fleet dealer on Amazon Autos. Hertz said sales will begin in the Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle metro areas, with plans to expand to Hertz Car Sales' 45 locations nationwide. After customers complete their purchase online, they can pick up the vehicles at Hertz locations in those cities. Read more here. KeyBanc warns China headwinds could prompt an Nvidia earnings miss Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read more here. Big Tech is getting hammered again Tuesday's market action was all about isolated selling in some of the market's biggest winners. Wednesday's early session has brought more of the same, as Big Tech is clearly leading the selling action once more. After a nearly 10% drop on Tuesday, Palantir (PLTR) fell another 7% in early trade. Meanwhile, AI chip leaders Nvidia (NVDA) and Broadcom (AVGO) each dropped more than 3%. Trump says Fed governor Cook 'must resign' as pressure campaign on central bank continues President Trump on Wednesday called on Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to resign as the public pressure on the central bank continues to build. "Cook must resign, now!!!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social Wednesday morning with a link to a Bloomberg report on a letter sent by Bill Pulte. The Federal Housing Finance Agency head has reportedly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Cook over a pair of mortgages. Pulte wrote in a letter dated Aug. 15 that Cook 'falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, potentially committing mortgage fraud under the criminal statute.' The President's call for Cook to resign comes as pressure on the Fed continues amid ongoing changes on the Fed's Board of Governors. Read more here. Nasdaq leads indexes lower again at the open US stocks were mixed on Wednesday after a bruising day for tech stocks, as investors weighed the latest retail earnings and waited for Federal Reserve minutes to provide clues to interest rate cuts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was up about 0.1%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) slipped about 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell roughly 0.4%, after weakness in the likes of Palantir (PLTR) and Nvidia (NVDA) dragged on the broader market on Tuesday. Post-earnings market movers: Target and La-Z-Boy stocks dive, Lowe's rises Here's a look at how Wall Street is reacting to a burst of earnings reports ahead of the opening bell on Wednesday: Target (TGT) stock dived more than 10%, facing its worst sell-off since early April. The retailer cleared a low bar of earnings expectations, but comparable sales continued to fall during the quarter. Lowe's (LOW) stock rose 2.5%. The home improvement retailer reported a return to same-store sales growth, echoing positive results from Home Depot (HD) on Tuesday. Home Depot stock fell 1.3% before the bell. Estée Lauder (EL) shares fell 5%. The beauty company's annual profit forecast disappointed and executives said they expect a $100 million headwind from tariffs. Baidu (BIDU) shares edged 0.2% lower. The Chinese search engine company reported a drop in second quarter revenue as strong growth in cloud services was offset by weakness in its core advertising business. Toll Brothers (TOL) stock added 0.45%. The homebuilder reported an earnings and revenue beat on Tuesday afternoon, though new orders were less than analysts' expected. La-Z-Boy (LZB) stock tanked 20% after the company missed estimates amid soft demand. Sales for its Joybird furniture brand declined 14%. Read more live coverage of corporate earnings here Hertz to sell used cars on Amazon, stock jumps Hertz (HTZ) stock rose over 10% after the car rental company announced it is teaming up with Amazon (AMZN) to sell pre-owned vehicles. Customers will be able to browse Hertz used car sales on Amazon, purchase vehicles online, and then pick them up at select Hertz locations. It will initially be offered in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle, with plans to expand to 45 locations nationwide. Hertz sells pre-owned cars in addition to renting them out. The company is in the midst of a turnaround, and shares have outperformed this year with a 42% year-to-date rise. Read more here. Intel's advantages from a Trump deal could be worth as much as the money What would it take for Intel (INTC) to turn its business around? Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban digs into that question in today's Morning Brief. Read more here. This summer's hottest trend on Wall Street: 'Private for longer' Continuation funds have become hugely popular among America's biggest private fund managers this year. Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith breaks down why, and exactly how they work: Read more here. Palantir stock on track to extend losing streak Palantir stock (PLTR) looks like it may extend its losing streak to six trading days after reaching an all-time high. Shares fell 3% in premarket trading on Wednesday after a 9% decline on Tuesday. Since hitting $186.97 per share on Aug. 12, the stock is now trading around $153, putting it 18% off its record closing high. Investors rotating out of large-cap tech names and a bearish report from short seller Citron Research have weighed on the stock. Read more here. Target stock sinks after earnings eke out a beat, but sales keep falling Target's (TGT) results on Wednesday morning weren't as shockingly bad as for the first quarter, but the retailer is still struggling to find its place in the new economic norm of more discerning shoppers. Shares in the US retail giant sank 10% in premarket trading as the announcement of a new CEO still left investors wanting more. Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi reports: Read more here. Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: FOMC Minutes (July 30-31 meeting); MBA weekly mortgage applications Earnings: Target (TGT), Baidu (BIDU), Lowe's (LOW), TJX Companies (TJX), Estée Lauder (EL) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Target earnings miss the mark as sales keep falling Target will have a new CEO for the first time since 2014 Intel's Trump deal perks may rival the money Buffett effect still holds as UnitedHealth soars through August This summer's hottest trend on Wall Street: 'Private for longer' US housing warning sparks worst James Hardie selloff since 1973 US treasury chief says status quo with China 'working pretty well' Sales of foreign-branded phones in China down 31.3% in June: Data China exports of key rare-earth EV magnets hit 6-month high Target will have a new CEO... and he will not have it easy Target (TGT) is tapping a homegrown talent as its next CEO at one of the most pivotal moments in its 63-year history. The discounter announced that longtime CEO Brian Cornell's heavily groomed No. 2, Michael Fiddelke, will take over as CEO on Feb. 1, 2026. Cornell, who has been CEO of Target since August 2014, will slide into the executive chair position for an undetermined period of time. Fiddelke joined Target in 2003 as an intern and rose through the ranks to CFO and then COO. "I've had this conversation with the board for a number of years, and I've been in the role for 11 years. I'm going into my 12th now. I will actually turn 67 early next year, and I think it's time for me to step back, recharge, spend a lot more time with my family, a lot fewer nights in hotels, and be a great supporter of Michael and the team for the rest of my life," Cornell told me by video call while sitting next to Fiddelke at the company's Minneapolis headquarters. Fiddelke added, "I bleed Target red after 20 years here, and there's nothing more important to me than working with the incredible team that we have to chart the next chapter for Target. I mean, I've seen us in that 20 years at our best. I've seen us not at our best. When we're at our best, we are pretty darn tough to beat." To students of Target history such as myself, this decision isn't a surprise. For one, Fiddelke has been Cornell's right-hand man for several years now. It has become quite apparent over the past year that he was grooming Fiddelke to take over while also working behind the scenes to get board buy-in. I have gotten to know Fiddelke in recent years. He is a nice fella and has indeed earned the opportunity to sit in the CEO seat. If this was any other time for Target, the decision would probably be celebrated. It's not often an intern at a company becomes its CEO. The only comparable story I can think of is Walmart (WMT) CEO Doug McMillon going from truck loader at the retailer to CEO. But Fiddelke will unlikely have a honeymoon period, seeing as he has been there at Target during its past 24 months of struggles (which includes a weak second quarter). People I have talked to wanted an outsider as Target's next CEO, fresh eyes to come in and fix what is wrong (not unlike when Cornell was brought in back in 2014 — his career was mostly spent at Walmart and PepsiCo (PEP)). Fiddelke will be seen as a continuation of a strategy that hasn't been working. I asked him on the call how candid he plans to be in the early going on the strategy review, which is what all new leaders do. He sounded like he was ready to divert from Cornell's playbook and shake things up. He will have to do just that, and quickly, to win over a likely skeptical Wall Street. US tech stocks hit by concerns over future of AI boom Wall Street is digging into the factors behind this week's selloff in tech stocks, with many seeing it as a timely rotation out of riskier names. There are a few potential triggers, the Financial Times reports: Read more here (premium) Tech, chip stock sell-off continues as AI bubble fears mount Yahoo Finance's Laura Bratton reports: Tech stocks fell for a second day on Wednesday as investors sold off a slew of tech names amid concerns over the sustainability of the AI boom and a recent market rotation away from some of this year's biggest winners. Among the Magnificent Seven Big Tech stocks, Nvidia (NVDA) was down about 0.3%, and Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG) stock fell more than 1%. Amazon (AMZN) and Apple (AAPL), shares fell over 1%. Chip stocks Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Broadcom (AVGO) both fell less than 1%; Micron (MU) shares plummeted nearly 4%. Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Laura Bratton reports: Tech stocks fell for a second day on Wednesday as investors sold off a slew of tech names amid concerns over the sustainability of the AI boom and a recent market rotation away from some of this year's biggest winners. Among the Magnificent Seven Big Tech stocks, Nvidia (NVDA) was down about 0.3%, and Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG) stock fell more than 1%. Amazon (AMZN) and Apple (AAPL), shares fell over 1%. Chip stocks Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Broadcom (AVGO) both fell less than 1%; Micron (MU) shares plummeted nearly 4%. Read more here. Retail traders double down on Palantir despite recent stock slide Palantir (PLTR) shares dropped another 1% on Wednesday following a sharp 9% slide on Tuesday. But retail investors saw the drop as a buying opportunity. According to data provided to Yahoo Finance from Vanda Research, small investors poured over $59 million into Palantir during Tuesday's sell-off, marking the biggest single-day retail inflow in a week. That came on top of another $40 million in inflows the day before. The surge in retail demand highlights a classic 'buy the dip' mentality that has dominated markets since the April bottom. In the days leading up to the sell-off, retail flows had been steady but more modest, averaging in the $20 to $30 million range, according to Vanda. The jump in activity suggests everyday traders were not scared off by the stock's sudden slide. Instead, they leaned in. But even with retail piling in, the stock still fell hard. That divergence underscores a familiar market reality: while retail can be a powerful force, institutional selling pressure often sets the tone. "Retail has gotten to be such a huge percentage of the market in terms of day-to-day trading," Interactive Brokers chief strategist Steve Sosnick told Yahoo Finance on Wednesday. "But if a series of institutions decide to reallocate their portfolio holdings, you're standing in the way of a much larger piece of momentum." "Collectively, a whole lot of small traders can push back, but if [institutions] are relentless about the selling, that's going to move the market lower.' Sosnick called Palantir's 9% plunge a 'shocking move down,' but also pointed out that the stock's meteoric rise has left it trading at "about as expensive of a stock as we've seen." Palantir (PLTR) shares dropped another 1% on Wednesday following a sharp 9% slide on Tuesday. But retail investors saw the drop as a buying opportunity. According to data provided to Yahoo Finance from Vanda Research, small investors poured over $59 million into Palantir during Tuesday's sell-off, marking the biggest single-day retail inflow in a week. That came on top of another $40 million in inflows the day before. The surge in retail demand highlights a classic 'buy the dip' mentality that has dominated markets since the April bottom. In the days leading up to the sell-off, retail flows had been steady but more modest, averaging in the $20 to $30 million range, according to Vanda. The jump in activity suggests everyday traders were not scared off by the stock's sudden slide. Instead, they leaned in. But even with retail piling in, the stock still fell hard. That divergence underscores a familiar market reality: while retail can be a powerful force, institutional selling pressure often sets the tone. "Retail has gotten to be such a huge percentage of the market in terms of day-to-day trading," Interactive Brokers chief strategist Steve Sosnick told Yahoo Finance on Wednesday. "But if a series of institutions decide to reallocate their portfolio holdings, you're standing in the way of a much larger piece of momentum." "Collectively, a whole lot of small traders can push back, but if [institutions] are relentless about the selling, that's going to move the market lower.' Sosnick called Palantir's 9% plunge a 'shocking move down,' but also pointed out that the stock's meteoric rise has left it trading at "about as expensive of a stock as we've seen." James Hardie stock collapses 35% as US housing slump hits building materials Yahoo Finance's Ines Ferre reports: James Hardie (JHX) stock tumbled 35% on Wednesday as the maker of high-end home siding pointed to a weak US housing market and homeowners reluctant to spend on big projects. The stock, listed in the US and Australia, saw its biggest one-day drop since 1973, according to Bloomberg data. The company's profit declined 28% year over year during its fiscal first quarter. Net sales tumbled 9% over the same period. "Uncertainty is a common thread throughout conversations with customer and contractor partners," CEO Aaron Erter said during the company's earnings call. James Hardie pointed to "softer demand," citing a slowdown in single-family construction activity, especially in the southern part of the US. Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Ines Ferre reports: James Hardie (JHX) stock tumbled 35% on Wednesday as the maker of high-end home siding pointed to a weak US housing market and homeowners reluctant to spend on big projects. The stock, listed in the US and Australia, saw its biggest one-day drop since 1973, according to Bloomberg data. The company's profit declined 28% year over year during its fiscal first quarter. Net sales tumbled 9% over the same period. "Uncertainty is a common thread throughout conversations with customer and contractor partners," CEO Aaron Erter said during the company's earnings call. James Hardie pointed to "softer demand," citing a slowdown in single-family construction activity, especially in the southern part of the US. Read more here. Fed minutes show majority of officials more concerned about inflation than employment Minutes from the Federal Reserve's July meeting showed the "majority" of officials were more concerned about the upside risk to inflation than downside risks to the Fed's mandate for maximum employment. "Regarding upside risks to inflation, participants pointed to the uncertain effects of tariffs and the possibility of inflation expectations becoming unanchored," the minutes read. "In addition to tariff-induced risks, potential downside risks to employment mentioned by participants included a possible tightening of financial conditions due to a rise in risk premiums, a more substantial deterioration in the housing market, and the risk that the increased use of AI in the workplace may lower employment." Read more about the Fed minutes here. Minutes from the Federal Reserve's July meeting showed the "majority" of officials were more concerned about the upside risk to inflation than downside risks to the Fed's mandate for maximum employment. "Regarding upside risks to inflation, participants pointed to the uncertain effects of tariffs and the possibility of inflation expectations becoming unanchored," the minutes read. "In addition to tariff-induced risks, potential downside risks to employment mentioned by participants included a possible tightening of financial conditions due to a rise in risk premiums, a more substantial deterioration in the housing market, and the risk that the increased use of AI in the workplace may lower employment." Read more about the Fed minutes here. Eight sectors are outperforming the S&P 500 on Wednesday Citi head of US equity trading strategy Stuart Kaiser noted on Tuesday that the recent pain the stock market has "remained localized." And that's holding true on Wednesday too despite a roughly 1% decline in the Nasdaq Composite. The pain is mostly in technology and other related areas of the market with eight of 11 sectors in the S&P 500 (^GSPC)outperforming the benchmark index. While the size of tech in the index is pulling down the overall S&P 500 there are actually still 265 stocks in positive territory with a little over two hours left in the trading session. For now the rotation in the market isn't shaking a bullish stance from Kaiser who remains positive on US equities with a "quality preference." Below is a look at the sector action thus far in Wednesday's trade. Citi head of US equity trading strategy Stuart Kaiser noted on Tuesday that the recent pain the stock market has "remained localized." And that's holding true on Wednesday too despite a roughly 1% decline in the Nasdaq Composite. The pain is mostly in technology and other related areas of the market with eight of 11 sectors in the S&P 500 (^GSPC)outperforming the benchmark index. While the size of tech in the index is pulling down the overall S&P 500 there are actually still 265 stocks in positive territory with a little over two hours left in the trading session. For now the rotation in the market isn't shaking a bullish stance from Kaiser who remains positive on US equities with a "quality preference." Below is a look at the sector action thus far in Wednesday's trade. Google unveils latest Pixel phones, including foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Google (GOOG, GOOGL) announced its latest line of Pixel smartphones on Wednesday as part of its Made By Google event in New York City on Wednesday. The Pixel 10 lineup includes four phones: the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The company also showed off its newest smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 4. The devices get Google's latest Gemini AI capabilities, including the company's new Magic Cue for its smartphones and enhanced smart replies for the watch. Starting at $799, the entry-level Pixel 10 now comes with three rear cameras, up from two. That includes a 5x telephoto camera. Inside, the 6.3-inch phone gets Google's latest Tensor G5 processor, 12GB of RAM, and upwards of 256GB of storage. The Pixel 10 Pro starts at $999 and gets a sharper 6.3-inch display and more-advanced triple-camera setup. And while the phone packs the same Tensor G5 processor as the standard Pixel 10, the Pro sports 16GB of RAM rather than 12GB and offers up to 512GB of storage. Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Google (GOOG, GOOGL) announced its latest line of Pixel smartphones on Wednesday as part of its Made By Google event in New York City on Wednesday. The Pixel 10 lineup includes four phones: the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The company also showed off its newest smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 4. The devices get Google's latest Gemini AI capabilities, including the company's new Magic Cue for its smartphones and enhanced smart replies for the watch. Starting at $799, the entry-level Pixel 10 now comes with three rear cameras, up from two. That includes a 5x telephoto camera. Inside, the 6.3-inch phone gets Google's latest Tensor G5 processor, 12GB of RAM, and upwards of 256GB of storage. The Pixel 10 Pro starts at $999 and gets a sharper 6.3-inch display and more-advanced triple-camera setup. And while the phone packs the same Tensor G5 processor as the standard Pixel 10, the Pro sports 16GB of RAM rather than 12GB and offers up to 512GB of storage. Read more here. Hertz stock jumps on deal to sell its used cars on Amazon Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports: Rental car firm Hertz (HTZ) struck a deal with Amazon Autos (AMZN) on Wednesday to sell some of its used car inventory. The company said this will make it easier for customers to purchase cars from its fleet. Starting today, customers can search Amazon Autos to browse, finance, and purchase from thousands of used Hertz fleet vehicles from brands like Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, Nissan, and others. Hertz Car Sales, the rental car firm's used car sales arm, will be the first fleet dealer on Amazon Autos. Hertz said sales will begin in the Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle metro areas, with plans to expand to Hertz Car Sales' 45 locations nationwide. After customers complete their purchase online, they can pick up the vehicles at Hertz locations in those cities. Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports: Rental car firm Hertz (HTZ) struck a deal with Amazon Autos (AMZN) on Wednesday to sell some of its used car inventory. The company said this will make it easier for customers to purchase cars from its fleet. Starting today, customers can search Amazon Autos to browse, finance, and purchase from thousands of used Hertz fleet vehicles from brands like Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, Nissan, and others. Hertz Car Sales, the rental car firm's used car sales arm, will be the first fleet dealer on Amazon Autos. Hertz said sales will begin in the Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle metro areas, with plans to expand to Hertz Car Sales' 45 locations nationwide. After customers complete their purchase online, they can pick up the vehicles at Hertz locations in those cities. Read more here. KeyBanc warns China headwinds could prompt an Nvidia earnings miss Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read more here. Big Tech is getting hammered again Tuesday's market action was all about isolated selling in some of the market's biggest winners. Wednesday's early session has brought more of the same, as Big Tech is clearly leading the selling action once more. After a nearly 10% drop on Tuesday, Palantir (PLTR) fell another 7% in early trade. Meanwhile, AI chip leaders Nvidia (NVDA) and Broadcom (AVGO) each dropped more than 3%. Tuesday's market action was all about isolated selling in some of the market's biggest winners. Wednesday's early session has brought more of the same, as Big Tech is clearly leading the selling action once more. After a nearly 10% drop on Tuesday, Palantir (PLTR) fell another 7% in early trade. Meanwhile, AI chip leaders Nvidia (NVDA) and Broadcom (AVGO) each dropped more than 3%. Trump says Fed governor Cook 'must resign' as pressure campaign on central bank continues President Trump on Wednesday called on Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to resign as the public pressure on the central bank continues to build. "Cook must resign, now!!!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social Wednesday morning with a link to a Bloomberg report on a letter sent by Bill Pulte. The Federal Housing Finance Agency head has reportedly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Cook over a pair of mortgages. Pulte wrote in a letter dated Aug. 15 that Cook 'falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, potentially committing mortgage fraud under the criminal statute.' The President's call for Cook to resign comes as pressure on the Fed continues amid ongoing changes on the Fed's Board of Governors. Read more here. President Trump on Wednesday called on Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to resign as the public pressure on the central bank continues to build. "Cook must resign, now!!!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social Wednesday morning with a link to a Bloomberg report on a letter sent by Bill Pulte. The Federal Housing Finance Agency head has reportedly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Cook over a pair of mortgages. Pulte wrote in a letter dated Aug. 15 that Cook 'falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, potentially committing mortgage fraud under the criminal statute.' The President's call for Cook to resign comes as pressure on the Fed continues amid ongoing changes on the Fed's Board of Governors. Read more here. Nasdaq leads indexes lower again at the open US stocks were mixed on Wednesday after a bruising day for tech stocks, as investors weighed the latest retail earnings and waited for Federal Reserve minutes to provide clues to interest rate cuts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was up about 0.1%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) slipped about 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell roughly 0.4%, after weakness in the likes of Palantir (PLTR) and Nvidia (NVDA) dragged on the broader market on Tuesday. US stocks were mixed on Wednesday after a bruising day for tech stocks, as investors weighed the latest retail earnings and waited for Federal Reserve minutes to provide clues to interest rate cuts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was up about 0.1%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) slipped about 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell roughly 0.4%, after weakness in the likes of Palantir (PLTR) and Nvidia (NVDA) dragged on the broader market on Tuesday. Post-earnings market movers: Target and La-Z-Boy stocks dive, Lowe's rises Here's a look at how Wall Street is reacting to a burst of earnings reports ahead of the opening bell on Wednesday: Target (TGT) stock dived more than 10%, facing its worst sell-off since early April. The retailer cleared a low bar of earnings expectations, but comparable sales continued to fall during the quarter. Lowe's (LOW) stock rose 2.5%. The home improvement retailer reported a return to same-store sales growth, echoing positive results from Home Depot (HD) on Tuesday. Home Depot stock fell 1.3% before the bell. Estée Lauder (EL) shares fell 5%. The beauty company's annual profit forecast disappointed and executives said they expect a $100 million headwind from tariffs. Baidu (BIDU) shares edged 0.2% lower. The Chinese search engine company reported a drop in second quarter revenue as strong growth in cloud services was offset by weakness in its core advertising business. Toll Brothers (TOL) stock added 0.45%. The homebuilder reported an earnings and revenue beat on Tuesday afternoon, though new orders were less than analysts' expected. La-Z-Boy (LZB) stock tanked 20% after the company missed estimates amid soft demand. Sales for its Joybird furniture brand declined 14%. Read more live coverage of corporate earnings here Here's a look at how Wall Street is reacting to a burst of earnings reports ahead of the opening bell on Wednesday: Target (TGT) stock dived more than 10%, facing its worst sell-off since early April. The retailer cleared a low bar of earnings expectations, but comparable sales continued to fall during the quarter. Lowe's (LOW) stock rose 2.5%. The home improvement retailer reported a return to same-store sales growth, echoing positive results from Home Depot (HD) on Tuesday. Home Depot stock fell 1.3% before the bell. Estée Lauder (EL) shares fell 5%. The beauty company's annual profit forecast disappointed and executives said they expect a $100 million headwind from tariffs. Baidu (BIDU) shares edged 0.2% lower. The Chinese search engine company reported a drop in second quarter revenue as strong growth in cloud services was offset by weakness in its core advertising business. Toll Brothers (TOL) stock added 0.45%. The homebuilder reported an earnings and revenue beat on Tuesday afternoon, though new orders were less than analysts' expected. La-Z-Boy (LZB) stock tanked 20% after the company missed estimates amid soft demand. Sales for its Joybird furniture brand declined 14%. Read more live coverage of corporate earnings here Hertz to sell used cars on Amazon, stock jumps Hertz (HTZ) stock rose over 10% after the car rental company announced it is teaming up with Amazon (AMZN) to sell pre-owned vehicles. Customers will be able to browse Hertz used car sales on Amazon, purchase vehicles online, and then pick them up at select Hertz locations. It will initially be offered in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle, with plans to expand to 45 locations nationwide. Hertz sells pre-owned cars in addition to renting them out. The company is in the midst of a turnaround, and shares have outperformed this year with a 42% year-to-date rise. Read more here. Hertz (HTZ) stock rose over 10% after the car rental company announced it is teaming up with Amazon (AMZN) to sell pre-owned vehicles. Customers will be able to browse Hertz used car sales on Amazon, purchase vehicles online, and then pick them up at select Hertz locations. It will initially be offered in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle, with plans to expand to 45 locations nationwide. Hertz sells pre-owned cars in addition to renting them out. The company is in the midst of a turnaround, and shares have outperformed this year with a 42% year-to-date rise. Read more here. Intel's advantages from a Trump deal could be worth as much as the money What would it take for Intel (INTC) to turn its business around? Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban digs into that question in today's Morning Brief. Read more here. What would it take for Intel (INTC) to turn its business around? Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban digs into that question in today's Morning Brief. Read more here. This summer's hottest trend on Wall Street: 'Private for longer' Continuation funds have become hugely popular among America's biggest private fund managers this year. Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith breaks down why, and exactly how they work: Read more here. Continuation funds have become hugely popular among America's biggest private fund managers this year. Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith breaks down why, and exactly how they work: Read more here. Palantir stock on track to extend losing streak Palantir stock (PLTR) looks like it may extend its losing streak to six trading days after reaching an all-time high. Shares fell 3% in premarket trading on Wednesday after a 9% decline on Tuesday. Since hitting $186.97 per share on Aug. 12, the stock is now trading around $153, putting it 18% off its record closing high. Investors rotating out of large-cap tech names and a bearish report from short seller Citron Research have weighed on the stock. Read more here. Palantir stock (PLTR) looks like it may extend its losing streak to six trading days after reaching an all-time high. Shares fell 3% in premarket trading on Wednesday after a 9% decline on Tuesday. Since hitting $186.97 per share on Aug. 12, the stock is now trading around $153, putting it 18% off its record closing high. Investors rotating out of large-cap tech names and a bearish report from short seller Citron Research have weighed on the stock. Read more here. Target stock sinks after earnings eke out a beat, but sales keep falling Target's (TGT) results on Wednesday morning weren't as shockingly bad as for the first quarter, but the retailer is still struggling to find its place in the new economic norm of more discerning shoppers. Shares in the US retail giant sank 10% in premarket trading as the announcement of a new CEO still left investors wanting more. Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi reports: Read more here. Target's (TGT) results on Wednesday morning weren't as shockingly bad as for the first quarter, but the retailer is still struggling to find its place in the new economic norm of more discerning shoppers. Shares in the US retail giant sank 10% in premarket trading as the announcement of a new CEO still left investors wanting more. Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi reports: Read more here. Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: FOMC Minutes (July 30-31 meeting); MBA weekly mortgage applications Earnings: Target (TGT), Baidu (BIDU), Lowe's (LOW), TJX Companies (TJX), Estée Lauder (EL) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Target earnings miss the mark as sales keep falling Target will have a new CEO for the first time since 2014 Intel's Trump deal perks may rival the money Buffett effect still holds as UnitedHealth soars through August This summer's hottest trend on Wall Street: 'Private for longer' US housing warning sparks worst James Hardie selloff since 1973 US treasury chief says status quo with China 'working pretty well' Sales of foreign-branded phones in China down 31.3% in June: Data China exports of key rare-earth EV magnets hit 6-month high Economic data: FOMC Minutes (July 30-31 meeting); MBA weekly mortgage applications Earnings: Target (TGT), Baidu (BIDU), Lowe's (LOW), TJX Companies (TJX), Estée Lauder (EL) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Target earnings miss the mark as sales keep falling Target will have a new CEO for the first time since 2014 Intel's Trump deal perks may rival the money Buffett effect still holds as UnitedHealth soars through August This summer's hottest trend on Wall Street: 'Private for longer' US housing warning sparks worst James Hardie selloff since 1973 US treasury chief says status quo with China 'working pretty well' Sales of foreign-branded phones in China down 31.3% in June: Data China exports of key rare-earth EV magnets hit 6-month high Target will have a new CEO... and he will not have it easy Target (TGT) is tapping a homegrown talent as its next CEO at one of the most pivotal moments in its 63-year history. The discounter announced that longtime CEO Brian Cornell's heavily groomed No. 2, Michael Fiddelke, will take over as CEO on Feb. 1, 2026. Cornell, who has been CEO of Target since August 2014, will slide into the executive chair position for an undetermined period of time. Fiddelke joined Target in 2003 as an intern and rose through the ranks to CFO and then COO. "I've had this conversation with the board for a number of years, and I've been in the role for 11 years. I'm going into my 12th now. I will actually turn 67 early next year, and I think it's time for me to step back, recharge, spend a lot more time with my family, a lot fewer nights in hotels, and be a great supporter of Michael and the team for the rest of my life," Cornell told me by video call while sitting next to Fiddelke at the company's Minneapolis headquarters. Fiddelke added, "I bleed Target red after 20 years here, and there's nothing more important to me than working with the incredible team that we have to chart the next chapter for Target. I mean, I've seen us in that 20 years at our best. I've seen us not at our best. When we're at our best, we are pretty darn tough to beat." To students of Target history such as myself, this decision isn't a surprise. For one, Fiddelke has been Cornell's right-hand man for several years now. It has become quite apparent over the past year that he was grooming Fiddelke to take over while also working behind the scenes to get board buy-in. I have gotten to know Fiddelke in recent years. He is a nice fella and has indeed earned the opportunity to sit in the CEO seat. If this was any other time for Target, the decision would probably be celebrated. It's not often an intern at a company becomes its CEO. The only comparable story I can think of is Walmart (WMT) CEO Doug McMillon going from truck loader at the retailer to CEO. But Fiddelke will unlikely have a honeymoon period, seeing as he has been there at Target during its past 24 months of struggles (which includes a weak second quarter). People I have talked to wanted an outsider as Target's next CEO, fresh eyes to come in and fix what is wrong (not unlike when Cornell was brought in back in 2014 — his career was mostly spent at Walmart and PepsiCo (PEP)). Fiddelke will be seen as a continuation of a strategy that hasn't been working. I asked him on the call how candid he plans to be in the early going on the strategy review, which is what all new leaders do. He sounded like he was ready to divert from Cornell's playbook and shake things up. He will have to do just that, and quickly, to win over a likely skeptical Wall Street. Target (TGT) is tapping a homegrown talent as its next CEO at one of the most pivotal moments in its 63-year history. The discounter announced that longtime CEO Brian Cornell's heavily groomed No. 2, Michael Fiddelke, will take over as CEO on Feb. 1, 2026. Cornell, who has been CEO of Target since August 2014, will slide into the executive chair position for an undetermined period of time. Fiddelke joined Target in 2003 as an intern and rose through the ranks to CFO and then COO. "I've had this conversation with the board for a number of years, and I've been in the role for 11 years. I'm going into my 12th now. I will actually turn 67 early next year, and I think it's time for me to step back, recharge, spend a lot more time with my family, a lot fewer nights in hotels, and be a great supporter of Michael and the team for the rest of my life," Cornell told me by video call while sitting next to Fiddelke at the company's Minneapolis headquarters. Fiddelke added, "I bleed Target red after 20 years here, and there's nothing more important to me than working with the incredible team that we have to chart the next chapter for Target. I mean, I've seen us in that 20 years at our best. I've seen us not at our best. When we're at our best, we are pretty darn tough to beat." To students of Target history such as myself, this decision isn't a surprise. For one, Fiddelke has been Cornell's right-hand man for several years now. It has become quite apparent over the past year that he was grooming Fiddelke to take over while also working behind the scenes to get board buy-in. I have gotten to know Fiddelke in recent years. He is a nice fella and has indeed earned the opportunity to sit in the CEO seat. If this was any other time for Target, the decision would probably be celebrated. It's not often an intern at a company becomes its CEO. The only comparable story I can think of is Walmart (WMT) CEO Doug McMillon going from truck loader at the retailer to CEO. But Fiddelke will unlikely have a honeymoon period, seeing as he has been there at Target during its past 24 months of struggles (which includes a weak second quarter). People I have talked to wanted an outsider as Target's next CEO, fresh eyes to come in and fix what is wrong (not unlike when Cornell was brought in back in 2014 — his career was mostly spent at Walmart and PepsiCo (PEP)). Fiddelke will be seen as a continuation of a strategy that hasn't been working. I asked him on the call how candid he plans to be in the early going on the strategy review, which is what all new leaders do. He sounded like he was ready to divert from Cornell's playbook and shake things up. He will have to do just that, and quickly, to win over a likely skeptical Wall Street. US tech stocks hit by concerns over future of AI boom Wall Street is digging into the factors behind this week's selloff in tech stocks, with many seeing it as a timely rotation out of riskier names. There are a few potential triggers, the Financial Times reports: Read more here (premium) Wall Street is digging into the factors behind this week's selloff in tech stocks, with many seeing it as a timely rotation out of riskier names. There are a few potential triggers, the Financial Times reports: Read more here (premium)
CNBC
34 minutes ago
- CNBC
CNBC Daily Open: The U.S. tech-sell off extends to its second day — but don't let it ruin your summer
If you have any U.S. technology stocks in your portfolio (and let's face it, who doesn't?), you might want to look away. For the second day in a row, tech stocks dragged markets lower, with the Nasdaq Composite slipping 0.67%. Juggernauts such as Apple, Amazon and Alphabet were more meh-nificent than magnificent, falling more than 1%. Palantir — the standout S&P 500 stock, having more than doubled so far this year — spent its sixth consecutive day in the red and lost its place among a ranking of the 20 most valuable U.S. companies. While Palantir's slide was partly triggered by a report from short seller Andrew Left's Citron Research, which called the company "detached from fundamentals and analysis," there was no single trigger for the broader pullback. Investors could have been spooked by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's caution about an AI bubble forming, although some analysts dispute that assertion. "In our view the tech bull cycle will be well intact at least for another 2-3 years," said Wall Street tech bull Dan Ives. Or it could be something benign, like traders locking in profits. "Tech stocks," said Carol Schleif, chief market strategist at BMO Private Wealth, "have had an incredibly strong run – with some up over 80% since the early April lows." Summer, after all, is far from over. Some investors might have just wanted to cash out for another round of margaritas. Fed officials divided over inflation and employment worries. Central bank governors generally agreed there were risks on both sides. But a couple — breaking from the majority — saw the labor market woes as more pressing, according to minutes of the Fed's July meeting. Trump likely to pick Kevin Hasset as next Fed Chair. The director of the National Economic Council firmly led the pack, according to a CNBC Fed Survey. However, respondents think the president "should" pick former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh. No new solar or wind power projects, Trump says. Renewable energy projects will no longer receive approval, Trump posted Wednesday on Truth Social. His comment comes after the administration already tightened federal permitting last month. Fourth day of losses for the S&P 500. Investors continued selling off technology stocks on Wednesday, with Palantir having its sixth straight losing day. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 closed at another high despite inflation in July coming in hotter than expected. [PRO] The Fed is expected to cut just as markets trade at highs. This is what tends to happen when both factors coincide, according to Goldman Sachs research. Trump has snapped up more than $100 million in bonds since taking office U.S. President Donald Trump has been on a multimillion-dollar bond-buying spree since taking office in January, investing in debt issued by local authorities, gas districts and major American corporations. Across 33 pages of filings with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, or OGE, dated Aug. 12, the president outlined 690 transactions that have taken place since he took office. The documents were made public on Tuesday.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
HP (HPQ) Falls More Steeply Than Broader Market: What Investors Need to Know
HP (HPQ) closed at $26.47 in the latest trading session, marking a -1.96% move from the prior day. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.24%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 0.04%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw a decrease of 0.67%. Shares of the personal computer and printer maker have appreciated by 6.26% over the course of the past month, outperforming the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 2.07%, and the S&P 500's gain of 1.95%. The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of HP in its forthcoming earnings report. The company is scheduled to release its earnings on August 27, 2025. In that report, analysts expect HP to post earnings of $0.74 per share. This would mark a year-over-year decline of 10.84%. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $13.85 billion, indicating a 2.42% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $3.09 per share and revenue of $54.71 billion, indicating changes of -8.58% and +2.15%, respectively, compared to the previous year. Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for HP. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability. Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-term stock moves. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system. The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained steady. HP currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). Digging into valuation, HP currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 8.74. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 12.79. Also, we should mention that HPQ has a PEG ratio of 2.19. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. The Computer - Micro Computers industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.53 as trading concluded yesterday. The Computer - Micro Computers industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 14, which puts it in the top 6% of all 250+ industries. The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Remember to apply to follow these and more stock-moving metrics during the upcoming trading sessions. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report HP Inc. (HPQ) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
