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Market Analysis: July 23, 2025

Market Analysis: July 23, 2025

Globe and Mail23-07-2025
Global Markets
Canadian Markets
Canadian markets edged higher on Wednesday, showing resilience even as both gold and oil prices remained under pressure. Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, stated that the country would not settle for a 'bad deal' regarding U.S. tariffs. With the August 1st deadline for new U.S. tariffs looming, negotiations between the two nations appear stalled, casting doubt on whether a last-minute agreement can be reached.
American Markets
U.S. stocks climbed after news broke that the United States and Japan had reached a trade agreement. The deal, seen as favorable for Japanese automakers, lifted sentiment broadly across global markets. Google and Tesla is set to report earnings after the closing bell. For Tesla, it is an event highly anticipated by investors given the stock's recent volatility and questions surrounding the company's margins, growth strategy, and delivery performance.
European Markets
European stocks moved higher on optimism that a similar trade deal could be struck between the U.S. and European Union, especially one that benefits European carmakers. Automakers led the gains across major indices in Europe.
Shares of German software giant SAP dropped, despite the company reporting a strong quarterly performance. Investors were disappointed that SAP chose to maintain its full-year guidance instead of raising it, dampening enthusiasm.
In the UK, stocks reached yet another all-time high, driven in part by strong performances from mining and industrial sectors. A record number of UK-listed companies issued profit warnings in the second quarter, raising red flags about the upcoming earnings season and potentially signaling broader economic challenges.
Corporate News
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd: Launched Qwen3-Coder, its most advanced open-source AI coding model. Designed for complex programming tasks, it's strong in autonomous coding workflows.
Amazon.com Inc: Acquired Bee, a startup making AI-enabled wristbands that transcribe and summarize conversations.
America Movil SAB de CV: Swung to a Q2 profit of 22.28 billion pesos, driven by 11 billion pesos in FX gains and reduced financing costs. Revenue rose 14% to $12.46B.
AT&T Inc: Beat Q2 profit estimates and added 401K wireless subscribers. Plans to invest $3.5B in fiber network using tax savings and raised free cash flow forecast for 2026–27 by $1B.
Baker Hughes Co: Beat Q2 estimates with EPS of $0.63 vs. $0.56 expected. Gas tech orders up 28%, though overall revenue declined 3% YoY to $6.91B due to weaker drilling activity.
Boeing Co: Offered union workers a 20% wage increase over 4 years, a $5K bonus, and more leave in its latest contract proposal.
Capital One Financial Corp: Q2 profit rose to $2.77B ($5.48/share) from $1.21B. Interest income surged 32.5% to $10B; loan loss provisions jumped to $11.43B.
Charter Communications Inc: Partnering with Comcast to launch an MVNO using T-Mobile's 5G network for business customers.
Chubb Ltd: Q2 core operating income rose 13% to $2.48B; record investment income ($1.57B) and underwriting performance. Combined ratio improved to 85.6%.
Coca-Cola Co: Jefferies raised target price to $84 (from $83) due to easing forex headwinds.
Comcast Corp: Partnering with Charter on an MVNO service for business customers using T-Mobile's network.
ConocoPhillips: In advanced talks to sell Oklahoma assets to Stone Ridge Energy for ~$1.3B.
Corpay Inc: To acquire UK-based Alpha Group for $2.2B, expanding into investment fund client segment.
CoStar Group Inc: Raised annual revenue forecast (now $3.14–$3.16B) due to strong Homes.com traffic and 65% quarterly jump in net new bookings.
Dassault Aviation: Raised concerns about the future of a trilateral fighter jet project due to disputes with Airbus over program control.
Delta Air Lines Inc: Facing scrutiny from U.S. senators over potential AI-driven ticket pricing. Denies using personal data for individualized fares.
Enphase Energy Inc: Forecast Q3 revenue of $330M–$370M, missing expectations. Q2 profit beat estimates despite gross margin pressure from Trump-era tariffs.
Equinor ASA: Q2 pre-tax profit dropped 13% YoY to $6.54B, in line with expectations. Maintains 2025 production and capex guidance.
EQT Corp: Q2 profit beat, raised production forecast to 2,300–2,400 Bcfe from 2,200–2,300. Benefits from higher gas prices and Olympus Energy acquisition.
Ford Motor Co: Industry group opposes Japan trade deal that lowers tariffs while maintaining higher ones on Canadian/Mexican autos.
Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd: Jefferies initiates with a 'Buy' rating, $35 target; sees upside from crypto regulation and AI data center demand.
General Motors Co: Concerned about trade deal that gives Japan a tariff advantage over North American automakers.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc: Raised full-year adjusted profit forecast to $7.83–$8/share, from $7.76–$7.94. Q2 EPS rose to $2.20 from $1.91.
Infosys Ltd: Narrowed annual growth forecast to 1%–3%. Q1 sales rose 7.5% to $4.89B; net profit rose 8.7% to 69.21B rupees.
Intuitive Surgical Inc: Beat Q2 estimates with EPS of $2.19 (vs. $1.92 expected); lifted gross margin forecast and expects lower tariff impact. Jefferies raised target to $550 (from $530).
Lockheed Martin Corp: Jefferies cut target to $460 from $500 after a $1.6B pretax loss tied to a classified aeronautics program.
Microsoft Corp: Initial SharePoint patch failed to fix major vulnerability exploited by Chinese groups. Released additional patches afterward.
Morgan Stanley: Under FINRA investigation for weak AML client screening across its wealth and institutional units.
PayPal Holdings Inc: Launched PayPal World for cross-border payments, in partnership with India's UPI, Mercado Pago, Tenpay Global, and Venmo.
SAP SE: Q2 sales and earnings rose, but stock fell as SAP kept FY guidance unchanged. Free cash flow jumped 83% to €2.36B, beating expectations.
TE Connectivity PLC: Beat Q3 estimates and issued upbeat Q4 guidance. Tariff impact was half of expected (1.5% vs. 3%). Forecast Q4 revenue ~$4.55B.
Texas Instruments Inc: Q3 guidance missed expectations. Cited tariff/geopolitical issues. Jefferies raised price target to $185 from $155.
UniCredit (Italy): Withdrew €15B bid for Banco BPM, blaming government interference.
Vale SA: Q2 iron ore output rose 3.7% to 83.6M tons. Sales fell 3.1% YoY, but strong performance from S11D and Brucutu mines supports 2025 goals.
Woodside Energy Group Ltd: Q2 revenue rose 8% to $3.28B, helped by Senegal's Sangomar project. Took write-downs on hydrogen and old offshore assets. Lowered production costs to $8–$8.50/boe.
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The Best Growth Stocks I'd Buy Right Now
The Best Growth Stocks I'd Buy Right Now

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The Best Growth Stocks I'd Buy Right Now

Key Points Intuitive Surgical continues to lead the way in robotic surgical instruments. Restaurant chain Cava Group is making strides where some rivals are faltering. 10 stocks we like better than Intuitive Surgical › If you're a growth-oriented investor like me, you've probably seen your portfolio experience its fair share of ups and downs the last few years. While the market has rebounded to new heights and many growth businesses have recovered spectacularly, results have varied by individual stock. As always, it's important to look beyond a stock's price and see what's happening behind the scenes. A share price may be up or down for a good reason, but you need to understand the factors driving these movements before you hit the buy button. On that note, here are two top growth stocks to consider if you have cash to invest right now. 1. Intuitive Surgical Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) has been known for its pioneering role in robotic-assisted surgery with the da Vinci surgical system since its first platform was approved more than two decades ago. The da Vinci system provides surgeons with enhanced dexterity, precision, and control during minimally invasive procedures including thoracic, gynecologic, and general surgeries. These systems allow for a wider range of motion than the human hand and wrist, translating surgeon movements into precise instrument actions within a patient's body. This is particularly helpful for complex procedures in confined spaces, but can also improve surgery outcomes, shorten recovery time, and reduce the risk of adverse complications. Intuitive Surgical's revenue comes from three different sources: system sales, instruments and accessories, and services. 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The company's new da Vinci 5 platform is now broadly available in the U.S., and limited launches are starting in Europe and Japan after receiving the necessary regulatory clearances. The da Vinci 5 system has been well-received so far, with over 100,000 procedures already performed since its initial approval in the U.S. in early 2024. Intuitive Surgical's revenue growth for the first half of 2025 totaled $4.69 billion, a healthy 20% increase from the $3.9 billion it reported in the first half of 2024. Net income for the first six months of 2025 came to $1.4 billion, up 27% on a year-over-year basis. And the average consensus 12-month price target from analysts suggests a potential upside of approximately 20% from current share prices. If you're a long-term investor who wants a piece of the action of a top-notch healthcare stock, definitely consider Intuitive Surgical. 2. Cava Group Cava Group (NYSE: CAVA) is a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain that offers customizable bowls, salads, and pitas with a focus on fresh, healthy ingredients. The company also produces and sells a line of Mediterranean dips, spreads, and dressings available in grocery stores. Cava has been a standout example of a fast-casual restaurant that's expanding gradually and strategically without sacrificing its financial health. In fact, Cava's financials keep looking better and better. Revenue reached $329 million in the first quarter of its fiscal 2025, a 28% increase compared to the same period last year. Same-store sales also increased by 10.8% in Q1, while Cava opened 15 new restaurants in the three-month period alone. That rate of expansion brought its restaurant total to 382 locations across 26 states and the District of Columbia. The company is also building a consistent track record of profitability. 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Before you buy stock in Intuitive Surgical, 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 Intuitive Surgical 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 $624,823!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,064,820!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,019% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 178% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 29, 2025

7 Things to Know About Amazon -- Some May Surprise You
7 Things to Know About Amazon -- Some May Surprise You

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7 Things to Know About Amazon -- Some May Surprise You

Key Points Amazon is one of Earth's biggest employers. Interestingly, "Amazon" was not its original name. The company is home to a wide range of businesses. 10 stocks we like better than Amazon › No matter how well we may think we know a company, there are still likely to be things about it that can surprise -- or amuse -- us. For example, one of the two brothers who founded Domino's Pizza traded his share of the company to the other brother for a used Volkswagen Beetle. Here's a look at Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and some interesting things about it which you might not know. 1. Its logo has a message Check out the Amazon logo, and you'll see an arrow under the word "Amazon." You might not think much of it, but upon closer inspection, you'll see that it's connecting the letters A and Z -- reflecting the fact that Amazon's sells everything from A to Z. 2. Its name wasn't always Amazon When Amazon was founded in 1994, its name was Cadabra, as in abracadabra. 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That's enough to make it the world's second-largest employer, per 4. Its big numbers are really big Consider this: While most companies sport market capitalizations in the millions or billions, Amazon is in elite company with a market cap in the trillions -- $2.45 trillion, recently. It's also one of the " Magnificent Seven" stocks, along with Apple, (Google parent) Alphabet, (Facebook parent) Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The company rakes in some $650 billion annually -- and keeps about 10% of that as net profit. Numbers like that have really helped the company grow -- by an annual average rate of 32% since its initial public offering (IPO) in May 1997. That's enough to turn an investment of $10,000 into close to $26 million! If you'd bought just one share at the IPO, thanks to various stock splits, you'd now own 220 shares, and your initial $18 investment would be worth more than $50,000. 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Amazon is much more than a marketplace and more than a cloud platform Amazon is home to lots of different businesses and brands -- which recently included Whole Foods Market, shoe retailer Goodreads, Twitch, Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), and Audible. It also makes and sells devices under the Alexa, Kindle, Fire, Ring, and Blink names, and features a host of services under its Amazon Prime umbrella, including Prime Video and Prime Music. Then there's One Medical, with which Amazon has expanded into healthcare (along with other operations such as PillPack), and Zoox, which is a self-driving vehicle start-up. Amazon also bought the Kiva Systems robotics company, and is using its robots in its distribution centers. Amazon has plenty of cash on hand, so stay tuned for further investments and expansions. These are just some of many fascinating things to know about Amazon. If you're thinking of investing in Amazon or are already a shareholder, it can be helpful to learn all you can about the company. Should you invest $1,000 in Amazon right now? Before you buy stock in Amazon, 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 Amazon 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 $624,823!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,064,820!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,019% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 178% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 29, 2025 Selena Maranjian has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Airbnb, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Domino's Pizza, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Volkswagen Ag and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Where Will Arista Networks Be in 1 Year?
Where Will Arista Networks Be in 1 Year?

Globe and Mail

time44 minutes ago

  • Globe and Mail

Where Will Arista Networks Be in 1 Year?

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Arista's modular operating system, EOS, is compatible with a wider range of open networking protocols than Cisco's systems, which are often known for locking its customers into its "walled garden." In addition, Arista focuses on selling lower-latency switches, which are optimized for hyperscale cloud networks, while Cisco bundles together a broader range of enterprise campus, branch, wide-area networking (WAN), and data center solutions. Arista's flexibility and scalability made it the preferred networking hardware and software provider for cloud and AI giants like Meta Platforms and Microsoft. Its CloudVision platform also helps those clients easily monitor and analyze their data center deployments. So while Cisco is still considered a "one stop shop" for big enterprise networking deployments, Arista is emerging as a higher-growth play on the expanding cloud and AI markets. From 2019 to 2024, Arista's revenue expanded at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24%. Its cloud and hyperscale markets continued to expand throughout the pandemic, and its tighter portfolio of products insulated it from the supply chain disruptions which impacted Cisco and other networking hardware companies. What happened to Arista over the past year? In 2025, Arista's revenue rose 19.5%, its adjusted gross margin rose 200 basis points to 64.6%, and its adjusted earnings per share (EPS) grew 31.2%. Here's how rapidly it grew over the past year. Data source: Arista Networks. YOY = Year over year. Arista's recent growth was largely driven by the rapid expansion of the cloud and AI markets. However, its gross margins are declining as it sells a higher mix of lower-margin, high-volume routers and switches to those big customers. It doesn't have much pricing power against those cloud titans, which often demand higher-volume discounts. At the same time, inflation, elevated interest rates, tariffs, and other macroheadwinds are driving its component and supply chain costs higher. By comparison, Cisco's adjusted gross margin expanded 30 basis points year over year to 68.6% in its latest quarter. Those higher margins reflect Cisco's stronger pricing power, which it reinforces through its aggressive bundling strategies. For the second quarter of 2025, Arista expects its revenue to rise 24.3% year over year as its adjusted gross margin dips to 63%. For the full year, analysts expect its revenue and adjusted EPS to grow 20% and 13%, respectively. Most of that growth should be driven by the growing adoption of its 800G Ethernet products for handling AI workloads. Where will Arista's stock be in a year? Arista is still growing rapidly, but it can't be considered a bargain at 50 times its trailing earnings. Cisco, which is growing at a much slower rate, trades at 28 times earnings. For 2026, analysts expect Arista's revenue and adjusted EPS to grow 18% and 17%, respectively, as the AI boom continues. If Arista matches those estimates and still trades at 50 times earnings, its stock price could rise more than 20% to $150 over the next 12 months. But if it trades at 30 times earnings, its stock could drop more than 25% to $90. Therefore, Arista's upside potential might be limited by its valuations over the next year as investors wait to see if its robust revenue growth can offset its declining gross margins. It might still eke out some modest gains, but it probably won't replicate its rally from the past 12 months. Should you invest $1,000 in Arista Networks right now? Before you buy stock in Arista Networks, 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 Arista Networks 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 $624,823!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,064,820!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,019% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 178% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 29, 2025

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