Elk Grove moves forward with affordable housing project
Sarah Bontrager, Housing and Public Service Manager for the City of Elk Grove, says, 'There are a lot of folks in our community that struggle to afford housing.' She says that Phase 1 of Sheldon Farms North, near the corner of Bruceville and Sheldon roads, will cost about $1.3 million on just the land. Due to the size of the project, they will need to break it up into phases to get it financed.
Affordable housing has proven to be in extremely high demand in Elk Grove, with a massive response from the community toward two previous affordable housing projects, The Lyla and Mosa Apartments. Bontrager says, 'The Lyla and Mosa projects, about 700 units between those two, and we received 13,000 lottery applications for those, so there's a huge amount of demand for affordable housing in the city.'
This also follows a lawsuit in 2023 brought forth by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom against the city, claiming the city unlawfully denied a proposed 66-unit supportive housing project for lower-income households.
The Sheldon Farms North Development comes at a time when housing expenses continue to skyrocket. And Bontrager adds, 'Our median home price for 'For Sale' homes in Elk Grove is now up above $640,000. Apartments are also high, a two-bedroom apartment market rate rent is about $2,300 per month.'
This project is breaking new ground inclusively for Elk Grove residents. Bontrager says they are setting aside 25% of the units for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, which would be a first for the Affordable Housing in Elk Grove. She says that folks with intellectual or developmental disabilities are in adulthood now, still being cared for by family or living at home with family. A lot of aging parents are worried about what will happen to their adult child when they are no longer able to take care of them.
The city is looking for a heightened level of design to spark community connection. Bontrager says a lot of community amenities are being planned in the project, such as a splash pad on site and two playgrounds.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Business Upturn
a day ago
- Business Upturn
Giftify, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results, Revenue of $20.9 Million
By GlobeNewswire Published on August 13, 2025, 17:35 IST Company achieves gross profit increase of 18.3% to $3.9 million Strategic initiatives including TakeOut7 acquisition and AI implementation driving operational improvements SCHAUMBURG, IL, Aug. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Giftify, Inc. (NASDAQ: GIFT) (the 'Company'), the owner and operator of and and a leader in the incentives and rewards industry, today announced financial and operational results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025. Key Highlights for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2025, Compared to Prior Year Period Net sales increased 4.4% to $20.9 million Gross billings increased 23.2% to $36.1 million Gross profit increased 18.3% to $3.9 million Gross margin improved to 18.4% from 16.3% Modified EBITDA loss improved to $0.15 million from $0.36 million Net loss of $2.6 million (Of note, net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2025 included $2.4 million in non-cash expenses, including $1.6 million in stock options and other non-cash compensation, $0.6 million in amortization of intangible assets, and $0.16 million in amortization of capitalized software costs) Strong balance sheet with total assets of $31.5 million and stockholders' equity of $21.6 million Strategic Growth Initiatives The Company's strategic execution against previously outlined growth priorities continued to generate positive momentum across multiple fronts during the second quarter: Completed strategic acquisition of TakeOut7 in June 2025, expanding technology offerings to include end-to-end solutions for independent restaurants Launched Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) flexible payment option through partnership with Zip Co., enhancing customer accessibility and payment flexibility Expanded strategic offerings through in high-revenue, high-growth verticals including travel, sports merchandise, and pharmacy savings Continued deployment of enterprise-wide AI solutions driving measurable operational efficiencies Enhanced synergies between and platforms Continued expansion of the At-the-Market offering program to strengthen the Company's cash position and provide financial flexibility Subsequent Events Launch of Restaurant Management Center (RMC) in July 2025, creating new subscription revenue opportunities for 184,000+ restaurant partners Introduction of uChoose corporate rewards platform in July 2025, targeting the $46 billion corporate rewards market Management Commentary Ketan Thakker, Chief Executive Officer of Giftify, Inc., commented, 'Our second quarter performance reflects the strength of our strategic vision and operational discipline. We delivered revenue of $20.9 million while achieving an impressive 18.3% increase in gross profit and expanding our gross margin to 18.4%. This margin improvement underscores our team's focus on driving profitability and creating sustainable value in today's dynamic market environment.' Thakker continued, 'The quarter was marked by significant strategic milestones that position us for accelerated growth. The TakeOut7 acquisition in June strengthens our restaurant technology ecosystem, while our new Buy Now, Pay Later partnership with Zip Co. enhances customer access to savings opportunities. Combined with our ongoing AI initiatives and vertical market expansion in travel, sports, and healthcare, we're building a comprehensive platform that serves multiple high-growth markets. Looking ahead, our recent launches of the Restaurant Management Center and uChoose corporate platform create exciting new revenue streams that complement our core marketplace business.' Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results For the three months ended June 30, 2025, net sales increased 4.4% to $20.9 million compared to $20.0 million in the prior year period. The growth was driven by continued strength in both business-to-consumer and business-to-business channels across the and platforms. Gross profit for the second quarter increased 18.3% to $3.9 million compared to $3.3 million in the prior year period. Gross margin improved to 18.4% from 16.3%, reflecting the Company's continued focus on optimizing pricing strategies and operational efficiencies. Operating expenses decreased to $6.4 million from $10.7 million in the prior year period, primarily due to a $4.6 million reduction in stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by increased operational costs to support business growth. The Company reported a net loss of $2.6 million, or $0.09 per share, compared to a net loss of $7.7 million, or $0.30 per share, in the prior year period. The improvement was driven by increased gross profit, reduced stock-based compensation expense, and lower interest expense. Modified EBITDA loss improved to $0.15 million compared to $0.36 million in the prior year period, reflecting the Company's progress toward operational efficiency. Six Months 2025 Financial Results For the six months ended June 30, 2025, net sales increased 3.9% to $43.2 million compared to $41.5 million in the prior year period. Gross profit for the six months increased 14.1% to $7.4 million compared to $6.5 million in the prior year period. Gross margin improved to 17.2% from 15.7% The Company reported a net loss of $5.8 million, or $0.20 per share, compared to a net loss of $10.9 million, or $0.43 per share, in the prior year period. Modified EBITDA loss improved to $0.8 million compared to $1.0 million in the prior year period. About Giftify, Inc. Giftify, Inc. is a pioneer in the incentive and rewards industry with a focus on retail, dining & entertainment experiences, as the owner and operator of leading digital platforms, and is a leading secondary gift card exchange platform, allowing consumers and retailers to realize value by buying and selling gift cards at various scales. is the nation's largest restaurant-focused digital deals brand, connecting digital consumers, businesses and communities by offering thousands of dining, retail and entertainment deal options nationwide at over 184,000 restaurants and retailers. prides itself on offering the best deal, every meal. Our gift cards and restaurant certificates allow customers to save at thousands of restaurants across the country with just a few clicks. Takeout7 is a restaurant technology company offering comprehensive online ordering solutions through its TakeOut7 platform and AI-powered digital marketing services through its Platr platform. For more information, visit: and Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Operating Metrics Modified EBITDA In addition to our GAAP results, we present Modified EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our performance. However, Modified EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, income from operations or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. We define Modified EBITDA as net income (loss), plus interest expense, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, and fair value of common stock issued for services. Management considers our core operating performance to be that which our managers can affect in any particular period through their management of the resources that affect our underlying revenue and profit generating operations during that period. Non-GAAP adjustments to our results prepared in accordance with GAAP are itemized below. You are encouraged to evaluate these adjustments and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating Modified EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation. Our presentation of Modified EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Gross Billings Gross billings are the total dollar value of customer purchases of goods and services. Gross billings are presented net of customer refunds and order discounts. A significant portion of our revenue transactions are comprised of sales of discounted merchant gift cards in which we collect the transaction price from the customer and remit a portion of the transaction price to the third-party suppliers who will provide the related goods or services. For these transactions, gross billings differ from Net Sales reported in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, which is presented net of the merchant's share of the transaction price. Gross billings are an indicator of our growth and business performance as it measures the dollar volume of transactions generated through our marketplaces. Tracking gross billings also allows us to monitor the percentage of gross billings that we are able to retain after payments to merchants. Forward-Looking Statements Press Releases may include forward-looking statements. In particular, the words 'believe,' 'may,' 'could,' 'should,' 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'estimate,' 'project,' 'propose,' 'plan,' 'intend,' and similar conditional words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any statements made in this news release about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the company. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof. The company takes no obligation to update or correct its own forward-looking statements, except as required by law or those prepared by third parties that are not paid by the company. Statements in this press release that are not historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although Giftify, Inc. believes the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, Giftify, Inc. is unable to give any assurance that its expectations will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include the company's ability identify a suitable business model for the corporation. Investors Contacts: [email protected] GIFTIFY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS As of June 30, 2025 December 31, 2024 (Unaudited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents (includes restricted cash of $1,000,000 and $1,258,826 at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024) $ 3,257,427 $ 4,301,842 Accounts receivable 121,139 164,700 Inventories 2,021,395 4,116,180 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 368,871 63,210 Total current assets 5,768,832 8,645,932 Property and equipment, net 766,904 1,089,984 Operating lease right of use asset, net 1,250,518 1,406,242 Deposits 68,189 65,556 Intangible assets, net 3,640,517 4,268,332 Goodwill 20,007,670 20,007,670 Total assets $ 31,502,630 $ 35,483,716 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 1,619,833 $ 1,966,616 Accrued expenses 1,772,419 1,768,607 Customer deposits 153 95,000 Deferred revenue 107,504 77,051 Secured revolving line of credit 1,715,897 3,805,080 Convertible promissory notes 44,637 43,137 Secured notes payable — related party, net of debt discount of $0 and $4,000, at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively – 2,060,274 Notes payable, current portion, net of debt discount of $8,570 and $0, at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively 1,881,668 1,717,632 Operating lease liability, current portion 337,195 316,612 Total current liabilities 7,479,306 11,850,009 Notes payable, net of current portion 664,500 615,000 Deferred income taxes 829,284 1,123,000 Operating lease liability, net of current portion 960,386 1,133,371 Total liabilities 9,933,476 14,721,380 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized; – – Common stock, $0.001 par value, 750,000,000 shares authorized; 30,154,612 and 27,021,423 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively 30,155 27,015 Additional paid-in-capital 115,289,884 108,679,065 Common stock issuable, 350,843 and 350,843 shares, respectively 350,843 350,843 Accumulated deficit (94,101,728 ) (88,294,587 ) Total stockholders' equity 21,569,154 20,762,336 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 31,502,630 $ 35,483,716 GIFTIFY, INC. AND SUBSDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 (Unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 2024 2025 2024 Net Sales $ 20,900,731 $ 20,020,502 $ 43,177,744 $ 41,542,396 Cost of sales 17,045,106 16,760,007 35,740,483 35,024,625 Gross profit 3,855,625 3,260,495 7,437,261 6,517,771 Operating expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses 5,714,543 9,832,270 11,758,384 15,046,311 Amortization of capitalized software costs 161,544 302,737 323,087 681,474 Amortization of intangible assets 557,062 607,917 1,100,979 1,215,834 Total operating expenses 6,433,149 10,742,924 13,182,450 16,943,619 Loss from operations (2,577,524 ) (7,482,429 ) (5,745,189 ) (10,425,848 ) Other income (expenses) Interest income 1,777 5,223 1,777 5,223 Interest expense (143,374 ) (267,440 ) (352,945 ) (514,741 ) Total other income (expenses) (141,597 ) (262,217 ) (351,168 ) (509,518 ) Net loss before income taxes (2,719,121 ) (7,744,646 ) (6,096,357 ) (10,935,366 ) Income tax benefit 129,312 – 289,216 – Net loss $ (2,589,809 ) $ (7,744,646 ) $ (5,807,141 ) $ (10,935,366 ) Net earnings/(loss) per share – basic and diluted $ (0.09 ) $ (0.30 ) $ (0.20 ) $ (0.43 ) Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted 29,532,501 25,751,441 28,946,644 25,377,832 GIFTIFY, INC. AND SUBSDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net loss $ (5,807,141 ) $ (10,935,366 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities Fair value of vested stock options 1,962,000 5,706,311 Fair value of vested restricted common stock 1,063,918 1,589,609 Fair value of common stock issued for services 384,088 217,500 Loss on fair value of common stock issued for settlement of vendor 33,750 – Depreciation of capitalized software costs 323,080 681,474 Amortization of intangible assets 1,100,979 1,215,834 Amortization of debt discount 10,430 – Accrued interest (14,740 ) 31,868 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 81,060 46,211 Inventories 2,094,785 (1,087,690 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (305,661 ) (28,735 ) Right of use assets 155,724 155,011 Accounts payable (272,281 ) (510,163 ) Accrued expenses (9,528 ) 205,235 Customer deposits (94,847 ) – Deferred revenue 30,453 (222,972 ) Deferred taxes (293,716 ) – Operating lease liability (152,402 ) (138,327 ) Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 289,951 (3,074,200 ) CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Cash received on acquisition 109,543 – Capital expenditures – (449,646 ) Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 109,543 (449,646 ) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from line of credit 61,299,312 53,772,243 Repayment of line of credit (63,388,495 ) (52,839,180 ) Proceeds from note payable 985,000 – Repayment of notes payable (825,928 ) – Repayment of notes payable – related party (2,000,000 ) – Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of expenses, under at-the-market sale agreement 1,383,702 – Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of expenses, under stock purchase agreement 374,500 – Proceeds from public offering of common stock 478,000 – Proceeds from private offering of common stock 250,000 – Repayment of acquisition obligation – (500,000 ) Proceeds from private placement of common stock – 2,921,500 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (1,443,909 ) 3,354,563 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (1,044,415 ) (169,283 ) Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period 4,301,842 5,682,372 Cash and cash equivalents end of period $ 3,257,427 $ 5,513,089 SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION Interest paid $ 322,289 $ 510,417 Taxes paid $ – $ – NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES Common shares issued for acquisition $ 609,000 $ – Common shares issued for trade accounts payable $ 108,750 $ – Accounts receivable from acquisition $ 37,499 $ – Deposits from acquisition $ 2,633 $ – Accounts payable from acquisition $ 500 $ – Accrued expenses from acquisition $ 13,340 $ – Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities $ – $ 1,395,541 Giftify, Inc. Supplemental Operating Metrics (Unaudited) Our gross billings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 were as follows: Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 2024 Change % 2025 2024 Change % Gross billings $ 36,072,063 $ 29,287,369 23.2 % $ 73,091,528 $ 59,319,954 23.2 % Gross billings are the total dollar value of customer purchases of goods and services. Gross billings are presented net of customer refunds and order discounts. A significant portion of our revenue transactions are comprised of sales of discounted merchant gift cards in which we collect the transaction price from the customer and remit a portion of the transaction price to the third-party suppliers who will provide the related goods or services. For these transactions, gross billings differ from Net Sales reported in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, which is presented net of the merchant's share of the transaction price. Gross billings are an indicator of our growth and business performance as it measures the dollar volume of transactions generated through our marketplaces. Tracking gross billings also allows us to monitor the percentage of gross billings that we are able to retain after payments to merchants. Giftify, Inc. Non-GAAP Reconciliation Schedules (Unaudited) Set forth below is a reconciliation of net loss to Modified EBITDA for the three months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 (unaudited): Three Months Ended June 30, 2025 Three Months Ended June 30, 2024 Net Loss $ (2,589,809 ) $ (7,744,646 ) Modified EBITDA adjustments: Income taxes (129,312 ) – Interest expense, net 141,597 262,217 Amortization of intangible assets 557,062 608,017 Amortization of capitalized software costs 161,544 302,737 Bad debt expense 100,810 – Stock option and other noncash compensation 1,607,872 6,214,545 Total Modified EBITDA adjustments 2,439,573 7,387,516 Modified EBITDA $ (150,236 ) $ (357,130 ) Set forth below is a reconciliation of net loss to Modified EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 (unaudited): Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 Net Loss $ (5,807,141 ) $ (10,935,366 ) Modified EBITDA adjustments: Income taxes (289,216 ) – Interest expense, net 351,167 509,518 Amortization of intangible assets 1,100,979 1,215,834 Amortization of capitalized software costs 323,087 681,474 Loss on fair value of stock issued on vendor settlement 33,750 – Bad debt expense 100,810 – Stock option and other noncash compensation 3,410,007 7,513,421 Total Modified EBITDA adjustments 5,030,584 9,920,247 Modified EBITDA $ (776,557 ) $ (1,015,119 ) We present Modified EBITDA because we believe it assists investors and analysts in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. In addition, we use Modified EBITDA in developing our internal budgets, forecasts and strategic plan; in analyzing the effectiveness of our business strategies in evaluating potential acquisitions; making compensation decisions; and in communications with our board of directors concerning our financial performance. Modified EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, which includes, among others, the following: ● Modified EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; ● Modified EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; ● Modified EBITDA does not reflect future interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debts; and ● Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and Modified EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business Wire
Fifth Third Bancorp Announces Earnings Release Dates for 2026 and 2027
CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fifth Third Bancorp (Nasdaq: FITB) is expected to report financial results and host conference calls to discuss results on the following dates: Fourth Quarter 2025 – Tuesday, January 20, 2026 – 10:00 AM ET First Quarter 2026 – Friday, April 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM ET Second Quarter 2026 – Friday, July 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM ET Third Quarter 2026 – Monday, October 19, 2026 – 9:00 AM ET Fourth Quarter 2026 – Tuesday, January 19, 2027 – 10:00 AM ET First Quarter 2027 – Tuesday, April 20, 2027 – 9:00 AM ET Second Quarter 2027 – Tuesday, July 20, 2027 – 9:00 AM ET Third Quarter 2027 – Tuesday, October 19, 2027 – 9:00 AM ET Financial results are expected to be available at approximately 6:30 AM ET on each of the dates listed above. Conference calls will be webcast live and may be accessed through the Fifth Third Investor Relations website at (click on 'About Us' then 'Investor Relations'). Those unable to listen to the live webcasts may access a webcast replay through the Fifth Third Investor Relations website at the same web address. About Fifth Third Fifth Third is a bank that's as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we've been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it's one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people, and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation's highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust. Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol 'FITB.' Investor information and press releases can be viewed at Category: Earnings
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Yahoo
Rate cuts could be weeks away. Here's how much history says stocks could rise as the Fed eases policy.
Investors expect the Fed to resume rate cuts next month. Historically, rate cuts have led to strong S&P 500 gains, but there have been exceptions. Here's what history says about how the market behaves once rate cuts start back up. After a weak few months of job growth, investors are banking on rate cuts from the Federal Reserve at their September meeting, and history shows cuts could be like rocket fuel for stocks in the months that follow. LPL Financial recently conducted an analysis of how stocks have performed from the first rate cut in a rate-reduction cycle until the eventual start of a new hiking cycle. On average, the S&P 500 has returned 30.3% during the nine periods when rates have been on the decline since 1974. The median return during those periods was 13.3%. Returns have been positive in six of those nine cycles. "Using history and prior Fed cutting cycles as a guide, some upside potential may remain for the second half of 2025," Jeff Buchbinder, LPL's chief equity strategist, said in the August 5 report. "But of course, past performance does not guarantee future results, and a new tariff regime not seen since the 1930s could slow earnings growth and fuel volatility." The largest market surges came in the lead up to the dot-com bubble, when the S&P 500 rose 161% from 1995 to 1999, the analysis showed. Other big gains included 62.8% from 1984 to 1993, and 38.2% from 2019 to 2021. But rate cuts aren't always a tailwind, especially during recessionary periods where the Fed acts too late. The market fell 23.5% during the 2007-2009 rate-cutting cycle, and from 2001-2004, the S&P 500 dropped 9.6%. This time around, Buchbinder said it's not a sure thing that rate cuts will be a boon for stocks, with ebullient investor sentiment having pushed up the market to new highs despite uncertainty remaining about the health of the economy. The market has also risen 12% already since the Fed's first cut of the cycle last September. "The delayed effects of trade policy are likely to weigh on the economy in the second half, leading to weaker labor market demand," Buchbinder wrote. "Recent market complacency toward trade policy and an economic narrative dependent upon strong economic data has caught our attention in recent weeks as a potential point of weakness." It's also not a guarantee the Fed continues to ease policy in the months ahead. Economists at Morgan Stanley and Bank of America both see the central bank keeping rates steady for the rest of 2025 despite CME FedWatch data showing investors pricing in 93.2% odds that the Fed cuts in next month. Given the apparent heightened levels of risk at the moment, Buchbinder said a conservative approach could be the best way forward in the near term. The firm likes growth stocks, large caps, and the financials and communication services sectors, he said. "Bottom line, investors may be well served by bracing for occasional bouts of volatility given how much optimism is currently reflected in equity prices," Buchbinder said. The firm's short-term asset allocation committee "advises against increasing portfolio risk beyond benchmark targets currently and continues to monitor tariff negotiations, economic data, earnings, the bond market, and various technical indicators to identify a potentially more attractive entry point to add equities on weakness," he added. Read the original article on Business Insider Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
