Good MorningEquity markets may go wild on Friday after the NFP report is released. The report is expected to show steady job gains, low unemployment, and rising wages that may keep the FOMC from cutting rates in 2025. Inflation continues to run hot, and Trump's policies are expected to keep that trend in place, but there is a silver lining for the market. The forces driving inflation include demand and consumer spending which are both good for stock prices. The S&P 500 may experience volatility in this scenario, but the uptrend is intact, and new highs are likely.
Next week brings another reason for investors to prepare for volatility. The peak of Q4 earnings reporting kicks off with reports from the big banks, and the expectations are high. Financials are expected to lead the S&P 500 for earnings growth, and the estimates are rising. The latest readings have a consensus of nearly 40%, with whisper figures expecting strength. Featured: Small Colorado Company (Backed by Sam Altman) Could Save U.S. Power Grid (Ad) 
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Consumer Discretionary | |
Kura Sushi’s (NASDAQ: KRUS) stock price retreated following the FQ1 2025 release, dipping into a hot buying opportunity for small-cap and restaurant investors. The move is due to the guidance, which fell short and expects growth to slow, but many factors, including the pace of Q1 and store... Read the Full Story |
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From Our Partners | | Marc Chaikin, founder of Chaikin Analytics, says two forces - AI disruption and fracturing global trade - are triggering a historic wealth transfer already underway in 2026. Household names like Intuit (-57%), Boston Scientific (-49%), and Tractor Supply (-40%) are cratering, while lesser-known companies like Sandisk (+573%) and Rackspace (+444%) surge.
Chaikin has identified specific stocks he believes investors should sell before they fall further - and the names may surprise you. He's also pinpointing a company tapped as Nvidia's self-driving partner and a potential AI megadeal that could split into three high-growth stocks.
Stream his free presentation to get every buy and sell recommendation with no membership or credit card required. | | Watch Marc Chaikin's free presentation and get his full buy-and-sell list today |
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Healthcare | |
Zymeworks (NYSE: ZYME) came into focus in late December when major shareholder EcoR1 Capital increased its stake. Already a 10% holder and board member, EcoR1 made several purchases in December and the first days of 2025, bringing its holding to over 15 million shares. This is a significant increa... Read the Full Story |
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Consumer Discretionary | |
MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ: MELI), often referred to as the "Amazon of Latin America," is the largest e-commerce and fintech platform in the region, operating across 18 countries. The company connects millions of buyers and sellers through its extensive online marketplace and a robust suite of s... Read the Full Story |
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From Our Partners | | TradeSmith CEO Keith Kaplan warns that AI's rapid rise has a dark side, threatening American jobs and livelihoods. He says now is the time to prepare before August 31st.
TradeSmith has invested $17 million in AI tools and built a platform used by 180,000 traders worldwide. One user, Stephen, credits it with building a $2.95 million retirement portfolio. | | See where Kaplan says to move your money before August 31st |
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Technology | |
In his latest report, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives revealed his top AI picks for 2025. Among them was the firm Pegasystems (NASDAQ: PEGA). The software company already had a great 2024, with shares providing a total return of 91%. Wedbush, as well as other Wall Street analysts, remain bullish on the t... Read the Full Story |
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Communication Services | |
Visual content developers and entertainment and media investors were elated when Shutterstock (NYSE: SSTK) and Getty Images (NYSE: GETY) announced that they were merging. This $3.7 billion deal will combine two of the biggest names in stock photography, video, and music, creating a behemoth strate... Read the Full Story |
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From Our Partners | | Gold is hitting record highs, but most investors are leaving income on the table. A $15 fund is quietly paying out up to $1,152 a month to regular investors - no mining stocks, no options, no physical metal required.
Chief Income Strategist Tim Plaehn calls it a breakthrough strategy that transforms gold's rally into reliable monthly payouts. The next distribution is just days away. | | Discover the gold income fund before the next payout date |
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Technology | |
Now that the new year 2025 is getting started, most investors are focusing on getting ahead as far as they can in the first quarter so that they have an open field ahead of them during the rest of the year and not worry so much about the market’s fluctuations and volatility. One of the best ... Read the Full Story |
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Technology | |
Aurora Innovation's (NASDAQ: AUR) share price surged more than 50% following news it had partnered with NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA).
While there are hurdles to overcome, the share price can easily rise another 100% or more this year because the stock is deeply undervalued. The deal with NVIDIA is part ... Read the Full Story |
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Technology | |
As we head into the first couple of weeks of the year, Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ: AMD) shares are looking like one of the more intriguing opportunities in the semiconductor space. From their all-time high in March of 2024, the tech giant’s stock has retreated a staggering 50%, inclu... Read the Full Story |
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Technology | |
These three Magnificent Seven stocks spent the most money on buybacks of all S&P 500 companies, returning large amounts of capital to shareholders. I’ll detail which of these huge firms led the way in share repurchases and also provide insight on whether they’ll be able to do so ag... Read the Full Story |
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Communication Services | |
Penny stocks, loosely defined as stocks that trade for under $5 per share, have drawn renewed interest from traders and investors ever since the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States. The idea is that the incoming administration will enact tax policies and lower regulatory b... Read the Full Story |
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Friday's Early Bird Stock Of The Day Ulta Beauty, Inc. operates as a specialty beauty retailer in the United States. The company offers branded and private label beauty products, including cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, skincare, bath and body products, professional hair products, and salon styling tools through its Ulta Beauty stores, shop-in-shops, Ulta.com website, and its mobile applications. It also offers beauty services, including hair, makeup, brow, and skin services at its stores. The company was formerly known as ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. and changed its name to Ulta Beauty, Inc. in January 2017. Ulta Beauty, Inc. was incorporated in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois. | Should I Buy Ulta Beauty Stock? ULTA Bull and Bear Case Explained
These insights were generated using artificial intelligence. They are based on proprietary MarketBeat data, news articles, and custom LLM A.I. algorithms. This analysis of Ulta Beauty was last updated on Friday, August 28, 2026 at 7:10 PM.
Ulta Beauty Bull Case -
Ulta Beauty, Inc. recently reported earnings per share (EPS) of $6.55, exceeding analysts' expectations, which indicates strong financial performance and potential for growth.
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The company has shown a significant increase in quarterly revenue, with an 8.9% rise compared to the same quarter last year, suggesting robust demand for its products and services.
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Ulta Beauty, Inc. has a high return on equity of 44.77%, reflecting efficient management and the ability to generate profits from shareholders' investments.
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The current stock price is around $720, which may present a favorable entry point for investors looking to capitalize on the company's growth trajectory.
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Analysts predict that Ulta Beauty, Inc. will post an EPS of 28.77 for the current fiscal year, indicating continued profitability and potential for stock appreciation.
Ulta Beauty Bear Case -
Despite recent revenue growth, the competitive landscape in the beauty retail sector is intense, which could pressure margins and market share.
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Ulta Beauty, Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at a range that may be perceived as conservative, potentially limiting investor expectations for explosive growth.
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The company's net margin of 9.36% may not be as high as some investors would prefer, indicating that there could be room for improvement in profitability.
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Market volatility and economic uncertainties could impact consumer spending on beauty products, which may affect Ulta Beauty, Inc.'s sales performance.
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As the company continues to expand its e-commerce platform, it may face challenges in maintaining the same level of customer experience that its brick-and-mortar stores provide.
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