Market Signal Briefing

$40 Gets You 4 High-Conviction Trades. Let's Go.

We just booked back-to-back double-digit gains on Celsius and Palantir in Trade of the Week, and we’re eyeing even bigger wins!

Every week starts with a fully defined options trade straight from the desk Schaeffer’s Senior V.P. of Research, Todd Salamone, backed by 30+ years of proven market experience and disciplined risk management.

Right now, you can get 4 total trades over the next 4 weeks for $40 – just $10 per trade.

👉 Sign Up Now to Receive Your First Trade!

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 2, 2026) - Summit Royalties Ltd. (TSXV: SUM) (the "Corporation" or "Summit Royalties"), announced today that a feature article produced by Market One, highlighting the high-margin gold and silver exposure without mining risk, has been published on BNN Bloomberg.

The article outlines how Summit Royalties is building a diversified, cash-flowing gold and silver royalty portfolio designed to deliver high-margin, capital-efficient exposure to rising precious metal prices without operating risk. It highlights the company's rapid growth to 47 royalties through strategic acquisitions, its early cash-flow generation, and a pipeline of near-term catalysts that position Summit as an emerging player in the precious metals royalty sector.

Summit has royalties or streams on three cash-flowing producing assets:

1% NSR royalty on West Red Lake Gold Mines' Madsen Mine50% silver stream on Orezone Gold's Bomboré Mine0.5% NSR royalty on Denarius Metals' Zancudo MineThe article also includes a video interview where Summit Royalties CEO Drew Clark explains how the company is building a diversified, cash-flowing precious metals royalty portfolio that provides high-margin exposure to gold and silver without operating risk. He outlines Summit's rapid growth to 47 royalties, highlights its highest-value assets and near-term production catalysts, and discusses how upcoming expansions, new developments, and a recent OTC listing are expected to drive revenue and NAV growth in 2026.

To read the full article and watch the video interview, please visit BNN Bloomberg at: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/investment-trends/2026/02/02/summit-royalties-targets-high-margin-gold-and-silver-exposure-without-mining-risk/

About Summit Royalties Ltd.
Summit Royalties Ltd. is a precious metals royalty and streaming company. Its current portfolio is anchored by cash-flowing production, with additional royalties on advanced development- and exploration-stage properties. Summit intends to become the next mid-tier royalty and streaming company by executing actionable, accretive acquisitions that increase production and drive cash flow growth. The Corporation has no debt and has sufficient cash on hand for future acquisitions.

To learn more about Summit Royalties, visit their website here. For the latest updates, follow the company on LinkedIn and X.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/282408

Source: Market One Media Group Inc.

Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

Contact Us

Key Takeaways Intel shares climbed 24% over the past three months, but gains contrast with weakening earnings outlook.INTC faces supply constraints, a $2.5B foundry loss, and heavy reliance on external funding for capex.Intel is pressured by falling estimates, China exposure, and stiff competition across PCs, servers, and AI. Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) has gained 24% over the past three months against the industry’s decline of 6%. It has outperformed compared to the Zacks Computer & Technology sector and the S&P 500.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company has also outperformed its competitor, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) , and Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM - Free Report) . AMD has declined 4.5%, while Qualcomm has decreased 15.2% during this period.

Intel’s performance over the past few months has drawn investor interest. The key question, however, is whether this momentum is worth riding or if caution is warranted. Let’s take a closer look.

Intel Rides on Strong AI MomentumIntel is benefiting from solid demand in the Data Center & AI segment. Revenues grew 15% sequentially, and revenues came in above expectations. The company is witnessing strong order growth, and demand for traditional server CPUs remains very strong. The company is forming strategic collaborations with industry leaders like NVIDIA to drive innovation. In collaboration with NVDA, it is working on developing a custom XEON fully integrated with NVIDIA’s NVLink technology to bring best-in-class x86 performance to AI host nodes.

Solid traction in the AI PC market is also a major growth driver. In the fourth quarter, AI PC units grew 16% year over year. It is collaborating with original equipment manufacturers, such as HP and Microsoft, to expand into the AI PC domain. Along with the AI PC domain, Intel is also expanding into the rapidly growing Edge AI landscape.

INTC Plagued by Supply Constraints, Loss in Foundry BusinessDespite strong demand from multiple end markets, Intel is failing to match customer demand. The company is getting into 2026 with depleted buffer inventory, which will limit its ability to match customer demand effectively, impeding revenue and overall growth prospects in the near term.

Intel Foundry business has reported an operating loss of $2.5 billion in the fourth quarter. Loss increased due to the early ramp of Intel 18A. Intel’s 18A yield is still below management’s internal targets. Loss in the foundry business remains a major undermining factor in improving profitability and cash flow.

The company’s also heavily dependent on external funding and asset monetization. Monetization of Mobilieye, completion of our stake sale of Altera, government incentives, investment from Softbank and NVIDIA are supporting its capex spending. This high reliance on external support remains a concern.

INTC Affected by Weakness in CCG, Stiff CompetitionClient Computing Group (CCG) revenues decreased to $8.19 billion from $8.77 billion, driven by a constrained supply despite solid data center demand. Despite growth in the AI PC business, the overall net sales were down 4% sequentially. Lower revenues, early 18A ramp, combined with unfavorable product mix, are putting pressure on gross margin. It is witnessing intensifying competition in the server, storage and networking markets.

The server segment has always generated strong margins, and Intel’s powerful architecture has always been considered supreme. However, it lagged NVIDIA on the innovation front with the latter’s H100 and Blackwell graphics processing units (GPUs) being runaway successes. In the AI PC domain, it is facing strong competition from Qualcomm. The company has been also facing stiff competition from AMD in the commercial PC market. Such factors are straining its growth prospects.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Tariff Related Uncertainties Remains a ConcernIntel generates a significant portion of its revenues from China. Tariff-related uncertainties amid high geopolitical tension between the United States and China remain a major concern. Moreover, the communist nation's purported move to replace U.S.-made chips with domestic alternatives significantly affected its revenue prospects. The recent directive to phase out foreign chips from key telecom networks by 2027 underscores Beijing's accelerating efforts to reduce reliance on Western technology amid escalating U.S.-China tensions.

Estimate Revision Trend of INTCEarnings estimates for Intel for 2025 have moved down 15.25% to 50 cents over the past 60 days, while the same for 2026 has declined 14.04% to 98 cents. The negative estimate revision depicts bearish sentiments for the stock.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Key Valuation Metric for IntelFrom a valuation standpoint, Intel appears to be relatively cheaper than the industry and below its mean. Going by the price/sales ratio, the company shares currently trade at 4.29 forward sales, lower than 17.78 for the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

End NoteIntel is taking various initiatives to establish a strong foothold in the expanding AI infrastructure market. However, despite strong AI traction, the company is facing stiff competition in each of the markets it serves. Downward estimate revision highlights dwindling investors’ confidence. Uncertainty related to Intel 18A adoption remains a concern. Supply constraints will cap its growth to some extent, at least in the near term. Despite growing investment in advanced chip development, regaining a competitive edge over rivals appears to be a challenging endeavor for Intel. Hence, investors should avoid investing in this stock. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). 

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

© FAMILY STOCK / Shutterstock.com

The earnings season is upon us, the Fed has kept the rates steady, and the S&P 500 has hit a fresh record. The big tech earnings will take the market higher. This doesn’t mean that you should jump right in and load up on tech stocks. Instead, you might want to consider a relatively stable investment to navigate the market. 

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are an ideal alternative to investing in individual stocks. They hold a bunch of stocks, carry low risk, and generate steady income. I’ve identified 3 ETFs with a yield higher than 4%. Let’s take a look at them. 

State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dvd ETF The SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (NYSEARCA:SPYD) invests in 80 high dividend-yielding companies and tracks the performance of the S&P 500 High Dividend Index. Since it holds limited stocks, you get to own the best of the industry. 

It aims to provide dividend income and the potential for capital appreciation. The ETF has a yield of 4.57% and an expense ratio of 0.07%. Besides the quarterly dividends, the fund has generated a 1-year return of 4.67% and a 3-year return of 7.85%. 

SPYD isn’t solely focused on tech. Instead, it invests only 0.94% in tech. The fund has the highest allocation to the real estate sector (21.05%), followed by financials (17.08%) and consumer staples (16.17%). 

Its top holdings include Viatris Inc., Ford Motor Company, CVS Health Corporation, Invesco Limited, Merck & Co., and Citizens Financial Group. No stock has a weightage higher than 2%. The ETF rebalances semi-annually, ensuring the top dividend payers from the S&P 500 are included in it. 

As of writing, the ETF is trading for $44, up 1.3% in the past year. This ETF is ideal for investors seeking stable income and who have the patience to sit back and watch the stocks move higher.

Global SuperDividend U.S. ETF  The Global X SuperDividend ETF (NYSEARCA:SDIV) is another top dividend fund that has a yield of 7.96%. It invests in the 100 highest-yielding dividend stocks in the world. With SDIV, you get global exposure and get to own the best dividend stocks. The fund sets itself apart with monthly dividend payments, ensuring you get a check each month. It has an expense ratio of 0.58%.

SDIV has generated an average annualized 1-year return of 28.27% and a 3-year return of 11.43%. It heavily invests in the United States (30%), followed by Brazil (13.6%) and Britain (10.2%). 

Sector-wise, it has the highest allocation to the financial industry (32.4%) and energy industry (16.5%). Since it invests in global stocks, it carries a certain level of volatility, but if you’re only chasing yields, SDIV won’t disappoint. No stock has a weightage over 2%.

An investment of $100,000 in SDIV would generate about $8,000 in annual dividends. The fund has paid steady dividends for 14 years, making it an ideal choice for retirees. SDIV is exchanging hands for $26.23 and has gained 23% in the past year. It is a cheap ETF offering global diversification, monthly dividends, and an upside potential. 

JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF The JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSEARCA:JEPI) is a unique fund with a strong yield of 8.13%. Not many ETFs have a yield as high as 8%. However, JEPI sets itself apart with a two-step strategy to offer passive income and growth. 

It generates income by selling options and invests in U.S. blue-chip stocks. The fund looks for undervalued stocks that carry low volatility and a favorable risk-return profile. It is an ideal fund for investors who seek regular cash payments. Its core strategy is to remain invested in large-cap stocks while adding an options layer that helps boost income. JEPI pays monthly dividends. 

The actively managed fund has an expense ratio of 0.35% and offers one of the highest yields. It holds 125 stocks and has the highest allocation to the technology sector (14.6%), followed by healthcare and industrials at 12.3% and financials at 11%. Its top 10 holdings are a mix of dividend giants and the Magnificent Seven. These include Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie, Nvidia, Meta Platforms, Alphabet, NextEra Energy, and Analog Devices. 

JEPI has generated a cumulative 5-year return of 56.78%. It is exchanging hands for $58.55 and has remained flat in the past year. JEPI is a low-risk investment that can generate predicable income throughout the year. 

If You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention (sponsor) Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:

Answer a few simple questions Get Matched with Vetted Advisors  Choose Your  Fit  Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. Get started today! (sponsor)

Oracle Corp’s plan to raise up to $50 billion next year is landing as a relief trade for Wall Street, with analysts saying the financing move helps quiet fears about how the software giant will pay for the massive AI data-center buildout tied to customers such as OpenAI and Nvidia.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said the fundraising effort signals Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) is “doubling down on its AI efforts” and should help lift a cloud that has hung over the stock in recent months.

“Over the past few months there have growing investor concerns around Oracle’s ability to meet its datacenter buildouts and $300 billion deal with OpenAI which have been a black cloud over the stock,” Ives wrote. He added that the planned capital raise “will be received well by investors as they digest it and ultimately shows Oracle is doubling down on its AI efforts (not backing down from the noise).”

Oracle said it plans to raise $45 billion to $50 billion in calendar 2026 to support data-center expansion tied to customers including OpenAI, Nvidia, AMD and xAI, as demand for AI computing capacity continues to surge.

Jefferies analysts said the financing plan directly addresses funding concerns and buys Oracle time as it scales its Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) platform.

“ORCL addressed funding concerns with a $45–50B financing plan in CY26,” Jefferies wrote, adding that the move “reinforces ORCL’s commitment to its aggressive AI infra expansion and helps close the gap between its FY26E capex of (less than) $50B and its current liquidity.”

Jefferies noted Oracle plans to fund the raise with a roughly 50-50 mix of equity and debt, including equity-linked securities, common equity issuance, a new $20 billion at-the-market program, and a single issuance of investment-grade unsecured bonds early in 2026. The firm said Oracle’s decision not to issue additional bonds during the year underscores its focus on preserving investment-grade status.

“Importantly, ORCL does not expect additional bond issuance during the year, reinforcing its commitment to maintaining investment-grade status and capital allocation transparency as OCI continues to scale,” Jefferies wrote.

Analysts cautioned, however, that the plan does not eliminate all risks. Jefferies said Oracle will likely need additional funding beyond 2026, as free cash flow is not expected to turn positive until fiscal 2029, while near-term dilution and margin pressure could weigh on earnings.

“Execution risk remains high given the scale and pace of build-out,” Jefferies wrote, warning that any delays in hyperscale contracts could push out margin expansion.

Still, Wedbush framed Oracle’s move as part of a broader push by major technology firms to control their own AI destinies.

“These are both two important developments to help the AI Revolution take its next step of growth and monetization ahead,” Ives wrote, adding that Oracle and Nvidia are “steamrolling ahead in their efforts to buildout this next consumer and enterprise economy that AI is fueling.”

Forestar Group (FOR - Free Report) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given a notable revision in the company's earnings estimates. While the stock has been gaining lately, the trend might continue since its earnings outlook is still improving.

The rising trend in estimate revisions, which is a result of growing analyst optimism on the earnings prospects of this real estate and natural resources developer, should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. Our stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is principally built on this insight.

The five-grade Zacks Rank system, which ranges from a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record of outperformance, with Zacks #1 Ranked stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 2008.

Consensus earnings estimates for the next quarter and full year have moved considerably higher for Forestar Group, as there has been strong agreement among the covering analysts in raising estimates.

The chart below shows the evolution of forward 12-month Zacks Consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Current-Quarter Estimate RevisionsThe company is expected to earn $0.72 per share for the current quarter, which represents a year-over-year change of +12.5%.

Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Forestar Group has increased 18.03% because one estimate has moved higher compared to no negative revisions.

Current-Year Estimate RevisionsThe company is expected to earn $3.06 per share for the full year, which represents a change of -7.6% from the prior-year number.

The revisions trend for the current year also appears quite promising for Forestar Group, with one estimate moving higher over the past month compared to no negative revisions. The consensus estimate has also received a boost over this time frame, increasing 8.13%.

Favorable Zacks RankThanks to promising estimate revisions, Forestar Group currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The Zacks Rank is a tried-and-tested rating tool that helps investors effectively harness the power of earnings estimate revisions and make the right investment decision.

You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Our research shows that stocks with Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) significantly outperform the S&P 500.

Bottom LineInvestors have been betting on Forestar Group because of its solid estimate revisions, as evident from the stock's 7% gain over the past four weeks. As its earnings growth prospects might push the stock higher, you may consider adding it to your portfolio right away.

-

Seasoned Commercial Real Estate and Private Credit Professional to Support Growing Demand for Note Finance Solutions

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Western Alliance Bank today announced that Ian Hawk has joined the company as New York market manager for the Note Finance Group, expanding the bank’s presence in one of the nation’s most competitive private credit hubs .

Western Alliance Bank Expands Note Finance Team in New York With Addition of Market Manager Ian Hawk

Share In this role, Hawk provides Western Alliance Bank’s differentiated leverage solutions to New York-based private credit platforms, offering clients nearly a decade of experience across public and private real estate, capital markets, origination and AI‑driven financial analysis to deliver deep data-driven insights to facilitate informed decision-making.

“We’re pleased to enhance Western Alliance Bank’s Note Finance presence within the New York region with the addition of Ian Hawk, who has strong experience and relationships with key real estate lenders, portfolio managers and institutional investors,” said Mark Roberts, National Sales Manager for Western Alliance Bank’s Note Finance Group. “Ian is well prepared to help Western Alliance expand the availability of note finance and single note-on-note products and solutions in this region, which is experiencing growing demand for tailored, flexible financing.”

Hawk brings extensive experience with commercial real estate financing, including collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), mortgage brokerage, and debt and equity capital for real estate developers and institutional and entrepreneurial sponsors across all asset types. He joins Western Alliance from Lument and previously worked for Dwight Securities Management, Walker & Dunlop and Fitch Ratings.

“Western Alliance Bank is at the heart of the note finance industry, with a distinctive entrepreneurial approach that focuses on ways to say ‘yes’ and do deals,” Hawk said. “Having served on both sides of the note finance relationship, including managing capital markets at a debt fund, I’m excited to bring my insights into what clients are seeking from note finance solutions to better meet their needs in this competitive landscape.”

Hawk earned his Bachelor of Finance degree from the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University. He is active in his community, having served as a volunteer firefighter with the Woodmere Fire Department, as well as working with Project Ezrah, a community organization that provides job placement and other services to families in need.

Western Alliance Note Finance, a national banking group within Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, delivers flexible, custom-tailored solutions and exceptional service that private lenders can rely on. The experienced relationship banking team is a trusted, committed resource empowering funds nationwide to access financing quickly. For more information, visit Western Alliance Note Finance.

About Western Alliance Bank

Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL) is one of the country’s top-performing banking companies and has ranked as a top U.S. bank by American Banker and Bank Director since 2016. Its primary subsidiary, Western Alliance Bank, is a leading national bank for business that puts customers first, delivering tailored business banking solutions and consumer products backed by outstanding, personalized service and specific expertise in more than 30 industries and sectors. With $90 billion in assets and offices nationwide, Western Alliance excels at helping businesses of all sizes capitalize on their opportunities to solve today and succeed tomorrow. For more information on our offerings, subsidiaries and affiliates, visit Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, or follow us on LinkedIn.

About Note Finance

Western Alliance Note Finance, a national banking group within Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, delivers flexible, custom-tailored solutions and exceptional service that private lenders can rely on. The experienced relationship banking team is a trusted, committed resource empowering funds nationwide to access financing quickly. The Note Finance Group is part of Western Alliance Bancorporation, which has $90 billion in assets and has ranked as a top U.S. bank by American Banker and Bank Director since 2016. With significant national capabilities, the Note Finance Group delivers the reach, resources and deep industry knowledge to help businesses capitalize on their opportunities to solve today and succeed tomorrow. For more information, visit Western Alliance Note Finance.

More News From Western Alliance Bank

Back to Newsroom

NEW YORK, Feb. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New York Times and international bestselling author J.D. Barker has announced the highly anticipated expansion of his wildly popular 4MK Thriller series with three newly completed prequels that will explore the dark origins of one of modern suspense fiction's most terrifying villains. The first installment, THE FIRST SCARLET DOOR, is scheduled for worldwide release on September 22, 2026.

Hampton Creek Press will publish THE FIRST SCARLET DOOR domestically in partnership with Simon & Schuster, with the novel releasing simultaneously in approximately two dozen languages across roughly 150 countries through regional publishing partners. This marks one of the most extensive coordinated launches in recent thriller fiction history.

"Since the launch of the 4MK series, readers worldwide have wanted to know one thing: how did this killer become who he is?" said Barker. "These prequels take readers back to the beginning—to the moments that shaped a monster.”

The 4MK Thriller series has garnered critical acclaim and a devoted international following since its debut, with readers drawn to Barker's intricate plotting, psychological depth, and ability to craft truly unsettling antagonists. The announcement of three prequels represents a significant expansion of the series' universe and promises to deepen the mythology that has made 4MK a modern thriller phenomenon.

Details regarding the second and third prequels will be announced at a later date.

A television series based on the books is currently in active development with an A-list production company known for globally recognized franchise IP.

About J.D. Barker J.D. Barker is a New York Times and international bestselling author of numerous thrillers, including the acclaimed 4MK series. His work has been translated into multiple languages and has earned him a reputation as one of the most compelling voices in modern suspense fiction.

About Hampton Creek Press Hampton Creek Press is committed to publishing exceptional fiction that captivates and challenges readers worldwide.

On this episode of the “ETF of the Week” podcast, VettaFi’s Head of Research, Todd Rosenbluth, discussed the Fidelity Enhanced Small Cap ETF (FESM) with Chuck Jaffe of Money Life. The pair discussed several topics related to the fund to give investors a deeper understanding of the ETF.

Chuck Jaffe: One fund, on point for today. The expert to talk about it. Welcome to the ETF of the Week!

Welcome to the ETF of the Week, where we examine trending, newsworthy, unique, and intriguing exchange-traded funds. And we do it with Todd Rosenbluth, the head of research at VettaFi. And at VettaFi.com, you’ll find all the tools and research that you need to make yourself a savvier, smarter investor in ETFs. 

Todd Rosenbluth, it’s great to chat with you again!

Todd Rosenbluth: Same here, Chuck.

Chuck Jaffe: Your ETF of the Week is…

Todd Rosenbluth: The Fidelity Enhanced Small Cap ETF, FESM.

Chuck Jaffe: FESM, the Fidelity Enhanced Small Cap ETF. You know, Todd, on Money Life, we’ve had a whole bunch of money managers say they expect this to be a pretty good year for small-caps. They think the rally we’ve been awaiting — that we’ve had a lot of false starts on — is here and it’s coming. This is a fund with a quality track record. But is it about small-caps? Is it about “enhanced,” or is it about timing?

Todd Rosenbluth: It’s a combination of those things. So, I noticed that this ETF, FESM, saw strong inflows — $2 billion worth in 2025 — when the overall investment style of small-cap ETFs was out of favor. The IWM, the Russell 2000 ETF, bled money. The iShares Core S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF, IJR, also bled money. FESM gained money — in fact, $2 billion worth — and it’s continued to gain money.

So now that investors are more on board with the small-cap investment style, this ETF — strong performer. It is active, using computer-generated efforts, and we can talk about the investment approach in a deeper dive in a moment. 

But this fund has outperformed its peers, its benchmark over a long track record. It’s relatively cheap. Fidelity is a brand name many people are familiar with, and they are a growing player within the active ETF space. Lots of good things about this fund.

Chuck Jaffe: Let’s go back and talk about the active management on this one, because one of the things you said was “computer-driven,” and you’ve been doing a lot with active ETFs. You know, the ETF of the Week is most of the time an active pick over the potential for something that is just an index fund in the same space. 

But Fidelity is known for its active management; that’s where this shop cut its teeth. So why this particular methodology, and how does it differ from classic, you know, Fidelity, “I’ve got a stock jockey in the saddle”?

Todd Rosenbluth: You’re right, this is different. So, Fidelity offers some of those in the ETF wrapper; they have the word “Fundamental” in place of the word “Enhanced.” This is the Fidelity Enhanced Small Cap ETF. This is using computer aides to help do analysis of historical valuation, growth, profitability, and other characteristics to — in a well-diversified, relatively low-cost manner — give small-cap exposure.

So, it is active, but it’s more “strategic active” than the traditional stock-picking from a bottom-up standpoint. When you look at this fund, when I looked at this fund, relative to its benchmark, it’s not taking on that much sector exposure. So, relatively in line for industrials, healthcare, and financials. As I looked off to the side for a second to just check those, those are all double-digit percentage sectors — industrials, financials, healthcare — in line with what you’re going to see within the benchmark. 

And it’s more the stock-picking, but [with]600 stocks within this portfolio. So, you get active management, but not significantly aggressive active management the way that you can within a traditional active ETF.

Chuck Jaffe: This fund historically has gone gangbusters when the market has done well. It has been less of a performer relative to its small-cap peers at times when the market has struggled — roughly. That being the case, I mean, a lot of people turn to active management not so much to get a goose on the upside, but to have downside protection. 

In this case, do you worry at all about that? I mean, would you rather have the more human form of this — the more personal manager touch in a fund — if you’re worried at all that this rally is not going to hold with small-caps?

Todd Rosenbluth: I’m going to take your question and slide it a little bit. What we found is that for many people, their go-to vehicle to get small-cap exposure in the ETF space is the Russell 2000. The iShares Russell 2000 is IWM. That’s the largest, I believe, of those Russell 2000-based ETFs. 

That’s a relatively simple index in that it just takes the 2,000 largest stocks that don’t make it into the Russell 1000. And there’s no criteria behind it. Many of the companies that are in the Russell 2000 are unprofitable. It’s actually not one of the intentions, but that is one of the appeals for investors, and then you get unprofitable companies that are more risk-on oriented.

So, what I like about this ETF, FESM, is that there is a quality approach to it. It’s done through an active perspective, but this is a focus on profitability. So, you are going to own companies that are profitable in the small-cap space that are positioned to be able to grow. 

That should help to offset some of the volatility that you find within small-caps. But you’re right, in 2022 when the broader small-cap space was down, this fund was down, I believe slightly more than the Morningstar category, but it held up better than its benchmark.

So, that’s a data point in time. The last three years, which are all good years — all the three years while this was an ETF. We’ve talked about it in the past that there are mutual funds that convert into ETFs. 

This is an example of that; this fund from Fidelity has a long-term track record that isn’t entirely as an ETF, but as a mutual fund. It just shows you that more and more asset managers are skating where the puck is. Investors are buying ETFs; Fidelity brought one of its better products into the ETF world.

Chuck Jaffe: As I look at the way I ask you questions, Todd, one of the things is I typically only ask you about expense ratios when they might be a little expensive for what they’re doing. But this fund… well, I mean, you’re getting active management. Maybe it’s because of the style of management, but you’re almost paying index fund fees on it, aren’t you?

Todd Rosenbluth: You are. So, 28 basis points is the fee for this product. We’ve seen — I know I’ve answered a version of this question a couple of different ways — people are willing to pay up for active management when it’s working out well. And so, for example, in 2025, this fund beat its benchmark by roughly 500 basis points. 

And according to the fact sheet that I’m looking at from Fidelity, it outperformed the Morningstar category by almost a thousand basis points. So, even if this was charging more than 28 basis points, investors were being rewarded for that. But this is a relatively low-cost way of getting active small-cap exposure.

Chuck Jaffe: And the role that this plays in a portfolio — if somebody already has small-cap exposure, does it kind of depend — like, if they’ve got it through an index, okay, great, this is your active management. But if you’ve got small-caps and you have active management, does this one compare well? Make sure your fund stacks up, but we don’t want to add — or do we want to add this as a core holding regardless?

Todd Rosenbluth: So, I think this can be a core holding within a portfolio. If you — I don’t believe people should sell out of funds that they’re happy with just because we offer another idea and another alternative. So, if you are happy with the track record and the exposure that you’re getting and how much you’re paying with your existing small-cap product, then this is good to put on your radar and perhaps wait for an opportunity if you want to get more aggressive and overweight your exposure to small-caps. 

And I know you mentioned some guessing this is a good time for small-caps, and I think it is a good time for small-caps. But people may not want to be that tactical within their portfolios. But this can be a good strategic, low-cost, small-cap part of your portfolio. If you own something, you shouldn’t just pay taxes as a result of selling it. But if you own a mutual fund that is charging you a lot more than 28 basis points and it’s not delivering this type of performance, this might be a good alternative for you if you’re comfortable with ETFs.

Chuck Jaffe: Yeah, absolutely. It’s got a lot of potential for that kind of role. And like I said, not only are guests telling me about small-caps, they’re routinely saying that investors, while they may have a small-cap allocation, don’t have enough allocated towards small-caps. 

So if you’re looking to goose your small-cap allocation, start with FESM, Fidelity Enhanced Small Cap. Consider it, because it’s the ETF of the Week. Todd Rosenbluth, always great to chat with you. See you next week!

Todd Rosenbluth: I’ll see you next week!

Chuck Jaffe: The ETF of the Week is a joint production of VettaFi and Money Life with Chuck Jaffe. And yep, I’m Chuck Jaffe, and I’d love it if you check out my hour-long weekday podcast. You can do that by going to MoneyLifeShow.com, or you can just look for it wherever you find your favorite podcasts. 

Now, if you’re looking for more and more detailed information on your favorite ETFs or what might be your next favorite ETF — the things we talk about here — check out VettaFi.com. Dig into the tools they have there and you will become a better, savvier investor. They’re on X at @Vetta_Fi, and Todd Rosenbluth, their head of research, my guest, he’s on X as well at @ToddRosenbluth. 

The ETF of the Week is here for you every Thursday. Make sure you don’t miss an episode by following along on your favorite podcast app. And we’ll have another ETF for you to consider again next week. Until then, happy investing everybody!

Note: This article was created in part through assistance from AI tools. The content has been thoroughly reviewed and edited by the author. 

For more news, information, and strategy, visit the ETF Investing Content Hub.

Earn free CE credits and discover new strategies

This article looks at the 10-year Treasury yield’s historical trends since 1962, exploring its relationship with key economic indicators like the Fed Funds Rate (FFR), inflation, and the S&P 500.

Fighting Inflation vs. Stimulating Recovery The 10-year Treasury yield has experienced dramatic fluctuations, ranging from a peak of 15.68% in October 1981, during the height of the Volcker era, to a historic low of 0.55% in August 2020, amidst the economic uncertainty of the pandemic. More recently, at the end of January 2026, the weekly average stood at 4.24%.

The stagflation crisis of the late 1970s and early 1980s demanded drastic measures. To combat soaring prices, Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker pushed the Federal Funds Rate (FFR) to a historic high of 20.06% in January 1981. This aggressive tightening of monetary policy was instrumental in curbing runaway inflation, albeit at the cost of a significant economic slowdown. Nine months later, in October 1981, the 10-year yield’s weekly average hit a peak of 15.68%.

In stark contrast, the FFR was driven to near-zero levels in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and again during the economic turmoil of the 2020 pandemic. Specifically, the FFR reached a record low of approximately 0.04% in May 2020. A few months later, the 10-year yield weekly average fell to a historic low of 0.55% in August. These periods of ultra-low interest rates aimed to stimulate borrowing, investment, and economic recovery.

The Recent Surge and Policy Response This period of ultra-low rates was followed by inflation reaching its highest levels since the aforementioned stagflation crisis. In response, the Fed began raising rates to fight inflation, though some would argue their efforts were too late. From May 2022 to August 2023, the Fed quickly raised the FFR to its highest level in over 20 years. The 10-year yield moved in similar fashion, tracking the sharp rise in the FFR.

The Fed then held its rate steady for just over a year as inflation cooled from its 2022 peak. However, the central bank shifted course in September 2024, implementing three consecutive rate cuts. Interestingly, while the FFR declined during the back end of 2024, the 10-year yield moved in the opposite direction and inflation remained sticky.

In 2025, the Fed maintained steady rates for the first half of the year before implementing three consecutive rate cuts to close out the year. Meanwhile, the 10-year yield has slowly trended downwards, moving mostly in sync with the FFR. Despite these rate moves, inflation heated up for most of the year, remaining well above the Fed’s 2% target.

At the end of December, the 10-year yield weekly average stood at 4.24% while inflation was at 2.68%. At their last meeting, the Fed held the federal funds rate (FFR) steady in the 3.50%-3.75% range. This move came after three consecutive rate cuts of 25 basis points each and keeps the central bank’s range at its lowest level since November 2022. The statement from the meeting revealed the Committee believes “inflation remains somewhat elevated,” but that they are strongly committed to returning inflation to its 2% objective. The Fed is expected to hold rates steady in the near term, with the CMEFedWatchTool currently projecting an 89% likelihood of rates remaining where they are at their next meeting in March.

Treasuries vs. Equities In our next chart, the S&P 500 is overlaid with the 10-year yield’s weekly average and the Fed Funds Rate. Generally, equities and treasuries tend to move in opposite directions. When one goes up; the other goes down. However, that’s not always the case. During inflationary periods, like the past few years, both move in tandem due to the impact of higher interest rates on corporate profits and bond prices. The initial chart presents nominal values, meaning it doesn’t account for inflation. This can create a misleading picture of the actual purchasing power of yields and equity returns.

Here’s the same chart with the S&P 500 and 10-year yields adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI). By adjusting the data for inflation, we gain a clearer understanding of the real returns. This adjustment reveals the severe impact of stagflation, particularly the significant decline in real equity values from the mid-1960s to 1982. We can also see why high yields can be deceptive in periods of elevated inflation. As evidenced by the stagflation from the 70s/80s and more recently from just a few years ago.

The FFR line offers valuable insights into the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy. We can see how the Fed has used rates to control inflation, accelerate growth and, when needed, apply the brakes. I’ve annotated the top chart with the tenures of the Fed chairmen so we can see who was managing the various FFR cycles since 1960.

Examining the FFR’s historical extremes, from the 20.06% peak in 1981 to the 0.04% trough in 2020, underscores the Federal Reserve’s capacity to implement dramatic policy shifts in response to prevailing economic conditions. In the early 1980s, the priority was taming inflation, while in the more recent periods, the focus shifted to preventing deflation and promoting economic growth.

It’s not obvious that the Fed has done a great job stimulating the economy. However, even during periods of high interest rates, such as the late 1980s and the recent period of rates being at a 20 year high, the S&P 500 has demonstrated resilience and achieved record highs. Our last chart shows the 10-year yield’s daily closes against the S&P 500 with some notes on Fed intervention.

Key Takeaways AMD expects strong Q4 Data Center growth from EPYC processors and Instinct accelerators. Cloud hyperscalers tripled EPYC usage, now totaling over 1,350 public instances globally. Oracle and partners deploy AMD-powered AI superclusters and private cloud platforms. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) is expected to have benefited from strong Data Center revenues in the fourth quarter of 2025. The company is set to release results on Feb. 3, 2026.

The company continues to strengthen its footprint in the enterprise data center arena by leveraging EPYC processors and Instinct accelerators amid significant competition from NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) and Broadcom (AVGO - Free Report) . On a sequential basis, AMD’s topline is expected to benefit from double-digit growth in the Data Center segment with strong growth in server and the continued ramp of the company’s MI350 Series GPUs.

Click here to know how AMD’s overall fourth-quarter performance is likely to be.

AMD’s Data Center Revenues to Ride on Enterprise AdoptionIn the enterprise, AMD’s EPYC has been gaining traction with an expanding clientele in technology, automotive, manufacturing, financial services, and public sector domains. In the third quarter of 2025, the company reported record data center revenues of $4.3 billion, marking a 22% year-over-year increase. This growth was fueled by the rapid adoption of AMD’s 5th Generation EPYC Turin processors, which accounted for nearly half of the overall EPYC revenue during the third quarter.

The adoption of EPYC by the largest cloud hyperscalers has been increasing significantly. In the third quarter of 2025, the adoption of AMD’s EPYC processors in the cloud has surged, with large businesses tripling their usage year over year. Hyperscalers such as Google, Microsoft Azure, and Alibaba have expanded their EPYC-powered offerings, launching more than 160 new instances in the third quarter of 2025 alone.  AMD now boasts over 1,350 public EPYC cloud instances globally, a nearly 50% increase from the previous year.

AMD’s to-be-reported quarter’s Data Center results are also expected to benefit from a rich partner base that includes the likes of OpenAI, Cohere, IBM, Oracle (ORCL - Free Report) , Google, HPE, Dell Technologies, Lenovo, Super Micro, and others.

In the third quarter of 2025, AMD announced that Oracle Cloud Infrastructure will launch the first publicly available AI supercluster using AMD’s Helios rack design, featuring Instinct MI450 GPUs, EPYC Venice CPUs, and Pensando Vulcano networking. The initial deployment includes 50,000 GPUs starting third-quarter 2026. Oracle also announced Compute Cloud@Customer X11 and Private Cloud Appliance X11 platforms powered by 5th Gen EPYC CPUs.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter Data Center revenues is pegged at $4.86 billion, indicating impressive year-over-year growth of 26.04%.

AMD Faces Stiff CompetitionNVIDIA is benefiting from the strong growth of AI and high-performance, accelerated computing. NVIDIA’s newer Hopper 200 and Blackwell GPU platforms are being rapidly adopted as customers work to grow their AI infrastructure.

Broadcom is benefiting from strong demand for its networking products and custom AI accelerators (XPUs). Broadcom expects accelerated demand for XPUs in the back half of 2026 as hyperscalers focus more on inference, along with frontier model training.

Zacks RankAMD currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 2, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Bath & Body Works, Inc. (NYSE: BBWI) between June 4, 2024 and November 19, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important March 16, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Bath & Body Works securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Bath & Body Works class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50622 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 16, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, and that defendants failed to disclose that: (1) Bath & Body Works' strategy of pursuing "adjacencies, collaborations and promotions" was not growing the customer base and/or delivering the level of growth in net sales touted; (2) as Bath & Body Works' strategy of "adjacencies, collaborations and promotions" faltered, it relied on brand collaborations "to carry quarters" and obfuscate otherwise weak underlying financial results; (3) as a result, Bath & Body Works was unlikely to meet its own previously issued financial guidance; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Bath & Body Works' business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Body & Body Works class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50622 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/282398

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

Contact Us

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 2, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Ardent Health, Inc. (NYSE: ARDT) between July 18, 2024 and November 12, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important March 9, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Ardent Health securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Ardent Health class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50392 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 9, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made misrepresentations regarding Ardent Health's accounts receivable. Defendants publicly reported Ardent Health's accounts receivable on a quarterly basis. They further stated that Ardent Health employed an active monitoring process to determine the collectability of its accounts receivable, and that this process included "detailed reviews of historical collections" as a "primary source of information." Further, defendants represented that Ardent Health considered "trends in federal and state governmental healthcare coverage" and that its "management determines [when an] account is uncollectible, at which time the account is written off." When defendants began to reveal increased claim denials by third-party payors, they downplayed the issue, stating that the increased payor denials were "turning [] more into a slow pay versus not getting paid," and did not write-off the uncollectible accounts. In addition, defendants represented that Ardent Health maintained professional malpractice liability insurance in amounts "sufficient to cover claims arising out of [its] operations[.]" In truth, Ardent Health did not primarily rely on "detailed reviews of historical collections" in determining collectability of accounts receivable nor did "management determine[] [when an] account is uncollectible." Instead, Ardent Health's accounts receivable framework "utilized a 180-day cliff at which time an account became fully reserved." This allowed Ardent Health to report higher amounts of accounts receivable during the Class Period, and delay recognizing losses on uncollectable accounts. And Ardent Health did not even maintain professional malpractice liability insurance in amounts "sufficient to cover claims arising out of [its] operations[.]" In truth, Ardent Health's professional liability reserves were insufficient to cover "significant social inflationary pressure in medical malpractice cases the past several years," which had been an "increasing dynamic year-over-year" in Ardent Health's New Mexico market. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Ardent Health class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50392 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/282399

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

Contact Us

, /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy thanks its customers across the Carolinas for reducing their electricity use on Monday morning as extreme cold pushed demand for power higher than normal. Customers' actions helped lessen strain on the electric grid and supported reliable service during one of the coldest mornings of the season.

"Customer conservation made a meaningful difference today," said Gerald Wilson, Duke Energy vice president of grid operations. "We appreciate every household and business that adjusted their routines to help manage energy demand on the grid through this period of unusual cold, and we're grateful for the support from local, state and federal officials who helped encourage conservation. Our teams continue to work around the clock to ensure that our power plants and grid remain ready to meet our customers' energy needs."

Duke Energy is in a strong position to reliably meet customer demand for the rest of the week and continues efforts to add to its diverse energy mix to support economic growth and increased energy needs across the Carolinas.

Ways customers can manage energy use and winter bills
As cold weather continues, Duke Energy encourages customers to maintain their energy‑saving habits. The company offers many low- and no-cost tips that can help customers save: duke-energy.com/SeasonalSavings.

Duke Energy also offers tools and programs to help customers manage their energy bills:

Flexible payment options

Installment plans Pick Your Due Date Request a due date extension Additional assistance

Share the Light Fund Payment Assistance Finder 211.org for local community resources Tools to help

Explore other rate options Enroll a qualifying smart thermostat for bill credits Track energy use on the website or the Duke Energy mobile app Duke Energy serves about 4.7 million electric customers in the Carolinas – about 3.8 million in North Carolina and nearly 860,000 in South Carolina.

Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

24-Hour: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy

Tyson Foods, Inc. (TSN) Q1 2026 Earnings Call February 2, 2026 9:00 AM EST

Company Participants

Jon Kathol - Vice President of Investor Relations
Donnie King - President, CEO & Director
Devin Cole - Chief Operating Officer
Curt Calaway - Chief Financial Officer
Kristina Lambert - Chief Growth Officer

Conference Call Participants

Benjamin Theurer - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Leah Jordan - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Thomas Palmer - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Alexia Howard - Bernstein Institutional Services LLC, Research Division
Pooran Sharma - Stephens Inc., Research Division
Peter Galbo - BofA Securities, Research Division
Heather Jones - Heather Jones Research LLC
Saumya Jain - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Michael Lavery - Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division
Andrew Strelzik - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research

Presentation

Operator

Good morning, and welcome to the Tyson Foods First Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call.

[Operator Instructions]

Please note this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Jon Kathol, VP, Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Jon Kathol
Vice President of Investor Relations

Good morning, and welcome to Tyson Foods' First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Earnings Conference Call. On today's call, Tyson's President and Chief Executive Officer, Donnie King; Chief Financial Officer, Curt Calaway; and Chief Operating Officer, Devin Cole, will provide prepared remarks. Following the prepared remarks, we will have a Q&A session with the participants who will be joined by our Chief Growth Officer, Kristina Lambert. We have also provided a supplemental presentation, which may be referenced on today's call and is available on the Tyson's Investor Relations website and via the link in our webcast.

During today's call, we will make forward-looking statements regarding our expectations for the future. These forward-looking statements made during this call are provided pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act

Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) will report its fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday, with Wedbush analysts expecting a solid performance from the company, driven by its CPU and services businesses.

Heading into the report, Wedbush has maintained an 'Outperform' rating on AMD with a 12-month price target of $290. Shares traded up 5% at $249 on Monday afternoon.

“We see no reason to shift our constructive view on AMD,” Wedbush wrote.

For Q4, Wall Street analysts on average expect AMD to report revenue of $9.67 billion, up from $7.66 billion in the year-ago period. Earnings per share are expected to increase to $1.32 from $1.09.  

Wedbush expects AMD to be able to” at least modestly exceed Q4 estimates given strong demand for both PC and server compute, with this backdrop providing room for both sales and margin upside assuming AMD optimized shipments.”

“Continued tightness entering Q1 for both categories should provide AMD with further room for upside, particularly with server CPU pricing seemingly set to rise double digits and with AMD having more time to optimize product mix to maximize results.”

The analysts highlighted that AMD’s traditional CPU business has consistently performed at or above expectations over the past two years.

“Solid near-term results tied to PC/server strength are not an anomaly,” they wrote, adding that this foundation may give AMD additional flexibility to execute its AI strategy in the future.

On AI-related products, Wedbush analysts noted that “while we have a constructive view thematically given our view that AMD is best positioned to offer a strong third-party AI accelerator alternative to NVDA, our modeled outlook has more variability (both upside and downside) depending upon AMD’s execution.”

However, they highlighted that upside unit opportunity and stronger pricing in what was already AMD’s highest margin product set should create a more clear path to gross margin and profit growth through 2026.

The analysts also pointed to potential incremental demand from China. “With China seemingly on track to green-light some AI-related shipments, we see this potential incremental demand as providing a bit more leeway for AMD,” they wrote.

Scan QR code to install app

Important DisclaimersFXEmpire is owned and operated by Empire Media Network LTD., Company Registration Number 514641786, registered at 7 Jabotinsky Road, Ramat Gan 5252007, Israel. The content provided on this website includes general news and publications, our personal analysis and opinions, and materials provided by third parties. This content is intended for educational and research purposes only. It does not constitute, and should not be interpreted as, a recommendation or advice to take any action, including making any investment or purchasing any product. Before making any financial decision, you should conduct your own due diligence, exercise your own discretion, and consult with competent advisors. The content on this website is not personally directed to you, and we do not take into account your individual financial situation or needs. The information contained on this website is not necessarily provided in real time, nor is it guaranteed to be accurate. Prices displayed may be provided by market makers and not by exchanges. Any trading or other financial decision you make is entirely your own responsibility, and you must not rely solely on any information provided through the website. FXEmpire does not provide any warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information contained on the website and shall bear no responsibility for any trading losses you may incur as a result of using such information. The website may include advertisements and other promotional content. FXEmpire may receive compensation from third parties in connection with such content. FXEmpire does not endorse, recommend, or assume responsibility for the use of any third-party services or websites. Empire Media Network LTD., its employees, officers, subsidiaries, and affiliates shall not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from your use of the website or reliance on the information provided herein.Risk DisclaimersThis website contains information about cryptocurrencies, contracts for difference (CFDs), and other financial instruments, as well as about brokers, exchanges, and other entities trading in such instruments. Both cryptocurrencies and CFDs are complex instruments and involve a high risk of losing money. You should carefully consider whether you understand how these instruments work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. FX Empire encourages you to conduct your own research before making any investment decision and to avoid investing in any financial instrument unless you fully understand how it works and the risks involved.

Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings on Friday.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Investors in Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Mar 20, 2026 $460 Put had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Elevance Health shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Elevance Health is a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) in the Medical Services industry that ranks in the Bottom 26% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, no analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while seven analysts have revised their estimates downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from $10.79 per share to $10.35 in that period.

Given the way analysts feel about Elevance Health right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.

All is well in the Magic Kingdom — and all of Disney's other theme parks, too.

The company's experiences division, which includes its parks, cruise ships, hotels and consumer products, posted record revenue for the fiscal first quarter, topping $10 billion for the first time in Disney's more than 100-year history. It also reported operating income of $3.3 billion, a 6% bump from the same period a year ago.

Growth in this segment has supercharged in the wake of the Covid pandemic. It often accounts for the lion's share of the company's profits. For the period ended Dec. 27, experiences represented 38% of Disney's total revenue, yet generated a whopping 71% of its operating income.

Company executives expect those good times to continue, forecasting high-single-digit growth in operating income for the segment for fiscal 2026.

"When you look at the footprint of the business today, it's never been more broad or more diverse," Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, said during Monday's earnings call. "And the projects that we have underway are going to make it even more so."

The strong parks performance comes against the backdrop of a CEO succession competition that could see Chairman of Disney Experiences Josh D'Amaro step in for Iger. The Disney board is meeting this week and is expected to vote on its next CEO, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity about internal matters. 

Industry insiders and Disney sources expect D'Amaro to be appointed Iger's successor, though the decision ultimately lies with the Disney board and won't be final until directors vote.

"The board has not yet selected the next CEO of The Walt Disney Company and once that decision is made, we will announce it," a Disney spokesperson said in a statement, declining to comment on the timing of the next board meeting.

Parks expansionMuch of the experiences division's success comes from major investments to expand the footprint of Disney theme parks, refurbish existing rides and themed areas of its parks, add cruise ships to its fleet and grow its digital gaming presence. This new evolution of the segment is being fueled by Disney's library of franchises and iconic intellectual property.

Disney has long pulled from its portfolio of content. Disneyland opened its doors more than 70 years ago with rides based on "Alice in Wonderland," "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad," "Peter Pan" and "Snow White."

While those classic attractions remain, the company's more recent developments have been fueled by Iger's strategic acquisitions of four major film studios — Pixar in 2006, Marvel in 2009, Lucasfilm in 2012 and 20th Century Fox in 2019. This brought coveted franchises under the House of Mouse roof, including Star Wars, Toy Story, the Avengers and Avatar.

"As we added IP to our stable ... we gained access to intellectual property that had real value in terms of parks and resorts, and enabled us to lean into more capital spending because of the confidence level we had in improving returns," Iger said.

Having the film and television rights to these properties allows the company more control over production and how that translates into rides, experiences and merchandise.

And that work continues as part of a 10-year, $60 billion investment effort that launched in 2023.

"We have expansion projects underway at every one of our theme parks," Iger said.

He touted the upcoming opening of the World of Frozen in Disneyland Paris and the launch of a new cruise ship, the Disney Adventure, which will make berth in Asia.

On the horizon is also a new villains land coming to Magic Kingdom as well of the reshaping of "Rivers of America," "Tom Sawyer Island" and the "Liberty Square Riverboat" into an area called "Piston Peak" — a second Cars-themed land modeled after America's natural parks. At Hollywood Studios there will be a new "Monsters Inc." land while the Muppets will take over the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster attraction. Animal Kingdom will host an "Encanto" ride and a new Indiana Jones ride.

At Disneyland, Avengers Campus, the Marvel-themed area, will get two new attractions, guests will get a glimpse at the Land of the Dead from "Coco" and Disney will build a new Avatar area inspired by the scenery in "Avatar: Fire and Ash."

Internationally, Disney has struck a deal to bring a new park and resort to Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates.

International headwindsThe company's commitment to bringing beloved IP into its parks is paying off, according to Iger, particularly outside the U.S.

"The percentage of people that go to Shanghai Disneyland just to go to Zootopia Land is very, very high," he said Monday.

Revenue from international theme parks and experiences grew 7% during the fiscal first quarter, to $1.75 billion.

Of course, the company is still facing headwinds from the decline of international visitors to its domestic parks.

It's a trend that many theme park destinations in America are contending with, as overall tourism to the United States fell 6% in 2025. Industry analysts point to higher travel costs and fees, ongoing trade frictions and geopolitical unease for the drop in demand for travel stateside.

Despite this, domestic theme park and experiences revenue grew 7% during the quarter, to $6.91 billion.

New offerings at Disney's international parks, the launch of a cruise ship that services Asia and the new Abu Dhabi park are all ways that Disney can tap into that foreign market and engage with consumers that are not making the trek to the company's domestic destinations.

— CNBC's Julia Boorstin and Alex Sherman contributed to this report.

Expert Insights

Weekly Economic Snapshot: Fed Shifts to “Wait-and-See” as Confidence Plummets The final week of January saw a stark divergence between official policy and the American consumer’s outlook. While the Federal Reserve maintained a “solid” view of economic growth, the public’s mood plummeted to a decade-low amid sticky wholesale inflation. This tension culminated in a wild week for the stock market, where the S&P 500’s historic climb past 7,000 was abruptly reversed by the announcement of a new Fed Chair.

Federal Reserve Meeting: January 28, 2026 The Federal Reserve concluded its first meeting of the year by holding the federal funds rate in the range of 3.50%-3.75%. This pause follows a series of three consecutive rate cuts of 25-basis-points cuts and keeps the central bank’s range at its lowest level since November 2022.

[cky_video_placeholder_title]

While the move was widely anticipated, the Fed’s press release featured notable changes compared to previous ones. The Fed removed mentions of “downside risks to employment,” instead describing the unemployment rate as “showing signs of stabilization”. Additionally, economic activity is now characterized as expanding at a “solid” pace, an upgrade from the “moderate” pace cited in previous meetings. Essentially, the Fed has entered back into wait-and-see mode as they continue to balance a somewhat cooling labor market against persistent price pressures.

The CME FedWatch Tool currently indicates an 87% likelihood that the Fed will hold rates steady at their next meeting, compared to a 13% likelihood of a 25 basis point cut. Markets are currently projecting two 25 basis point cuts for 2026, coming at the June and December meetings, and none in 2027.

Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index In sharp contrast to the Fed’s “solid” economic outlook, the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® plummeted in January. The index dropped 9.7 points to 84.5, its lowest level since 2014. This represents the steepest decline in over four years, driven by deepening pessimism across all five index components, including future business and labor market conditions. Consumers remain primarily concerned with high prices, as 12-month inflation expectations edged higher once again.

The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) is tied to consumer confidence.

Producer Price Index Adding to the Fed’s cautious stance, wholesale inflation rose more than anticipated in December. The Producer Price Index (PPI) increased 0.5% month-over-month, outpacing the 0.2% forecast. On an annual basis, the PPI remained at 3.0%, higher than the 2.7% expected by analysts.

Core PPI (excluding food and energy) also showed heat, rising 0.7% for the month and 3.3% annually. Because the PPI is often a leading indicator of consumer inflation, these rising costs for producers may signal a future pickup in prices for everyday consumers.

Market Reactions The S&P 500 reached a new record high this week, even momentarily surpassing 7,000 for the first time. Despite these early advances, the index declined through the latter half of the week, wiping out most of its initial gains. Ultimately, the index concluded the week with a modest gain of 0.3%. As a result, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) rose 0.4% last week. Meanwhile, the S&P Equal Weight Index was down 0.4% from the previous week and the Invesco S&P 500® Equal Weight ETF (RSP) fell 0.4%.

The 10-year Treasury yield finished the week at 4.26%, while the 2-year note finished at 3.52%.

Economic Data in the Week Ahead Monday: S&P Global Manufacturing PMI (Jan), ISM Manufacturing PMI (Jan) Tuesday: JOLTS (Dec) Wednesday: ADP Employment (Jan), S&P Global Services PMI (Jan), ISM Services PMI (Jan) Thursday: Weekly Jobless Claims Friday: BLS Employment (Jan), University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (Feb prelim) Originally published on Advisor Perspectives

For more news, information, and strategy, visit ETF Trends.

Key Takeaways Five regional banks raised quarterly dividends in January as markets found support from strong Q4 results.Hancock Whitney and peers lifted payouts by 4%-16.7%, reflecting sustained profitability & capital strength.Sierra Bancorp and others offer dividend yields near 2%-3% while navigating ongoing macro uncertainty. The U.S. markets began 2026 with a decent performance. Some of the lingering concerns, including subdued labor markets, persistent inflation, geopolitical tension and tariff and trade policy, continued to hurt investor sentiments. Nonetheless, impressive fourth-quarter results and a patient Federal Reserve offered support.

 In January, the KBW Nasdaq Regional Banking Index jumped 6.5%. Given this, investors should focus on fundamentally solid banks, which offer attractive dividend yields and stand out as a potential source of stability and income.

 Five banks that announced dividend hikes last week include Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC - Free Report) , Hilltop Holdings (HTH - Free Report) , Tompkins Financial (TMP - Free Report) , OFG Bancorp (OFG - Free Report) and Sierra Bancorp (BSRR - Free Report) . These banks possess robust business models and an established track record of sustainability in terms of profitability, which helps them to cope with market uncertainties. With a consistent capital distribution, these banks provide investors with a steady cash flow even amid a challenging macro situation.

5 Bank Stocks to WatchHancock Whitney, headquartered in Gulfport, MS, offers banking services through full-service banking offices and automated teller machines (ATMs) located across the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida and Texas. Also, it has a loan & deposit production office in Nashville, TN and Atlanta, GA. As of Dec. 31, 2025, it had $35.5 billion in assets.

On Jan. 29, HWC announced a quarterly cash dividend of 50 cents per share, marking an increase of 11.1% from the prior payout. The dividend will be paid out on March 16 to shareholders of record as of March 5.

The company increased its dividend four times in the last five years, with an annualized growth rate of. It has a dividend yield of 2.62% and a dividend payout ratio of 31%.

HWC Dividend Yield
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HWC’s 2026 sales indicates a year-over-year rise of 5.4%, while that for earnings suggests 5.8% growth. Over the past month, HWC stock has rallied 3.6%. This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company has a market cap of $5.75 billion. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Hilltop Holdings, a financial holding company headquartered in Dallas, TX, provides a wide range of financial products and services. As of Dec. 31, 2025, the company had $15.8 billion in assets and operated through roughly 312 locations across 47 states.

On Jan. 29, HTH announced a quarterly cash dividend of 20 cents per share, representing a rise of 11% from the prior payout. The dividend will be paid out on Feb. 27, to shareholders of record as of Feb. 13, 2026.

The company has increased its dividend six times in the past five years, with an annualized dividend growth rate of 9.43%. Hilltop has a dividend yield of 1.92% and a dividend payout ratio of 27%.

HTH Dividend Yield

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Over the past month, HTH stock has rallied 9.5%. This Zacks Rank #1 stock has a market cap of $2.3 billion.

Tompkins Financial, a financial service holding company headquartered in Ithaca, NY, provides consumer and commercial banking, leasing, trust and investment management banking, insurance, and wealth management services. It operates through 54 banking offices across New York and Pennsylvania. As of Dec. 31, 2025, the company had $8.7 billion in assets.

On Jan. 30, Tompkins Financial announced a quarterly cash dividend of 67 cents per share on its common stock, marking a hike of 8.1% from the prior-year quarter. The dividend will be paid out on Feb. 22, 2026, to shareholders of record as of Feb. 13, 2026.

The company has increased its dividend five times in the past five years, with an annualized dividend growth rate of 3.38%. TMP has a dividend yield of 3.25%. Further, it has a dividend payout ratio of 41%.

TMP Dividend Yield

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Over the past month, TMP stock has gained 9.1%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TMP’s 2026 earnings indicates a 16.5% rise. This Zacks Rank #3 company has a market cap of $1.16 billion.

OFG Bancorp is a financial holding company headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Through its subsidiary Oriental Bank, it offers a comprehensive range of retail and commercial banking services, wealth management products, services and technology across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As of Dec. 31, 2025, the company had $12.4 billion in assets.

On Jan. 28, OFG announced a quarterly cash dividend of 35 cents per share, representing a rise of 16.7% from the prior payout. The dividend will be paid out on April 15, to shareholders of record as of March 31.

The company has increased its dividend eight times in the past five years, with an annualized dividend growth rate of 29.57%. OFG has a dividend yield of 2.98% and a dividend payout ratio of 26%.

OFG Dividend Yield

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company has a market cap of $1.8 billion.

 Sierra Bancorp, headquartered in Porterville, CA, offers a wide variety of retail and commercial banking services through full-service branches located across the southern part of California. As of Sept. 30, 2025, it had $3.7 billion in assets.

On Jan. 30, BSRR announced a quarterly cash dividend of 26 cents per share, marking an increase of 4% from the prior payout. The dividend will be paid out on Feb. 17 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 9.

Sierra Bancorp has increased its dividend five times in the past five years, with an annualized dividend growth rate of 3.27%. Sierra Bancorp Financial has a dividend yield of 2.82% and a dividend payout ratio of 35%.

BSRR Dividend Yield

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BSRR’s 2025 sales indicates a year-over-year rise of 3.4%, while that for earnings suggests an 6.4% increase. BSRR stock has gained 5.9% over the past month. This Zacks Rank #3 company has a market cap of $470.9 million.

Published February 2, 2026 11:56am EST

Mike Wirth discusses company's plan to build off-grid energy parks using natural gas to meet soaring data center demand Chevron CEO Mike Wirth detailed the company’s strategy to harness U.S. natural resources to meet soaring artificial intelligence power demand — without passing the cost along to consumers.

"As data centers need more and more electricity, and as we’re seeing pressure on the grid and electricity prices, we’re working to build an energy park that’s not connected to the grid, so the costs don’t flow to all consumers," Wirth told "Mornings with Maria," describing the approach as an advantage that allows the company to "convert energy into intelligence."

Wirth joined FOX Business on Monday to discuss Chevron’s record performance and long-term growth strategy as artificial intelligence drives unprecedented demand for reliable electricity. 

CHEVRON CEO APPLAUDS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S ENERGY POLICY SHIFT DURING PERMIAN BASIN TOUR

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth gives the keynote address as top energy executives and ministers meet in Houston for the annual Gastech conference in Houston, Texas, on Sept. 17, 2024. (Reuters/Callaghan O'Hare / Reuters)

He said the company is leveraging the "tremendous resource" of U.S. natural gas to generate power directly for hyperscale data centers, bypassing the traditional electric grid and insulating the public from higher electricity costs.

"This is another advantage where you can convert energy into intelligence, and the abundance of energy that this country has can translate not only into energy dominance but into AI dominance," Wirth told Maria Bartiromo.

ENERGY SECRETARY SAYS CHEVRON EXPANSION, US OIL ROLE IN VENEZUELA COULD COME ‘PRETTY QUICKLY’

Flared natural gas is burned off at Apache Corporation's operations at the Deadwood natural gas plant in the Permian Basin on Feb. 5, 2015, in Garden City, Texas. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Chevron revealed plans in 2025 to develop an off-grid natural gas facility in West Texas designed to generate electricity for large-scale data centers without relying on the traditional power grid.

The company previously announced a partnership with activist investment firm Engine No. 1 and GE Vernova to explore natural gas-powered solutions aimed at supporting the rapid expansion of AI and data center infrastructure in the United States.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

The discussion comes as Chevron posted a record year of oil production that helped offset the pinch of lower oil prices.

Wirth said the company’s free cash flow rose 35%, along with a series of other financial gains, even as oil prices fell by 15%.