Weekly Market Recap:

This week, U.S. equities rebounded, with the Dow up +1.96%, the S&P 500 gaining +1.68%, the Nasdaq rising +1.73%, and the Russell 2000 leading with +4.46%. Gains were broad-based, with outperformance in autos, ag machinery, steel, and biotech. Notable laggards included hospitals, airlines, and staples retailers. Treasuries were mixed, flattening the curve, while the dollar strengthened for an eighth consecutive week (+0.8% DXY). Gold rallied sharply, up +5.5%, while crude oil surged +6.3%, erasing the prior week's losses.

Corporate Highlights:

• NVIDIA (0.0%): Posted mixed results; analysts focused on strong AI GPU demand.

• Walmart (+7.4%): Beat expectations with standout U.S. comp sales.

• Target (-17.8%): Missed on key metrics, citing weaker discretionary demand.

• Tesla (+9.9%): Gained on reports of federal self-driving framework proposals.

• Snowflake (+32.9%): Surged on growth stabilization and positive demand commentary.

Coming Next Week:

The holiday-shortened week includes October new home sales, November consumer confidence, and key reports like October PCE and Q3 GDP revision on Wednesday. Notable earnings include ADI, DELL, and CRWD. FOMC minutes release is set for Tuesday.

Netflix’s (NFLX) stock has hit record highs daily this past week, surging nearly 9% over five days and marking its biggest weekly gain since January. Analysts are bullish, with price targets climbing into quadruple digits. Yet, the question remains: can Netflix sustain this momentum, or are we witnessing a speculative bubble? The streaming giant's pivot to live events is undeniably transformative. The Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match, attracting 108 million global viewers, showcased Netflix’s ability to dominate live programming despite technical glitches. Analysts hailed the event as a "breakthrough," projecting further innovation with upcoming NFL Christmas Day games and premium live ad inventory. This strategic diversification is key to lowering subscriber churn and driving ad-supported growth. However, cracks in Netflix’s foundation are evident. Year-over-year engagement remains flat, and revenue growth is expected to decelerate from 15% in 2024 to as low as 11% by 2025. Critics warn that the stock’s valuation is "massively expensive," given potential headwinds like stagnant user growth and the rising costs of premium content. Netflix’s innovative strides in live programming could redefine its trajectory, but investors must weigh its long-term fundamentals against lofty short-term expectations. Is Netflix reshaping entertainment, or is it setting itself up for a hard landing?

Next Week:

Notable Earnings:

• Monday (11/25)

  • Zoom ($ZM)

  • Bath & Body Works ($BBWI)

• Tuesday (11/26)

  • HP ($HPQ)

  • Urban Outfitters ($URBN)

  • Kohl’s Corp. ($KSS)

  • Guess? Inc. ($GES)

• Wednesday (11/27)

  • Frontline PLC ($FRO)

  • Golden Ocean Group Ltd. ($GOGL)

• Friday (11/29)

  • Meituan ($MPNGF)

  • Nordic American Tankers ($NAT)

Notable Ex-Dividend Dates:

• Monday (11/25)

  • Carter’s ($CRI) 6.01%

  • Nathan’s Famous ($NATH) 2.29%

  • Tractor Supply ($TSCO) 1.51%

• Tuesday (11/26)

  • Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) 3.07%*

  • Equitable ($EQH) 2.00%

  • Voya Financial ($VOYA) 2.25%

• Wednesday (11/27)

  • Home Depot ($HD) 2.22%

  • Build-A-Bear Workshop ($BBW) 2.15%

  • Electronic Arts ($EA) 0.15%

  • T-Mobile US ($TMUS) 1.76%

• Friday (11/29)

  • Cboe Global Markets ($CBOE) 1.27%

  • FactSet Research Systems ($FDS) 0.88%

  • Kraft Heinz ($KHC) 4.60%

  • Coca-Cola (KO) 2.80%*

*Dividend Aristocrat