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May 18, 2025

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In Stocks

Top S&P 500 Index stocks to watch: PANW, HD, TGT, INTU, ADSK

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The S&P 500 Index continued its strong rally last week, rising to a high of $5,958, its highest point since March 3. It has jumped by over 23% from its lowest point in April, meaning that it is in a bull market. 

The index jumped as the recent trade risks eased after last week’s meeting between the US and China in Switzerland. They agreed to lower their tariffs to 30% and 10%, respectively, and pledged to do more going forward.

There are signs that the US will reach agreements with other countries, including the European Union, Canada, and Mexico. Such deals will improve the outlook of most S&P 500 Index companies. 

The index also jumped as the earnings season delivered. FactSet data show that 92% of all companies in the index have published their results so far. Of these companies, their blended earnings growth was 13.6%, higher than expectations and the second consecutive quarter of earnings growth. 

S&P 500 Index chart

Top S&P 500 stocks to watch next week

Many companies in the S&P 500 Index will publish their financial results next week. Some of the most notable ones are retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Target. Other firms to watch will be Palo Alto Networks, Autodesk, Intuit, Analog Devices, Ralph Lauren, TJX, and V. F Corp.

US retailers to shed light on tariff impact

The biggest US retailers will publish their earnings next week and shed light on the impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs on their operations. 

These numbers will come after Walmart, the biggest US retailer, published strong results and hinted of what to come. Its sales jumped to $165.6 billion from the $161.5 billion it made last year. Most importantly, it e-commerce sales jumped by 22%.

Walmart also said that it will increase prices as the impact of tariffs become clear. In a statemet on Truth Social, Trump asked the company not to hike prices, but instead ‘eat’ the tariffs. 

Target will be a top retailer to watch as its business has struggled in the past few years. Analysts anticipate the numbers to show that sales dropped by 0.24% to $24.1 billion, while its earnings per share moved from $2.03 to $1.69.

Meanwhile, analysts expect Home Depot’s revenues to be $39.27 billion, a 7.8% annual increase. Lowe’s revenue is expected to be $21 billion, down by 1.69% from last year. 

Software companies: Palo Alto Networks, Intuit, and Autodesk

In addition to retailers, some large software companies in the S&P 500 Index will publish their results next week. 

Palo Alto Networks, one of the biggest cybersecurity companies in the US, will be the first to report on Monday. Its stock has jumped by over 33% from its lowest point this year, and is hovering at its highest point since March.

Analysts expect the data to reveal that Palo Alto Networks’ revenues rose by 14.8% in the last quarter to $2.28 billion. The guidance for the currency financial year will be $9.18 billion, a 14.3% annualized increase. 

Read more: Is Palo Alto Networks a good cybersecurity stock for 2025?

Intuit stock price has also jumped by over 26% from its lowest point this year, and is now hovering at its highest point in months. The company, which runs the biggest accounting software in the world, will publish its numbers on Thursday. Analysts expect the numbers to show that its revenue rose by 12.2% to $7.56 billion.

The other top S&P 500 stocks to watch next week will be Autodesk, Analog Devices, Snowflake, Urban Outfitters, Ralph Lauren, Williams-Sonoma, and BJ’s Wholesale.

The post Top S&P 500 Index stocks to watch: PANW, HD, TGT, INTU, ADSK appeared first on Invezz

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In Business

Cava revenue beats estimates as Mediterranean chain reports double-digit same-store sales growth

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Cava on Thursday reported better-than-expected sales in its latest fiscal quarter, shaking off the malaise the broader restaurant industry has felt as consumers have cut back on dining.

The Mediterranean chain said its same-store sales grew 10.8% in the three months that ended April 20, lifted by traffic growth of 7.5%. Analysts surveyed by StreetAccount were projecting same-store sales growth of 10.3%.

“When we look at our consumers in the quarter, we saw an increase in premium attachment on higher priced items, like our pita chips or amazing housemade juices. We also saw that our per person average continued to increase, and then when we look at our results, there’s positive traffic across all of our geographies, across all of our income cohorts, as well as the different formats of our restaurants and dayparts,” Chief Financial Officer Tricia Tolivar told CNBC.

She added that diners have been trading up from fast food and down from casual-dining restaurants into Cava’s bowls and pitas, a trend the company has seen for several quarters.

Elsewhere in the restaurant industry, companies have been reporting very different behavior from consumers, although many companies’ results did not include any time in April, when the industry’s sales and traffic performance improved.

Fast-casual rival Chipotle said its transactions fell 2.3% in the first quarter as consumers pulled back their spending in February, spooked by economic uncertainty. Sweetgreen reported its first quarterly same-store sales decline since it went public in 2021. McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said fast-food industry data showed both low- and middle-income consumers spending less. The burger giant said U.S. same-store sales declined 3.6% for the first quarter.

Despite the strong quarterly performance, Cava reiterated its same-store sales forecast, sticking with its projections of a 6% to 8% increase. The chain said last quarter that it is expecting slower growth in the back half of its fiscal 2025.

The stock fell 5% in extended trading. As of Thursday’s close, Cava shares have slid 11% so far this year, hurt by investor concerns over its conservative outlook for the fiscal year and the economic fallout from the Trump administration’s tariffs.

Here’s what the company reported compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:

The company reported fiscal first-quarter net income of $25.71 million, or 22 cents per share, up from $13.99 million, or 12 cents per share, a year earlier. Cava reported an income tax benefit of $10.7 million related to stock-based compensation, which boosted its earnings this quarter.

Net sales climbed 28% to $332 million. On a 12-month trailing basis, Cava’s revenue has surpassed $1 billion, representing a major milestone for the company.

The company did raise some of its projections for the fiscal year.

Cava now anticipates adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $152 million to $159 million, up from its prior forecast of $150 million to $157 million. The company also plans to open between 64 and 68 new locations, higher than its previous outlook of between 62 and 66 restaurant openings.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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In Politics

‘You saved my life:’ Freed hostage Edan Alexander thanks Trump in emotional phone call

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In an emotional and widely shared moment, President Donald J. Trump spoke directly with Edan Alexander, the 21-year-old American-Israeli soldier who was recently freed from Hamas captivity, during a phone call captured on camera and released by the White House.

‘Mr. President,’ Alexander greeted Trump at the start of the call, visibly moved. ‘You’re the only reason I’m here. You saved my life.’

The phone conversation, which took place while Alexander was recovering at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, came just days after his dramatic release from Gaza, where he was held hostage for over 580 days following his abduction by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

President Trump greeted Edan with a bit of humor and humility, saying ‘I’m very nervous talking to you, Edan, because you’re a much bigger celebrity than I am.’

Trump also expressed American solidarity and the administration’s commitment to bringing all hostages home while on the call.

‘You’re an American, and we love you,’ Trump told Alexander. ‘We’re going to take good care of you. And your parents are incredible. I saw your mother. She was pushing me around a little bit—putting a lot of pressure on me.’

‘Like a good mom!’ exclaimed Edan’s mother in the background.

The heartfelt exchange was posted online by the official White House account and has quickly gone viral, drawing praise from across the political spectrum for its display of humanity and international unity.

Alexander’s release came amid intensified U.S. diplomatic pressure and quiet negotiations, coordinated in part by senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler. 

Trump had previously signaled his determination to secure the freedom of American citizens held abroad and made Alexander’s case a top priority.

The Alexander family issued a statement thanking President Trump directly, along with the negotiation team and the Israeli Defense Forces, calling the outcome ‘a miracle rooted in strength, diplomacy, and prayer.’

Edan Alexander’s homecoming has reignited calls to bring home the remaining hostages still held in Gaza. 

A coalition of 65 former hostages recently signed a letter urging both President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ‘build on this breakthrough’ and intensify efforts for a comprehensive agreement to ensure every hostage’s safe return.

Prime Minister Netanyahu acknowledged the success of this combined effort, stating, ‘This was achieved thanks to our military pressure and the diplomatic pressure applied by President Trump. This is a winning combination.’

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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