"Meme stocks aren't back because the fundamentals changed. They're back because memory faded and the crowd got bored." ✍️😛 - Jim Osman |
✅This week the S&P 500 index inched up to its 12th record close of 2025. The European Central Bank held interest rates steady on Thursday, amid significant economic uncertainty as the European Union rushes to finalize a trade deal with the U.S. ✅Sydney Sweeney takes the spotlight in new meme stock appeal as American Eagle shares surge. ✅Google parent Alphabet blew it out of the water with its earnings report. ✅Legendary wrestler Hulk Hogan passed away from cardiac arrest at the age of 71. ✅Tesla faces ongoing challenges and SpaceX warns Elon Musk may return to politics. |
↘ Dow 44,693.91 - 0.70%
↗ Nasdaq 21,057.96 + 0.18%
↗ S&P 6,363.35 + 0.07% |
Actress Sydney Sweeney Fuels Latest Meme Stock Rally as American Eagle Shares Surge |
Image courtesy of American Eagle |
Actress Sydney Sweeney has helped propel clothing retailer American Eagle Outfitters into the newest wave of meme stock excitement on Thursday. The “Euphoria” and “Anyone But You” star will lead a fall campaign for American Eagle, the company announced Wednesday. Following the news, American Eagle’s shares jumped more than 3% during midday trading Thursday after rising sharply in premarket trading. American Eagle is positioning itself to join the recent group of meme stocks gaining attention this week. With a high short interest and strong brand recognition, it’s an attractive target for meme-driven retail traders who have sparked volatile moves in several stocks lately. Stocks like GoPro and Krispy Kreme saw wild swings in Wednesday’s session, while earlier in the week meme traders focused on Opendoor Technologies and Kohl’s. More than 13% of American Eagle’s float is sold short, according to FactSet. The stock began trending on the WallStreetBets subreddit Wednesday night, a popular forum for retail investors. As short sellers rush to cover their positions, it can create artificial buying pressure. Sweeney’s campaign will spotlight American Eagle’s denim jeans, tapping into the rising popularity of denim and Western-inspired fashion. “With Sydney Sweeney front and center, she brings the allure,” said Jennifer Foyle, the company’s president and executive creative director. “We add the flawless wardrobe for the winning combo of ease, attitude and a little mischief.” Thursday’s rally offers a welcome lift for a stock that has fallen roughly 35% so far this year through Wednesday’s close. Meme stocks are staging a comeback reminiscent of 2021, with shares of smaller or lesser-known companies climbing by double digits this week—despite a lack of clear fundamental drivers. The spike evokes memories of the original meme stock mania that propelled GameStop (GME) and AMC Entertainment (AMC) to record highs during the pandemic, fueled by low interest rates and stimulus-driven retail enthusiasm. Names like Kohl’s (KSS), Krispy Kreme (DNUT), Opendoor (OPEN), 1-800-FLOWERS (FLWS), and GoPro (GPRO) posted sizable gains this week, signaling that the social media-driven retail investor movement hasn’t disappeared. |
Alphabet Beats Q2 Expectations with $96.43B Revenue |
Image courtesy of Reuters |
Alphabet reported second-quarter revenue of $96.43 billion, surpassing Wall Street expectations thanks to strong demand for its cloud services and AI-driven products. Google Cloud led the growth, posting revenue up nearly 32%, well above analyst forecasts of 26.5%, fueled by increased enterprise adoption of its AI offerings. The company also raised its 2025 capital expenditures target to about $85 billion, up from the previous $75 billion guidance. This increased investment aims to expand cloud infrastructure and accelerate AI development amid intensifying tech sector competition. “With this strong and growing demand for our Cloud products and services, we are increasing our investment in capital expenditures,” CEO Sundar Pichai said in the earnings release. Alphabet’s robust Q2 results, including solid performance in its core advertising business, initially pressured shares lower in after-hours trading but later sparked optimism around its cloud momentum. Since its last earnings report in April, the stock has gained more than 18%. However, the unexpected jump in capex surprised some investors. “I don’t think anyone was expecting a change to that 2025 capex guide,” said Dave Wagner, portfolio manager at Aptus Capital Advisors. “Google had an amazing quarter. It was an easy beat, and it was just offset by this $10-billion increase in capex.” Alphabet’s increased spending aligns with a broader Big Tech trend, with firms collectively projected to invest over $320 billion this year to build AI infrastructure. Although Google Cloud still trails Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure in total revenue, Alphabet is closing the gap by leveraging AI chips and custom solutions to attract enterprise clients. Despite the strong financials, investors were briefly unsettled by the company’s decision to raise its 2025 capital spending forecast from $75 billion to roughly $85 billion—a $10 billion increase that surprised many on Wall Street. “I don’t think anyone was expecting a change to that 2025 capex guide,” reiterated Wagner. CEO Sundar Pichai explained that the increase reflects “strong and growing demand” for Google Cloud’s AI-enhanced products and services. |
Wrestling Icon Hulk Hogan Dies at 71, Leaving Lasting Legacy in Sports and Pop Culture |
Image courtesy of AP Photo Alex Brandon |
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died at 71, TMZ Sports reports. Emergency responders were called to the WWE icon’s Clearwater, Florida home early Thursday morning for what was described as a "cardiac arrest." Video from the scene shows paramedics performing chest compressions as Hogan was rushed to an ambulance. Pinellas County Fire and EMS confirmed officials arrived at 9:51 AM. Hogan was treated on site by Clearwater Fire & Rescue before being transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police are expected to share more details in a press conference later Thursday. Just weeks ago, Hogan’s wife, Sky — whom he married in September 2023 — dismissed rumors that he was in a coma, saying his heart was "strong" as he recovered from surgeries. Last month, TMZ reported rumors that Hogan was on his "deathbed," but sources clarified he was recovering from a neck procedure performed in May. Hulk Hogan revolutionized professional wrestling, transforming it into a family-friendly spectacle. Before him, wrestling appealed to a limited audience, but his charisma and theatrical ring presence drew in children and parents alike, igniting the phenomenon known as "Hulkamania" after he won the World Heavyweight Championship from the Iron Sheik in 1984. His iconic bandana and handlebar mustache became staples among fans for decades. Despite multiple surgeries from wrestling injuries, Hogan once told Harvey Levin on "Objectified" that he had no original body parts left. The last time TMZ spoke with Hogan was in May as he launched Real American Freestyle, an amateur wrestling league with its first event scheduled for August 30 on Fox Nation. |
Tesla Profits Fall 16% Amid CEO Elon Musk’s Return to Company |
Image courtesy of CBTV News |
Tesla reported a 16% drop in profits for the second quarter, reflecting ongoing challenges despite CEO Elon Musk’s renewed focus on his businesses following his controversial role in the Trump administration’s government cost-cutting efforts. The electric vehicle maker’s sales have been weakening, with deliveries down 13.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Tesla’s net income also declined 16% year-over-year. This follows a sharper 71% profit plunge reported in the first quarter, which also saw a 13% sales drop. Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja warned on Wednesday’s earnings call that upcoming changes in vehicle regulations, part of the recent tax and spending bill signed by President Trump, could reduce revenue. The new law removes fines that competitors paid Tesla for not meeting fuel economy standards, eliminating a source of income from “regulatory credits.” Additionally, new and used electric vehicle tax credits will expire on September 30. “The One Big Bill has a lot of changes that would affect our business in the near term,” Taneja said. He urged potential buyers to place orders soon, saying, “If you are in the U.S. and looking to buy a car, place your order now as we may not be able to guarantee delivery of orders placed in the later part of August and beyond.” Plans to ramp up production of a lower-cost vehicle were also slowed as Tesla rushed to meet expected demand before the subsidy deadlines. Musk described the company as being in “a weird transition period where we'll lose a lot of incentives in the U.S.” He cautioned, “we probably could have a few rough quarters. I'm not saying we will, but we could.” Despite the challenges in vehicle sales, Tesla highlighted a strategic pivot in its earnings report, calling the quarter “a seminal point in Tesla’s history,” marking a shift from leading the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors toward leadership in AI, robotics, and related services. Tesla launched the first version of its robotaxi service in Austin in June. Musk said on the call that regulatory approvals are underway to expand autonomous ride-hailing to Arizona, Florida, Nevada, and the San Francisco Bay Area. “I think we'll probably have autonomous ride hailing in probably half the population of the U.S. by the end of the year. That's at least our goal subject to regulatory approvals,” Musk said, though he did not explain how the company plans such rapid expansion. In Q2, Tesla’s total automotive revenue declined 16%, energy generation and storage revenue fell 7%, while services and other revenue grew 17%. Critics have blamed Musk’s political activity for Tesla’s sluggish sales, though Musk denied seeing “any reduction in demand” last quarter and dismissed protests against the company as “paid for.” Musk has stepped back from leading Dogecoin and had a public split with Donald Trump but remains politically active, recently considering a third-party run. Musk’s political involvement remains a wild card for investors, as highlighted in recent SpaceX investor disclosures warning that he “may in the future serve in similar roles and devote significant time and energy to such roles.” Tesla’s market challenges are also fueled by increasing competition. While Tesla still controls 46.2% of the U.S. EV market, down from nearly 80%, traditional automakers like GM have gained ground, now holding 13%. Internationally, Chinese EV manufacturers continue to rise. |
UnitedHealth Shares Slide Following DOJ Probe into Medicare Billing Practices |
Image courtesy of Adam Bettcher/Getty Images |
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) shares dropped nearly 4% early Thursday after the company revealed in a regulatory filing that it is under investigation by the Department of Justice regarding its Medicare billing methods. The disclosure follows reports from the Wall Street Journal detailing billing strategies used by UnitedHealth and other major insurers, which prompted the Justice Department’s healthcare fraud unit to issue both criminal and civil requests to the company, according to the filing. "The Company has full confidence in its practices and is committed to working cooperatively with the Department throughout this process," UnitedHealth stated. "The Company has a long record of responsible conduct and effective compliance." In addition, UnitedHealth said it has "proactively launched its own initiative to conduct third party reviews of policies, practices, and associated processes and performance metrics for risk assessment coding, managed care practices, and pharmacy services." The Wall Street Journal first reported in December 2024 that UnitedHealth and other insurers received billions in extra payments from the Medicare Advantage program by assigning additional, and sometimes inaccurate, diagnoses to patient records—often without those diagnoses being confirmed by treating doctors—thus securing higher reimbursements from Medicare. UnitedHealth has been under DOJ investigation for potential Medicare fraud since at least mid-2024, according to the Journal. The company has faced a series of challenges over the past year, including leadership controversies and financial setbacks, with its stock declining approximately 50% during this period. In May 2024, UnitedHealth and several senior executives, including founder Stephen Helmsley and then-UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, were sued by a Hollywood-based pension fund for insider trading. The lawsuit alleged that executives sold more than $100 million in stock after learning about an antitrust probe by the DOJ but before it was made public. Tragically, Thompson was fatally shot in Manhattan in December 2024 on the morning of the company’s annual investor meeting. The incident sparked nationwide anger over UnitedHealthcare’s treatment of insured individuals, including allegations of claim denials. |
📉 ON THE MOVE AND NOTABLES 📈 |
✔️ Government bonds are selling off. ✔️ The dollar has softened slightly against a trade-weighted basket of currencies. ✔️ The U.S.-Japan trade pact is the sixth deal announced since “liberation day,” with reports indicating that similar agreements may soon be finalized for the EU and Korea. According to President Trump, the new U.S.-Japan pact imposes a 15% tariff on Japanese imports—lower than the 25% rate that had been set to take effect next week. ✔️ The price of Bitcoin has pulled back to $117K after failing to break resistance above $121,000. ✔️ U.S. initial unemployment claims edged slightly lower last week, signaling that tariff uncertainty has not yet pushed firms to cut jobs. ✔️ The Nasdaq Composite ($COMP) closed above 21,000 for the first time Wednesday while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DJI) going over 45,000. ✔️ The CME FedWatch Tool showed less than a 3% chance of a Fed rate cut next week as of early Thursday, with a 64% chance of at least one cut by September. ✔️ Deutsche Bank exceeded profit expectations and affirmed it remains on track to achieve its full-year targets, despite mixed performance in its core investment banking division and gains in the euro against the U.S. dollar. ✔️ IBM fell despite beating revenue and earnings estimates and reaffirming its 2025 revenue growth outlook of at least 5% on a constant-currency basis. Its key software revenue grew 10% but slightly missed dollar expectations. ✔️ Chipotle shares slid after the company lowered its same-store sales forecast, and revenue narrowly missed analyst estimates. ✔️ American Airlines (AAL) declined after reporting earnings that beat forecasts but matching revenue estimates, while issuing weaker third-quarter guidance amid slower capacity growth and consumer uncertainty. ✔️ Honeywell (HON) slipped despite beating earnings and revenue expectations and raising guidance. ✔️ Southwest Airlines (LUV) fell after missing earnings estimates. ✔️ ServiceNow (NOW) surged after beating quarterly estimates and raising guidance on strength driven by AI-related demand. ✔️ Las Vegas Sands (LVS) rose following a solid earnings report. ✔️ Nuclear start-up Oklo (OKLO) and data center infrastructure provider Vertiv Holdings (VRT) each gained building on Wednesday’s surge after announcing a partnership to develop advanced power and thermal management solutions for hyperscale and colocation data centers, powered by Oklo’s nuclear plants. ✔️ Large industrial companies like Boeing (BA), Lockheed Martin (LMT), General Motors (GM), and Whirlpool (WHR) posted solid gains this week following strong earnings and guidance from GE Vernova (GEV), whose shares jumped double digits on Wednesday. ✔️ Toyota (TM), Honda (HMC), and Nissan (NSANY) shares jumped Wednesday following confirmation of a trade agreement between the Trump administration and the Japanese government, according to Yahoo Finance’s Pras Subramanian. ✔️ Wendy’s (WEN) shares rose after it drew attention on Reddit’s r/wallstreetbets late Tuesday, where users floated the idea of a potential short squeeze. One commenter claimed Wendy’s “could be the next meme.” ✔️ GoPro (GPRO) and Krispy Kreme (DNUT) also emerged as early contenders in what appears to be a renewed wave of meme stock momentum. ✔️ MARA Holdings (MARA) shares dropped following the company’s announcement of a proposed $850 million debt offering. ✔️ Kohl’s (KSS) shares dropped following a surge as high as the triple digits earlier this week driven by a meme stock frenzy. ✔️ AT&T (T) stock fell despite the telecom provider reporting a huge subscriber beat. ✔️ Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) shares gained following PJM Interconnection’s release of its 2026-2027 capacity auction results. The grid operator set record prices at $329.17 per megawatt-day, driving total capacity costs up to $16.1 billion from $14.7 billion last year. ✔️ Neuralink has targeted $1 billion in revenue by 2031 according to a Bloomberg News report. ✔️ Texas Instruments (TXN) plunged with investors reacting to a softer-than-expected third-quarter outlook. |
The FOMC interest rate decision will be next Wednesday. 🟢 July 25: June durable orders and expected earnings from Aon (AON) and HCA Healthcare (HCA). 🟢 July 28: Expected earnings from WM (WM), Nucor (NUE), and Whirlpool (WHR). 🟢 July 29: July consumer confidence and expected earnings from AstraZeneca (AZN), Stellantis (STLA), Boeing (BA), Booking (BKNG), Merck (MRK), PayPal (PYPL), Procter & Gamble (PG), Royal Caribbean (RCL), Spotify (SPOT), UnitedHealth (UNH), UPS (UPS), Starbucks (SBUX), and Visa (V). 🟢 July 31: June personal income, June personal spending, June PCE prices, and expected earnings from CVS Health (CVS), Biogen (BIIB), Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), Strategy (MSTR), Coinbase Global (COIN), Clorox (CLX), Roku (ROKU), and Lumen Technologies (LUMN).
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