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    Stephanie Mikulich

    Stephanie Mikulich

  • Humana stock falls on disappointing full-year guidance

    Humana (HUM) shares are falling sharply after issuing 2024 guidance that fell well short of Wall Street estimates. Humana expects to report adjusted earnings of $16 per share in 2024. Analysts had been expecting about $29. A sharp rise in Medicare Advantage medical costs has taken a toll on Humana and other managed care stocks in recent weeks, Yahoo FInance's Seana Smith and Brad Smith break down the results. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live. Editor's note: This article was written by Stephanie Mikulich

  • January stock market indicators: What the charts show

    There are a lot of investors that like to study charts to see what the market might bring in the coming weeks, months, and even years. In the video above, Yahoo Finance Market Reporter Jared Blikre breaks down charts of everything from fund flows to returns in year four of a presidency to show what might happen to stocks in January. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live.

  • Apple needs to 'unclog their innovation rut': Analyst

    Barclays downgraded Apple shares (AAPL) to "underweight" citing concerns about iPhone 15 demand, particularly in China. D.A. Davidson Managing Director Gil Luria, who has a "neutral" rating on the stock. Luria says that "growth isn't going to be very fast" for the iPhone or other hardware categories, arguing that Apple focused on growing its Services business. "Unless the [Apple] unclog their innovation rut, then it's going to be very hard for this company to accelerate growth on the hardware side," Luria claims. Oppenheimer & Co. Senior AnalystMartin Yang is more bullish. Yang says that Apple is seeing a "deceleration of Apple's share gain momentum in China and developed markets in recent quarters," but that ultimately that issue will correct itself. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live.

  • Meredith Whitney's housing advice: Millennials wait, boomers sell

    One of the biggest themes in 2023 was the struggle in the housing market. High mortgage rates made it more difficult for people to buy homes and people who had homes didn't want to sell them in fear of losing their low mortgage rate. A lack of existing home inventory plagued the market, though homebuilders were able to take advantage. Meredith Whitney LLC Founder Meredith Whitney, who is known for correctly predicting the 2008 financial crisis, tells Yahoo Finance that as more baby boomers retire and look to downsize, more inventory should come onto the market.  Whitney says that since most home mortgages are originated by institutions outside of banks, they can't really ease their lending standards to make housing more affordable. Whitney notes that there are government programs that can help homebuyers, but she cautions that could cause servicing costs to rise. Whitney thinks that, ultimately, "you're going to have more seniors, the silver tsunami, selling and there are fewer buyers so the give is going to be lower home prices... advice to millennials, that advice is to wait. Advice to boomers is sell... the sooner you sell the higher price you capture. The longer you wait, the lower price you buy at. So, I think it's a cat and mouse game." Click here to watch the full interview with Meredith Whitney. For more Yahoo Finance housing coverage: 2024 home buying season will be better than 2023: Economist Can homebuilder stocks defy the odds in 2024? Housing market has looked 'bubblicious': Economist Top housing markets for 2024: Realtor.com

  • Shift from urban to suburban a trend to watch in 2024: Analyst

    High inflation and rising interest rates took their toll on consumer spending this year, though there were some spending trends that stand out more than others. Placer.ai Head of Analytical Research R.J. Hottovy says there are a few retail trends that will carry into 2024.  One is experiential spending, saying "experiences were one of the key categories of growth last year... the halo effect that that had on the retailers was absolutely phenomenal," using the Taylor Swift "The Eras Tour" and the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon as examples. He adds that the trend has extended to restaurants as well, with people seeking new dining experiences. Another trend Hottovy is watching is the shift from urban to suburban as return to office starts to stall. The trend is most notable among restaurants, with companies such as Cava (CAVA) and Chipotle (CMG) opening more suburban locations. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live.

  • Internet stocks will continue to do well in 2024: Citi analyst

    The Magnificent Seven and Big Tech stocks dominated the markets this year. But what's in store for 2024? Citi Director of Internet Equity Research Ygal Arounian joins Yahoo Finance Live to discuss his outlook for internet stocks next year. Arounian expects another strong year for internet stocks for several reasons, including strong fundamentals, potential Federal Reserve rate cuts, and a recovery in consumer spending. Arounian expects the generative AI hype to continue into 2024, saying he thinks that next year, investors will see more "actual real implementation of AI across different end businesses that will start to drive more meaningful change." When it comes to stocks Arounian likes for 2024, he is picking The Trade Desk (TTD), Wayfair (W), and VeriSign (VRSN). Click here to watch the full interview, including more insight into Arounian's stock picks, on the Yahoo Finance YouTube page or you can watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live here.

  • 'Silver tsunami' to reshape the housing market: Meredith Whitney

    The US housing market was plagued by high mortgage rates and low inventory in 2023. Meredith Whitney LLC Founder Meredith Whitney, who gained notoriety for predicting the 2008 financial crisis, says there will be two demographic trends impacting housing in the coming years. One is regional, with places like Texas and Florida growing while places like New York and Ohio may see population outflows. The other trend Whitney highlights is the "silver tsunami." Over the next few years, baby boomers will be turning 65. Whitney argues many of these boomers will be looking to downsize, freeing up some housing inventory. It's a trend Whitney expects to start in the latter part of 2024 and continue for the next several years. Whitney explains that when you combine the two factors, there could be more dramatic price swings in some areas than others. In areas where there is high housing demand, the added inventory may not reduce prices as much, if at all, compared to an area where there is less demand, where a supply and demand imbalance may have a more dramatic impact on prices. Ultimately, "prices have to come down," Whitney says, anticipating that homebuilders will construct more affordable homes and existing home prices will ultimately decrease. Whitney notes that banks don't service as many mortgages as they use to, with outside lenders picking up much of the load. Those lenders, she says, don't have as much leeway to ease lending conditions to make home buying more affordable. However, she points out the government does have programs that some Americans can take advantage of, though the servicing costs may rise as a result. Overall Whitney says "if you lower the overall home price, the serviceability becomes more affordable. That's what I think is invariably going to happen because you're going to have more seniors, the silver tsunami, selling and there are fewer buyers so the give is going to be lower home prices." Whitney's advice? For millennials, they should wait for lower prices to buy while boomers should sell now to take advantage of higher prices. For more Yahoo Finance housing coverage: 2024 home buying season will be better than 2023: Economist Can homebuilder stocks defy the odds in 2024? Housing market has looked 'bubblicious': Economist Top housing markets for 2024: Realtor.com For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live.

  • Tesla is 'the AI company': Analyst

    Tesla CEO Elon Musk (TSLA) has come under fire for his comments on X (formerly Twitter). But Canaccord Genuity Managing Director George Gianarikas isn't concerned about what sort of impact it could have on the EV maker. Gianarikas argues that Musk's antics are not new and that "he's who you have to take in to invest in Tesla's stock." Tesla has missed some targets recently, but Gianarikas argues that when Musk is giving his goals, he's not just trying to please investors and Wall Street, but that "he's trying to inspire the three, four, five companies that he's the CEO of and he navigates." Gianarikas points to Tesla's full-self driving (FSD) technology. He thinks Tesla will succeed in meet its FSD goals. For example, Gianarikas says Tesla's FSD is relying "completely on AI to navigate their vehicle" and as a results he thinks Tesla is "the AI company because ultimately real world AI is about self driving. You are literally taking AI to navigate a vehicle from one place to the other. There's no more productive use of AI out there." For more Yahoo Finance coverage of Tesla: Morgan Stanley, Starbucks, Tesla: 2024 leadership in focus Tesla: Is Elon Musk too distracted by his other companies? Catalysts for Tesla stock in 2024 Tesla: Car buyers missing out 'because they don't like Elon' Musk's social commentary hurting Tesla, other brands: Bill George Click here to watch the full interview on the Yahoo Finance YouTube page or you can watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live here.

  • How to use options to play Nvidia

    Nvidia (NVDA) shares have soared about 240% this year. For those who are looking for alternative ways to take advantage of the stock's run, options may be a possibility. In the video above, OptionsPlay Director of Education and Product Jessica Inskip tells Yahoo Finance's Jared Blikre about two potential options strategies: a covered call and a cash-secured put. Click here to watch the full interview on the Yahoo Finance YouTube page or you can watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live here.

  • Spot bitcoin ETF: Why smaller firms may struggle to compete

    The crypto world is widely expecting the Securities and Exchange Commission to approve a spot bitcoin ETF in January. But approval will only be half the battle. With several firms applying for these ETFs, it's likely only a handful will become major players. Bloomberg Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas says there are two camps vying for customer funds: those that consider themselves "crypto people" who know the space well and the big institutional players like BlackRock and Fidelity.  Balchunas points out that the larger industry players will appeal to older investors with more money to invest. At the end of the day, Balchunas think there will be a "strong middle class" of ETFs with a $200-$300 million in assets, but that there's "probably only room for one liquidity stud." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live or watch the Yahoo Finance interview with Ark Invest's Cathie Wood here.

  • Spot bitcoin ETF approval: Why some firms may not be ready for it

    It is widely expected that the Securities and Exchange Commission will approve a spot bitcoin ETF in January. Bloomberg Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas and Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP Partner Sam Enzer tells Yahoo Finance Live about the hurdles firms are facing to get these approvals. Bakchunas notes that firms will want to have a cash-redemption model, not an in-kind transaction model. He also says that firms are rushing to get a "signed agreement with an authorized participant." With those requirements, Balchunas says "it's possible not all of these issuers even make it to day one... If they don't make it to day one, I mean, unless your BlackRock or Fidelity, you might as well forget it." Enzer meanwhile says the "bitcoin spot market is mature at this point" and that the market has "the depth and the liquidity to ward off things like manipulation," which strengthens the case for approval. Enzer also notes that the bigger institutions getting into the space have the reputation and can offer the investor protections the SEC likes to see. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live.

  • Investing in REITs: One stock to buy and one to avoid

    Real Estate Investment Trusts or REITs have been hit by issues such as high interest rates, lackluster return to office, and overall concerns about an economic slowdown. Infrastructure Capital Advisors CEO Jay Hatfield gives his take on the space in the latest Good Buy or Goodbye. Hatfield is buying Boston Properties (BXP) because he believes the stock will rally as interest rates fall and that it has an attractive valuation. He also likes the stock because, even though they do have office properties, Hatfield says they tend to cater to sectors that favor work from the office. A stock Hatfield is avoiding is Prologis (PLD), which owns warehouses. Hatfield says that, unlike office space, warehouse space is "easy to replicate," which means there is a lot of new space coming online. Hatfield also says the stock has a "premium valuation" and that he expects the stock to lag. However, Hatfield says that if interest rates remain high or if there is a recession in the US, you would want to own Prologis because "it's more defensive." Click here to watch more Good Buy or Goodbye or you can watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live here.

  • SoftBank gets $7.6B of T-Mobile stock thanks to 2020 Sprint sale

    SoftBank (SFTBY, 9984.T) is getting $7.6 billion worth of T-Mobile US (TMUS) shares. It stems from a deal that was made when the SoftBank owned-Sprint was sold to T-Mobile. As part of the agreement, SoftBank would be awarded shares if T-Mobile's stock crossed a specific threshold, which is what triggered this most recent move. Yahoo Finance Live explains what it could mean for T-Mobile in the video above. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live.

  • New York Times sues Microsoft, OpenAI for copyright infringement

    The New York Times (NYT) is suing Microsoft (MSFT) and OpenAI, the startup behind ChatGPT, over copyright infringement. The paper alleges millions of its articles were used to train AI programs and wants the companies to be held accountable for “billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages.” Yahoo Finance Live has the breaking details.  For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live.

  • Cathie Wood talks Tesla, Elon Musk, & spot bitcoin ETF approval

    After paring back on Tesla (TSLA) shares in the Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK), the firm has recently started to add to its position again. Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood tells Yahoo Finance's Julie Hyman that the decisions by General Motors (GM) and Ford (F) to delay some of their EV investments was a "telltale" sign that Tesla is in position to gain market share, calling the automakers' decisions "puzzling." The move comes as Tesla CEO Elon Musk's X platform (formerly Twitter) is suffering from a decline in ad revenue, raising concerns he may have to sell Tesla shares. Wood, however, doesn't seemed to be concerned, claiming that the platform's traffic is rising and that ultimately "advertising will follow traffic." "His [Musk's] reason for buying X we believe is sound and will be successful," Wood adds. Ark is one of the firms that has applied for a spot bitcoin ETF and is currently awaiting a decision from the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Wood is hopeful that Ark's application will be approved, saying that "After being denied several times by the SEC, without hearing from anyone at the SEC, we and others we know have gotten questions from the SEC, very thoughtful, detailed, technical questions. That's a very positive move." Overall, she says the "outlook is bright" for a spot bitcoin ETF and that she does think approval will come in January. With bitcoin (BTC-USD) prices rising in anticipation of an ETF approval, Wood does think investors will "sell on the news," but that longer term, by the SEC approving these ETFs, institutional investors will be able to invest more in the crypto space, with those inflows helping to prop up the price. When it comes to the flagship Ark Innovation ETF, Wood says the fund is "diversifying once again. We are adding back some stocks that we sold and... we are looking forward to the IPO window opening again." Wood thinks that with interest rates likely peaking, more companies could go public and that Ark will be "eager investors." So what companies is Wood hoping will go public? She says she would like to see companies like SpaceX, Anthropic, Databricks, and Discord hit the public market. Key video moments 00:00:25 Wood discusses her Tesla investment and the EV company's autonomous driving future 00:04:05 Is Wood concerned about issues at X impacting Tesla? 00:07:18 Wood explains why "the outlook is bright" for a spot bitcoin ETF 00:09:30 Why bitcoin could sell off if a spot ETF is approved 00:15:15 Why Ark could be "eager investors" in the IPO market 00:17:13 Why Wood wants to see companies like SpaceX, Anthropic, and Databricks go public

  • Gold prices rise, edge closer to $2,100

    Gold prices (GC=F) rose about half a percent on Tuesday, pushing closer to the $2,100 mark, which has proven to be a resistance level for the precious metal. Yahoo Finance's Jared Blikre breaks down what is driving prices higher. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live.

  • Bristol Myers buying RayzeBio, FedEx buyback: Trending tickers

    FedEx (FDX) shares rose after the shipping giant announced a $1 billion accelerated share buyback plan. Shares of RayzeBio (RYZB) jumped 100% after it was announced the company was being acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) in a $4.1 billion deal. It's Bristol Myers' second deal in less than a week. On Friday, the company announced it was acquiring Karuna Therapeutics (KRTX) in a $14 billion deal. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live.

  • Intel receives $3.2B from Israel for chip plant construction

    Intel (INTC) is receiving $3.2 billion worth of incentives from the Israeli government, with the chipmaker planning to spend $25 billion to build a chip plant in the country. It's the latest effort by a chipmaker to expand its production outside of Asia. Yahoo Finance Live breaks down the announcement. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live.

  • Lucid stock: Why one strategist is steering clear

    It's a tale of fossil fuels versus electric vehicles in the latest edition of Good Buy or Goodbye, featuring Robert Schein, Chief Investment Officer at Blanke Schein Wealth Management. Schein is buying Occidental Petroleum (OXY), citing an attractive valuation and that "OXY can do well even if oil doesn't do well." Schein also says buying the stock means "you're investing with Warren Buffett," given his significant stake in the company. He does however warn that a recession could derail his thesis. One stock Schein is steering clear of is Lucid Group (LCID). Schein points to the overall difficulties the EV industry is facing as one of the reasons why he isn't buying the stock, as well the recent departure of the company's CFO. He also thinks the EV maker has weaker financials and a high cash-burn rate, though he does say the stock could rise if there is short covering activity. Click here to see more Good Buy or Goodbye or you can watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live here.

  • Synopsys, Ansys in merger talks: WSJ

    Synopsys (SNPS) is in talk with Ansys (ANSS) about acquiring the company, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The Journal reports that the design-software companies could reach a deal in early 2024, though the outlet's source cautions there is potential for the talks to fall apart. Synopsys declined to comment on "the rumor and speculation." Yahoo Finance Live reports on the breaking story.  For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live.