S&P Hits a Set of Record Highs as Earnings Season Continues
We also explore stocks you should buy and avoid in November
The S&P 500 Index (SPX) started the week with a fresh record high after a slew of sunny earnings reports and amid optimism around U.S.-China trade. While that optimism subsequently waned amid reports China is worried about President Donald Trump's "impulsive nature," and after a key economic summit was cancelled, the index ultimately extended its quest for new highs.
Specifically, traders cheered as the Fedlowered its benchmark funds rate by 25 basis points, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell downplayed the odds for more rate cuts in the near term. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) joined the S&P in record-high territory on Friday, guided higher by a strong jobs report and another upbeat round of corporate earnings. As of this writing, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI), S&P, and Nasdaqwere all pacing toward healthy weekly wins.
Halloween Week's Notable Earnings Winners and Losers
Earnings season continued at full force to wrap up October. Spotify (SPOT) kicked off the week with a killer surprise earnings beat, while Apple's (AAPL) outstanding quarterly report sent the Dow name within a chip-shot of a fresh record high. The tech giant's suppliers Universal Display (OLED) and Cirrus Logic (CRUS) also surged on blowout earnings.
On the flip side, Pinterest (PINS) suffered a massive sell-off to record lows after sharing third-quarter revenue and a full-year outlook that came in below estimates. Small shop platform Etsy (ESTY) was also slammed after earnings, with analysts quick to serve up price-target cuts.
FAANG Stocks Steal the Spotlight
While we mentioned Apple's big earnings win, it was far from the only FAANG name to draw attention this past week. Facebook (FB) also managed a post-earnings win, much to the delight of FB options traders, while Alphabet (GOOGL) wasn't so lucky, pulling back from new-high territory after earnings. The Google parent also offered to buy Fitbit (FIT) to jump into the wearables market.
And while the stock itself saw little change, Amazon's (AMZN) subscription service, Amazon Prime, announced it will provide free grocery delivery to its U.S. members. This sent the likes of grocery stocks Kroger (KR), BJ's Wholesale Club(BJ), and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage(NGVC) sliding on Tuesday.
Stocks to Buy and Avoid in November
Looking ahead, the S&P may not be done hitting new highs, with data suggesting the index is moving into the most bullish six months of the year. Narrowing in, we also took a look at the stocks you should buy and avoid in November, historically.
Despite an upcoming report out of Walt Disney (DIS), the earnings slate next week will feature fewer blue chips, though a mix of tech, retail, and food stocks could move after earnings. To name a few, Shake Shack (SHAK), Square (SQ), and Dropbox (DBX) are among those on the docket, while Activision Blizzard (ATVI) and Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT) are also poised to draw eyes on Wall Street.