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Best Software Stocks To Watch This Week? 3 In Focus

Are these software stocks worth buying at their current price points?
The post Best Software Stocks To Watch This Week? 3 In Focus appeared first on Stock Market News, Quotes, Charts and Financial Information | StockMarket.com.

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3 years ago

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3 Hot Software Stocks To Watch Right Now

While investors seek direction amidst conflicting data on the economic recovery, the world of tech continues to expand. With this expansion, I could see some of the top software stocks in the stock market today being in focus. After all, you could argue that software is the lifeblood of most, if not all tech around us today. This would be the case as the programming that directs most electronics is based on software. Because of this, the software industry’s growth runway could virtually grow as long as tech continues to evolve. Now, regardless of how the market fares, there are plenty of options for investors to choose from.

For instance, the fintech industry relies heavily on software to operate, to say the least. Evidently, the likes of PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) and Square (NYSE: SQ) provide contactless transaction services through software. Across the globe, consumer demand for both companies’ offerings continues to rise amidst the pandemic. Likewise, both PYPL stock and SQ stock are already sitting on gains of over 200% since their pandemic era lows. If that wasn’t enough, Square is also looking to create a “decentralized finance business” focusing on Bitcoin. Given the recent attention around the blockchain software that encompasses the cryptocurrency, Square appears keen to expand its horizons.

At the same time, there are countless other relevant software stocks in our tech-reliant world today to consider investing in. Looking towards the health care industry? The likes of Veeva (NYSE: VEEV) continue to serve biotech companies via its cloud-computing wares. Should you be keen to invest in digital acceleration trends? Some would consider customer relationship management company Salesforce (NYSE: CRM). All in all, the stock market seems to have plenty to offer in terms of software stocks. Could one of these be a top pick now?

Best Software Stocks To Watch This Month

Intel Corporation

Intel is a multinational technology company that is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. It is an industry leader and creates world-changing technology. The company has been investing heavily in its chip design and software. Last month, it showcased multiple groundbreaking network deployments and unveiled its Intel Network Platform at the MWC 2021 virtual event. It also announced new additions to its leading product portfolio for 5G and edge, reaffirming its position as the leading network silicon provider. INTC stock closed Monday’s trading session at $54.64 a share.

Recently, the company received an $85 price target from Baird. Baird analyst Tristan Gerra reiterated an Outperform rating on the company. The analyst also notes that Intel is in talks to buy GlobalFoundaries. GlobalFoundaries is a semiconductor manufacturer and the deal with Intel could be worth $30 billion. Intel’s CEO Pat Gelsinger is focusing on growing the company’s foundry operations and building chips for other companies. Also, by buying GlobalFoundaries, it would give Intel more manufacturing capacity and a larger customer base.

Last week, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.347 per share on the company’s common stock and the dividend will be payable on September 1, 2021. It has also been firing on all cylinders as it announced a slew of new products last month. Notably, it announced its latest 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors that will power the next generation of supercomputers and high-performance systems. With so many exciting things happening to the company, will you consider adding INTC stock to your portfolio?

software stocks (INTC stock)
Source: TD Ameritrade TOS

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Microsoft Corporation

Next on this list is Microsoft. The company has also been actively helping businesses transform and adopt digital tools with its cloud technology and co-innovation approach. Earlier in the year, the company announced industry-specific cloud solutions with security and privacy built-in. MSFT stock currently trades at $277.01 apiece as of Monday’s close and has been up by over 25% year-to-date.

Last week, Teladoc Health (NYSE: TDOC) and Microsoft announced that they are teaming up to offer virtual care integration for health systems and hospitals. In detail, Teladoc Health’s Solo platform for hospitals and health systems will be integrated into the Microsoft Teams environment. This would strengthen physician and patient access to best-in-class virtual health care. Together, they will be able to deliver integrated, enterprise solutions that will help make the overall experience of virtual care more efficient. The collaboration will also deliver a seamless and unified experience for health care providers, leveraging leading data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning expertise from both companies.

In Microsoft’s latest quarter financials that were reported in April, it announced that revenue was $41.7 billion, an increase of 19% year-over-year. Operating income was $17 billion for the quarter, up by 31% compared to a year earlier. Microsoft also posted a net income of $15.5 billion or diluted earnings per share of $2.03 for the quarter. The company attributes this quarter’s growth to its Microsoft Cloud business, growing by over 30% in the quarter. All things considered, will you watch MSFT stock?

top software stocks (MSFT stock)
Source: TD Ameritrade TOS

[Read More] 5 Electric Vehicle Stocks To Watch After Ford Boosts Spending On EVs

Zoom Video Communications Inc.

Another major name in the software space now would be Zoom Video Communications Inc. For the most part, this was more true than ever at the early phases of the pandemic. While most people were homebound and disconnected, Zoom’s services stepped up to the plate. Even now, the company’s services remain vital as certain parts of the world continue to fight the pandemic. Additionally, fears over another wave of coronavirus are circulating. In turn, I can imagine that investors would be keeping an eye on ZM stock as well. With the company’s shares trading at  $354.20 at the end of Monday’s trading session, could it be worth buying at these levels?

While that remains to be seen, Zoom seems to be keen on staying relevant in the cloud communications industry now. As of yesterday, the company will be acquiring cloud contact center provider Five9 in an all-stock transaction worth $14.7 billion. This would mark the tech industry’s second-largest U.S. deal this year. With the addition of Five9, Zoom would be bolstering its Zoom Phone cloud phone system by optimizing its lines further. Not to mention, Zoom will also have access to Five9’s pool of clients which cater to billions of customers annually.

While most would expect the distance communication giant to slow down amidst vaccine rollouts, Zoom continues to build its portfolio. Notably, it is doing so with post-pandemic relevance in mind. Time will tell if the company can make the most out of this massive play. Should things go as planned, would you consider ZM stock worth watching?

best software stocks (ZM Stock)
Source: TD Ameritrade TOS

The post Best Software Stocks To Watch This Week? 3 In Focus appeared first on Stock Market News, Quotes, Charts and Financial Information | StockMarket.com.

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NY Fed Finds Medium, Long-Term Inflation Expectations Jump Amid Surge In Stock Market Optimism

NY Fed Finds Medium, Long-Term Inflation Expectations Jump Amid Surge In Stock Market Optimism

One month after the inflation outlook tracked…

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30 mins ago

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March 11, 2024

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NY Fed Finds Medium, Long-Term Inflation Expectations Jump Amid Surge In Stock Market Optimism

One month after the inflation outlook tracked by the NY Fed Consumer Survey extended their late 2023 slide, with 3Y inflation expectations in January sliding to a record low 2.4% (from 2.6% in December), even as 1 and 5Y inflation forecasts remained flat, moments ago the NY Fed reported that in February there was a sharp rebound in longer-term inflation expectations, rising to 2.7% from 2.4% at the three-year ahead horizon, and jumping to 2.9% from 2.5% at the five-year ahead horizon, while the 1Y inflation outlook was flat for the 3rd month in a row, stuck at 3.0%. 

The increases in both the three-year ahead and five-year ahead measures were most pronounced for respondents with at most high school degrees (in other words, the "really smart folks" are expecting deflation soon). The survey’s measure of disagreement across respondents (the difference between the 75th and 25th percentile of inflation expectations) decreased at all horizons, while the median inflation uncertainty—or the uncertainty expressed regarding future inflation outcomes—declined at the one- and three-year ahead horizons and remained unchanged at the five-year ahead horizon.

Going down the survey, we find that the median year-ahead expected price changes increased by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3% for gas; decreased by 1.8 percentage points to 6.8% for the cost of medical care (its lowest reading since September 2020); decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 5.8% for the cost of a college education; and surprisingly decreased by 0.3 percentage point for rent to 6.1% (its lowest reading since December 2020), and remained flat for food at 4.9%.

We find the rent expectations surprising because it is happening just asking rents are rising across the country.

At the same time as consumers erroneously saw sharply lower rents, median home price growth expectations remained unchanged for the fifth consecutive month at 3.0%.

Turning to the labor market, the survey found that the average perceived likelihood of voluntary and involuntary job separations increased, while the perceived likelihood of finding a job (in the event of a job loss) declined. "The mean probability of leaving one’s job voluntarily in the next 12 months also increased, by 1.8 percentage points to 19.5%."

Mean unemployment expectations - or the mean probability that the U.S. unemployment rate will be higher one year from now - decreased by 1.1 percentage points to 36.1%, the lowest reading since February 2022. Additionally, the median one-year-ahead expected earnings growth was unchanged at 2.8%, remaining slightly below its 12-month trailing average of 2.9%.

Turning to household finance, we find the following:

  • The median expected growth in household income remained unchanged at 3.1%. The series has been moving within a narrow range of 2.9% to 3.3% since January 2023, and remains above the February 2020 pre-pandemic level of 2.7%.
  • Median household spending growth expectations increased by 0.2 percentage point to 5.2%. The increase was driven by respondents with a high school degree or less.
  • Median year-ahead expected growth in government debt increased to 9.3% from 8.9%.
  • The mean perceived probability that the average interest rate on saving accounts will be higher in 12 months increased by 0.6 percentage point to 26.1%, remaining below its 12-month trailing average of 30%.
  • Perceptions about households’ current financial situations deteriorated somewhat with fewer respondents reporting being better off than a year ago. Year-ahead expectations also deteriorated marginally with a smaller share of respondents expecting to be better off and a slightly larger share of respondents expecting to be worse off a year from now.
  • The mean perceived probability that U.S. stock prices will be higher 12 months from now increased by 1.4 percentage point to 38.9%.
  • At the same time, perceptions and expectations about credit access turned less optimistic: "Perceptions of credit access compared to a year ago deteriorated with a larger share of respondents reporting tighter conditions and a smaller share reporting looser conditions compared to a year ago."

Also, a smaller percentage of consumers, 11.45% vs 12.14% in prior month, expect to not be able to make minimum debt payment over the next three months

Last, and perhaps most humorous, is the now traditional cognitive dissonance one observes with these polls, because at a time when long-term inflation expectations jumped, which clearly suggests that financial conditions will need to be tightened, the number of respondents expecting higher stock prices one year from today jumped to the highest since November 2021... which incidentally is just when the market topped out during the last cycle before suffering a painful bear market.

Tyler Durden Mon, 03/11/2024 - 12:40

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Spread & Containment

A major cruise line is testing a monthly subscription service

The Cruise Scarlet Summer Season Pass was designed with remote workers in mind.

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31 mins ago

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March 11, 2024

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While going on a cruise once meant disconnecting from the world when between ports because any WiFi available aboard was glitchy and expensive, advances in technology over the last decade have enabled millions to not only stay in touch with home but even work remotely.

With such remote workers and digital nomads in mind, Virgin Voyages has designed a monthly pass that gives those who want to work from the seas a WFH setup on its Scarlet Lady ship — while the latter acronym usually means "work from home," the cruise line is advertising as "work from the helm.”

Related: Royal Caribbean shares a warning with passengers

"Inspired by Richard Branson's belief and track record that brilliant work is best paired with a hearty dose of fun, we're welcoming Sailors on board Scarlet Lady for a full month to help them achieve that perfect work-life balance," Virgin Voyages said in announcing its new promotion. "Take a vacation away from your monotonous work-from-home set up (sorry, but…not sorry) and start taking calls from your private balcony overlooking the Mediterranean sea."

A man looks through his phone while sitting in a hot tub on a cruise ship.

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This is how much it'll cost you to work from a cruise ship for a month

While the single most important feature for successful work at sea — WiFi — is already available for free on Virgin cruises, the new Scarlet Summer Season Pass includes a faster connection, a $10 daily coffee credit, access to a private rooftop, and other member-only areas as well as wash and fold laundry service that Virgin advertises as a perk that will allow one to concentrate on work

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The pass starts at $9,990 for a two-guest cabin and is available for four monthlong cruises departing in June, July, August, and September — each departs from ports such as Barcelona, Marseille, and Palma de Mallorca and spends four weeks touring around the Mediterranean.

Longer cruises are becoming more common, here's why

The new pass is essentially a version of an upgraded cruise package with additional perks but is specifically tailored to those who plan on working from the ship as an opportunity to market to them.

"Stay connected to your work with the fastest at-sea internet in the biz when you want and log-off to let the exquisite landscape of the Mediterranean inspire you when you need," reads the promotional material for the pass.

Amid the rise of remote work post-pandemic, cruise lines have been seeing growing interest in longer journeys in which many of the passengers not just vacation in the traditional sense but work from a mobile office.

In 2023, Turkish cruise line operator Miray even started selling cabins on a three-year tour around the world but the endeavor hit the rocks after one of the engineers declared the MV Gemini ship the company planned to use for the journey "unseaworthy" and the cruise ship line dealt with a PR scandal that ultimately sank the project before it could take off.

While three years at sea would have set a record as the longest cruise journey on the market, companies such as Royal Caribbean  (RCL) (both with its namesake brand and its Celebrity Cruises line) have been offering increasingly long cruises that serve as many people’s temporary homes and cross through multiple continents.

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International

This is the biggest money mistake you’re making during travel

A retail expert talks of some common money mistakes travelers make on their trips.

Published

31 mins ago

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March 11, 2024

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Travel is expensive. Despite the explosion of travel demand in the two years since the world opened up from the pandemic, survey after survey shows that financial reasons are the biggest factor keeping some from taking their desired trips.

Airfare, accommodation as well as food and entertainment during the trip have all outpaced inflation over the last four years.

Related: This is why we're still spending an insane amount of money on travel

But while there are multiple tricks and “travel hacks” for finding cheaper plane tickets and accommodation, the biggest financial mistake that leads to blown travel budgets is much smaller and more insidious.

A traveler watches a plane takeoff at an airport gate.

Jeshoots on Unsplash

This is what you should (and shouldn’t) spend your money on while abroad

“When it comes to traveling, it's hard to resist buying items so you can have a piece of that memory at home,” Kristen Gall, a retail expert who heads the financial planning section at points-back platform Rakuten, told Travel + Leisure in an interview. “However, it's important to remember that you don't need every souvenir that catches your eye.”

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According to Gall, souvenirs not only have a tendency to add up in price but also weight which can in turn require one to pay for extra weight or even another suitcase at the airport — over the last two months, airlines like Delta  (DAL) , American Airlines  (AAL)  and JetBlue Airways  (JBLU)  have all followed each other in increasing baggage prices to in some cases as much as $60 for a first bag and $100 for a second one.

While such extras may not seem like a lot compared to the thousands one might have spent on the hotel and ticket, they all have what is sometimes known as a “coffee” or “takeout effect” in which small expenses can lead one to overspend by a large amount.

‘Save up for one special thing rather than a bunch of trinkets…’

“When traveling abroad, I recommend only purchasing items that you can't get back at home, or that are small enough to not impact your luggage weight,” Gall said. “If you’re set on bringing home a souvenir, save up for one special thing, rather than wasting your money on a bunch of trinkets you may not think twice about once you return home.”

Along with the immediate costs, there is also the risk of purchasing things that go to waste when returning home from an international vacation. Alcohol is subject to airlines’ liquid rules while certain types of foods, particularly meat and other animal products, can be confiscated by customs. 

While one incident of losing an expensive bottle of liquor or cheese brought back from a country like France will often make travelers forever careful, those who travel internationally less frequently will often be unaware of specific rules and be forced to part with something they spent money on at the airport.

“It's important to keep in mind that you're going to have to travel back with everything you purchased,” Gall continued. “[…] Be careful when buying food or wine, as it may not make it through customs. Foods like chocolate are typically fine, but items like meat and produce are likely prohibited to come back into the country.

Related: Veteran fund manager picks favorite stocks for 2024

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