Stocks recovered from steep early-session los෴ses to close slightly higher on Monday, as investors digested news that a major ratings agency had downgraded its assessment of U.S. federal government debt.
The benchmark S&P 500 index added 0.1%, finishing higher for the sixth straight day, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose fractionally and the Dow Jones Industrial Average tacked on 0.3%. Stocks posted big gains last week for the third time in the past four weeks amid 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:a return of risk appetite, as concerns about global tradeꦺ tensions and their potential impact on the economy have moderated.
After markets closed on Friday, Moody's Ratings announced that it had 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:cut its rating on U.S. debt, citing “ꦓpersistent, la🌟rge fiscal deficits” that show no signs of slowing. The downgrade, which puts the U.S. rating one notch below the top tier, comes as lawmakers weigh a budget that would extend significant tax cuts and boost spending for years.
“The Moody's downgrade of US debt doesn't tell investors anything they don't already know about the US's fiscal woes,” wrote Bank of America analysts in a note on Monday.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which affects borrowing costs on all sorts of consumer and business loans, shot up to 4.56% early Monday, its highest intraday level in more than a month, but was at 4.45% in late trading, little changed from its close on Friday. The rise in yields reflected selling in government debt, as yields move in the opposite direction of prices.
Shares of the world's largest technology companies, which have paced the recent rally, were mostly higher on Monday. Microsoft (MSFT) and Broadcom (AVGO) each gained about 1%, while Nvidia (NVDA), Amazon (AMZN), Alphabet (GOOG) and Meta Platforms (META) inched higher. Tesla (TSLA) declined 2%, after shares of the EV maker 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:gained 17% last week, while Apple (AAPL) fell about 1% today.
Among other noteworthy tech movers, shares of server maker Super Micro Computer (SMCI) dropped 3%, while AI analytics software provider Palantir (PLTR) slid 2.5% and chip designer Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) fell 2%.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) shares jumped more than 8% to pace Dow gainers after 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:tumbling more than 20% last week following news the healthcare giant's CEO had stepped down and a report the company fa𓆉ce꧑s a Department of Justice investigation into possible Medicare fraud.
Strategy (MSTR), the world's largest corporate holder of bitcoin that until r🅘ecently was known as MicroStrategy, climbed more than 3% as the price of the diไgital currency surged. Bitcoin was at $105,500 in late-afternoon trading, up from an earlier low of $102,100.
The U꧂.S. dollar index, which 🦂measures the performance of the dollar against a basket of foreign currencies, was down 0.7% at 100.37.
Gold futures were up 1.4% at $3,230 an ꦚounce, as some investors turned to the traditional safe haven amid the downturn 🎃in equities. West Texas Intermediate futures, the U.S. crude oil benchmark, rose 0.4% to $62.70 per barrel.
Biggest S&P 500 Movers on Monday
Advancers
- UnitedHealth Group (UNH) stock jumped 8.2%, marking the top daily performance in the S&P 500. While Monday's move higher extended a recovery that began late last week, shares of the insurance giant had been under heavy pressure after reports of a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Justice Department investigation into possible Medicare fraud compounded news about the departure of UnitedHealth's top executive and suspension of its guidance. As the stock rebounded, filings showed that incoming CEO Stephen Hemsley purchased a significant stake in the company.
- The Food and Drug Administration granted full approval for the protein-based COVID-19 vaccine produced by Novavax (NVAX), and shares of the biotech firm surged 15%. Shares of fellow vaccine maker Moderna (MRNA) were up 6.2%.
- Dollar General (DG) shares advanced 4.9%, adding to gains posted at the end of last week after Walmart (WMT) discussed tariff-related price increases on its earnings call. Analysts have highlighted that Dollar General has limited tariff exposure compared with some of its rivals in discount retail.
Decliners
- Shares of several solar energy companies moved lower after Republican leaders in the House reportedly committed to eliminating certain clean energy tax credits earlier than anticipated. An initial budget proposal from the House Ways and Means Committee released last week included plans to roll back many provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, including tax credits for residential solar installations. Shares of panel manufacturer First Solar (FSLR) sank 7.6%, losing the most of any S&P 500 stock, while shares of solar equipment maker Enphase Energy (ENPH) lost 3.2%.
- The uncertain policy outlook pressured other stocks in the renewable energy space. Shares of power generator AES Corp. (AES), whose portfolio includes solar, wind, hydro, and energy storage projects, fell 4.1%.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-2207834509-5987ed0f9c904c5a950025b128fa2b4e.jpg)
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
- Best Buy (BBY) shares sank 3% after Wells Fargo trimmed its price target on the electronics retailer's stock. Although analysts noted the potential for customers to pull forward their purchases in anticipation of tariff impacts, they remain cautious of significant uncertainties and risks in the market.
The Two Words That Sum Up First-Quarter Earnings
First♏-quarter earnings season is winding down this week. Most market watchers would agree that one issue has loomed large over this round of results.
Of the 451 companies in the S&P 500 that hos꧃ted earnings calls between March 15 and May 15, 381—or 84%—have mentioned “uncertainty,” according to a recent analysis from FactSet Research.
The only other time in the last 10 years that▨ more executives have discussed uncertainty was during the depths of Covid-1𝔍9 lockdowns in the first quarter of 2020, when 393 did so.
President Donald Trump trade policy has been a big reason for the unease: “Tariff” has been mentioned on 91% of earnings calls in the last two months, more than any other quarter in the last decade, according to a separate FactSet report published Fri🗹day.
The effect🌌s of trade policy, however, are yet to to be seen, Deutsche Bank analysts noted Monday, as most U.S. companies didn’t see much tariff impact in the first quarte✱r. “In many cases, it was too early to see a direct impact and trends which had been in place previously largely continued,” they wrote.
That’s one reason first-quarter earnings have 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:handily exceeded expectations. The S&P 500 is on track to post a second ඣconsecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth.
The Trump administration's decision to pause 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:nearly all of the tariffs announced in early April could mean "tariffs" and "uncertainty" continue to dominate the conversation in the next round of earnings calls starting in July. Investors and executives are hoping that 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:bilateral deals like the one struck earlier this month with t🧸he U.K. will provide some clarity.
Quantum Computing Stock Price Levels to Watch
Quantum Computing (QUBT) shares tumbled Monday after jumping 50% last week when the photonic and quantum optics provider flagged progress at its planned quantum chip foundry🐬.
CEO Yuping Huang said last Thursday the company had completed construction of its Arizona-based foundry, a factory that will process the materials used in the photonic chips that power specific quantum machines. The firm also said it had secured its fifth purchase order and deepened its engagement with both government and commercial partners. The company also announced it 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:swung to a profit in the first quarter on benefits from an earlier acquisition and growing demand for its photonic semiconductors.
Quantum Computing shares fell 8.1% to close Monday's session at $11.83. Still, the stock has doubled from last-month's low and has gained more than 1,000% over the past month as investors bet that the company’s chips will power 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:quantum technology helping to revolutionize industries like 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:cybersecurity, finance, and healthcare.
After breaking above a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:falling wedge pattern in mid-March, Quantum Computing shares consolidated before resuming their uptrend in late April.
More recently, the stock broke out above a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:pennant pattern in Friday’s trading session, signaling a continuation move higher. Importantly, the buying occurred on the highest daily volume since mid-January, indicating that larger market players participated in the rally. Meanwhile, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:relative strength index confirms bullish momentum, but also flashes 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:overbought 𝔍conditions, which cou꧒ld lead to short-term volatility.
Investors should watch crucial overhead areas on Quantum Computing's chart around $20 and $27, while also monitoring major support levels near $9 and $6.
Read the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:technical analysis piece here.
Jamie Dimon Says JPMorgan Will Allow Crypto Trading
JPMorgan Chase (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon, knowꦚn to be a cryptocurrency skeptic, said the bank will allow clients to buy bitcoin—though he's not crazy about it himself.
"Personally, when I look at the bitcoin universe ... there's the sex trafficking, the terrorism, I am not a fan of it," Dimon said at the bank's annual investor day Monday, according to a transcript provided by AlphaSense, alluding to the occasional use of cryptocurrency to fund illicit activities.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-2214559646-ca2103e47c1948328803774739ad9b43.jpg)
Michel Euler / Pool / AFP / Getty Images
Still, Dimon said: "We're going to allow you to buy it. And we are not going to custody it. We're going to put it in statements for clients."
JPMorgan's rival Morgan Stanley (MS) has allowed its wealth advisors to pitch 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:spot bitcoin ETFs since August, CNBC reported. Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Morgan Stanley was looking to bring 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:cryptocurrency trading to clients through its E*Trade platform.
Although JPMorgan now apparently will also be allowing clients to trade bitcoin, Dimon is still is not a fan of the largest cryptocurrency.
"I don't think you should smoke, but I defend your right to smoke," Dimon said. "I defend your right to buy bitcoin. Go at it."
TXNM Energy Hits Record High on $11.5B Blackstone Deal
Shares of TXNM Energy (TXNM) traded at an all-time high Monday when the power provider for New Mexico and Texas agreed to be purchased by the infrastructure unit of Blackstone (BX) for $11.5 billion in cash and debt.
The deal has Blackstone Infrastructure paying TXNM investors $61.25 for each share they own, a nearly 16% premium to the closing price on Friday. To support TXNM's growth, Blackstone Infrastructure will spend $400 million to acquire 8 million newly issued shares of TXNM common stock at $50 each through a private placement agreement, and TXNM is to match that amount before the close of the transaction, which is expected in the second half of 2026.
As part of the acquisition, TXNM Executive 🎐Chair Pat Collawn will step down, and current Chair and CEO Don Tarry will oversee operations as President an⛄d CEO.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TXNM_2025-05-19_15-47-16-542ea9c831fe4450a8f7558fccc352f9.png)
TradingView
TXNM Energy shar♊es were up nearly 7% at $56.50 in late tradiജng Monday, after hitting a record high of $57.29 early in the session.
What Analysts Think of Home Depot, Lowe's Ahead of Earnings
Home Depot (HD) and rival Lowe's (LOW) are scheduled to report quarterly financial results on Tuesday and W🌸ednesday, respectively, with analysts largely bullish on both home i🌜mprovement retailers' stocks.
Of the 13 analysts covering Home Depot tracked by Visible Alpha, 11 have issued "buy" or equivalent ratings, while two have neutral ratings. Meanwhile, 10 out of 15 analysts covering Lowe's call it a "buy," with five "hold" ratings. The mean price targets for both stocks—at $436 for Home Depot and $270 for Lowe's—would suggest roughly 15% upside from Friday's closing levels.
First-quarter sales for Home Depot are expected to rise 8% year-over-year to $39.26 billion, while Lowe's revenue is projected to drop 2% to $20.95 billion. Adjusted earnings per share are expected to decline for both retailers—to $3.56 and $2.87, respectively.
Ahead of the reports, analysts from UBS said that while they are not "expecting any real earth-shattering news" from the first-quarter results, they like the stocks for several reasons. The analysts pointed to relatively stable demand despite tariff uncertainty, with room for improvement later this year if the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:housing market turns around.
Morgan Stanley analysts echoed the comments, and called the retailers "high quality bellwethers." They expect both retailers to hold their previous full-year forecasts steady, but noted that they could introduce broader ranges to reflect the uncertainty, as some other companies hav🎶e done this earnings sea💎son.
JPMorgan analysts recently trimmed their price targets for Home Depot and Lowe's to $410 and $263, respectively, from $470 and $300 previously. They lowered their comparable sales projections for the first quarter as the analysts said they believe tariff-fueled uncertainty "is having an effect on bigger ticket spending," a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:category Lowe's and Home Depot 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:struggled with last year as squeezed consumers avoided big purchases❀.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/HD_2025-05-19_14-13-42-a953a3c092854de28a042beb48cb8758.png)
TradingView
Home Depot shares were down slightly at around $380 in mid-afternoon trading Monday, while Lowe's shares inched higher to about $235.
Wall Street Largely Shake Off Credit Rating Downgrade Worries
U.S. stocks pared early losses Monday as investors largely shook off concerns about the U.S. government's growing debt problem.
Monday morning’s dip came after Moody’s Ratings on Friday 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:downgraded U.S. debt to AA1 from AAA, the highest possible rating. Moody’s is the last of the major credit agencies to lower its rating of U.S. Treasurys; Standard and Poor’s and Fitch did so in 2011 and 2023, respectively.
Moody’s cited “persistent, large fiscal deficits” for its downgrade. “We do not believe that material multi-year reductions in mandatory s🐷pending and deficits will result from current fiscal proposals under consideration,” the agency wrote, referring to the tax and spending bill making its way through Congress. The U.S🃏.’s financial health is likely to deteriorate as the government’s debt and interest burden increase.
“The Moody's downgrade of US debt doesn't tell investors anything they don't already know about the US's fiscal woes,” wrote Bank of America analysts in a note on Monday. BofA analysts don’t expect the downgrade to have much of a direct impact on the Treasury market since it won’t exclude U.S. debt from major fixed-income indexes.
Oppenheimer analysts on Monday also noted the downgrade was unlikely to sting either the Treasury or stock market. Earlier downgrades from S&P and Fitch stirred up angst on Wall Street, but ultimately didn’t cause material da🍷mage to debt markets due to America’s “depth and breadth in accountability as well as comparative high levels of transparency in governance.”
Oppenheimer analysts remain optimistic about 💧the stock market’s outlook, and note “any near-term retracement on nervousness around the rating downgrade may be overstated.” They recommend “looking for ‘babies that get thrown out with the bathwater’ rather thaꦐn broadly ‘buying the dips,’” considering elevated uncertainty.
JPMorgan Downgrades Netflix Stock to Neutral
JPMorgan downgraded Netflix (NFLX) shares to “neutral” from “overweight” Monday, citing a sharp run-up in the streaming gia💙nt’s shares.
However, analysts Doug Anmuth and Bryan M. Smilek also raised their price target on Netflix shares to $1,220 from $1,150, while noting that the stock was "less compelling" following recent gains.
"To be clear, there’s no change to our long-term bullish view on NFLX’s streaming leadership position & the company’s potential to effectively become global TV over time," they wrote. "However, more near-term, following significant stock price appreciation & outperformance, we believe the risk/reward in NFLX shares is becoming more balanced."
Netflix shares, which hit a record high laℱst week, were down 0.5% at $1,185 in recent trading. The stock has gained 33% since the start of 2025.
The analysts said that Netflix shares currently trade at 39 times forecast 2026 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:earnings per share (on a GAAP basis) and may have already priced in the upside to its 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:2025 outlook.
They also noted that investors may rotate their holdings into other stocks that had been under pressure if worries about the economy and tariffs ease. They wrote, too, that the "summer months are seasonally slower” for Netflix and that "2Q is historically a tricky quarter" for the company due to that seasonality.
Walmart Slips as Trump Says Company Should 'Eat Tariffs'
Walmart (WMT) shares slumped in early trading Monday after President Donald Trump said the retailer should 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:absorb the cost of tariffs rather than pass it o🍃n to customers by raising prices.&💞nbsp;
“Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain,” Trump said in a Saturday message on Truth Social. “Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected. Between Walmart and China they should, as i🍰s said, ‘EAT THE TARIFFS,’ and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!!!”
Trump’s post came in response to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon warning that 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:profits could fall this year depending on the dirไection of trade poli♏cy.
“Given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:reduced levels announced this week, we aren't able to abs⛦orb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins,” McMillon said during the company’s earnings call Thursday, a tra🎶nscript of which was made available by AlphaSense.
McMillon credited President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for “progress” on lowering tariffs after the U.S. and China agreed to 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:roll back import taxes for a period of 90 days. “We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible,” the CEO ൲added.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/WMT_2025-05-19_10-27-17-d15d772308ac47a29c91951185356767.png)
TradingView
Walmart shares were down about 1% in recent trading. The stock is up about 8% since the start of the year, handily outpa☂cing the performance of the S&P 500 over that period.
Watch These CoreWeave Levels After Last Week's Huge Rally
CoreWeave (CRWV) shares soared last week after the AI cloud provider posted a surge in quarterly revenue and disclosed that Nvidia (NVDA) ꧂has a higher⭕ stake in the company than investors had anticipated. The stock is moving higher again this morning.
CoreWeave, which went public in late March, reported Wednesday that ꧅first-quarter revenue grew ov❀er 400% year-over-year and said via a regulatory filing on Thursday that major partner Nvidia holds a 7% stake in the company, up from its pre-澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:initial public offering holdings of roughly 5%. The company also said last week that it had agreed to a four-year deal with ChatGPT makerꦍ OpenAI worth up to $4 bil🦹lion, adding to a nearly $12 billion commitment announced in March.
Through the close of trading Friday, CoreWeave shares had more than doubled from their 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:$40 IPO price, boosted by last week’s news and investor appetite for up-and-coming 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:generative AI plays that are scaling to meet the techno𒅌logy’s widespread demand. The stock was up about 1% at ♔around $81 this morning, after gaining 56% last week.
CoreWeave shares forged a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:cup and handle pattern on the chart between l💯ate April and𝔉 early May before breaking out above the formation’s top trendline last week.
Importantly, the move higher has occurred on above-average 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:trading volume, indicating conviction from larger market participants behind the buying. Moreover, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:relative strength index confirms bullish price momentum with an elevated reading, though the indicator fell below the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:overbought threshold on Friday, suggesting minor 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:profit-taking ahead of the weekend.
The measuring principle projects an upside target in the shares of $96.90, about 20% above Friday's closing price. Investors should watch key support levels on CoreWeave's chart around $73 and $57.
Read the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:technical analysis piece here.
S&P 500, Dow in Positive Territory for 2025
While stocks are set to open lower on Mond🦩ay, the major U.S. ind🔜exes have have posted big gains in three of the past four weeks as concerns about tariffs and the economy have subsided, at least temporarily.
Last week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each posted their bigg🦄est weekly gains since the week of April 7. The Dow added 3.4% last week, while the S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq jumped 5.3% and 7.2%, respectively.
With their recent gains,🧸 the S&P 500 and Dow nudged back into positive territory for 2025, while t🌊he Nasdaq remains down slightly
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/IXIC_2025-05-16_16-58-20-771210413c1648759d4fd2b562f966c4.png)
TradingView
Major Index Futures Point To Sharply Lower Open
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Averageಌ wer𝓰e down 0.6%.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/YM1_2025-05-19_08-28-21-38dafcce0d3d4c5a9d019812e4c59fdc.png)
TradingView
S&P 500 futures were off 1.1%.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ES1_2025-05-19_08-28-27-b2fe1a207b2c49118fd8ccafca82c119.png)
TradingView
Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 1.5%.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/NQ1_2025-05-19_08-29-48-40dee9924c844301a34ffac2720f5eea.png)
TradingView