THURSDAY, MAY 21st
GOOD MORNING
Stocks broke a three-session losing streak in a tape shaped by two competing pulls: relief that Treasury yields finally pulled back, and anxiety over whether NVIDIA’s after-the-bell earnings would justify lofty AI-spend expectations. The session leaned risk-on, with small caps and high-beta baskets like space, quantum, and data centers leading, a welcome shift from recent narrow leadership.
The bond move drove the rotation. A tame UK inflation print and easing U.S.-Iran tensions cooled global rates and pulled oil back, softening the inflation overhang pressuring the Fed-path debate. When long yields relax, the discount-rate squeeze on growth equities eases, and consumer-tilted sectors get room to run.
Airlines surged on cheaper crude, with United, Delta, and Southwest leading the index, joined by Carnival and Norwegian as cruise stocks caught the same bid. AI-adjacent utilities NRG Energy and Constellation Energy advanced on power-demand enthusiasm, while Intel, AMD, and Micron firmed up into NVIDIA’s print. After the close, NVIDIA beat on both lines and guided Q2 above consensus, reinforcing the CapEx story. Traders are watching whether Thursday’s session converts that into broader follow-through, or whether long yields creep back into focus.
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RETAIL/WHOLESALE
TJX Companies Fires on All Cylinders With 9% Revenue Growth
TJX Companies’ (NYSE: TJX) uptrend has limits, but they have yet to be reached. Accelerating business, dividends, and share buybacks suggest the uptrend will not only continue but may itself accelerate in the second half. The company decided to increase its share buyback, providing investors with …READ THE FULL STORY
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MEDICAL
From Zepbound to Foundayo: Lilly’s Latest Results Support Oral GLP-1 Outlook
Shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical stock, started 2026 in a bad way. Near the end of April, LLY shares had fallen as much as 20%. However, the stock has rebounded mightily since then. Lilly’s highly impressive earnings report kicked off the rally…READ THE FULL STORY
TECHNOLOGY
AI Consolidation Begins: Blackstone & Google Forge an AI Empire
The artificial intelligence infrastructure buildout is entering its consolidation phase. In a decisive move that reshapes the competitive landscape, private equity giant Blackstone (NYSE: BX) and hyperscaler Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) announced a $5 billion joint venture to create a new AI cloud plat…READ THE FULL STORY
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55 out of 55 drill hits – and a mining giant took notice
A smaller North American mining group has stepped into rare earth and titanium ground with ties to Rio Tinto – and the track record behind the move is hard to ignore.
In 2025, the company drilled 15 holes and hit mineralization in all 15. By 2026, that extended to 55 out of 55. With rare earths gaining strategic importance across energy and defense, this setup is drawing a closer look.SEE WHAT’S BEHIND THIS RIO TINTO-LINKED RARE EARTH MOVE
BASIC MATERIALS
USA Rare Earth Posts Strong Q1 2026 as Massive Serra Vera Deal Looms
USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ: USAR) is looking to fill a hole in the market born out of geopolitical uncertainty. Along with mining companies like MP Materials (NYSE: MP), USA Rare Earth is aiding the United States in loosening China’s chokehold on rare earth elements (REEs). China controls the majority …READ THE FULL STORY
AEROSPACE
3 Space Infrastructure Stocks Gaining Momentum Ahead of the SpaceX IPO
The space sector has been one of the most exciting areas of the market in 2026, and the excitement is only building. Reports that SpaceX could file its prospectus as soon as this week, ahead of a potential June IPO, have injected fresh momentum into a sector already generating compelling stories of…READ THE FULL STORY
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BUSINESS SERVICES
The Great AI Rotation: Cashing In on Data
The artificial intelligence hardware trade, which for years has been a straightforward bet on GPU manufacturers, is undergoing a foundational shift. As the initial frenzy of building out AI training models matures, the market is waking up to a new, more persistent bottleneck: data storage. The data…READ THE FULL STORY
MEDICAL
Mirum Pharma: A Rare Disease Growth Story to Watch
Mirum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MIRM) is a late-stage biotechnology company that is making significant progress toward its mission to combat rare diseases with no or limited treatment options. Mirum recently reported its Q1 2026 earnings, headlined by 43% year-over-year (YOY) revenue growth. In 2025…READ THE FULL STORY
TECHNOLOGY
The Great Cloud Divide: How AI Is Reshuffling the Software Deck
Enterprise software is undergoing a major transformation driven by AI, unleashing unprecedented market expansion for platforms that are adopting autonomous architecture. A shift is underway, splitting the legacy Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) ecosystem into clear winners and losers, effectively endin…READ THE FULL STORY
CONSTRUCTION
Eagle Materials: A Dividend-Paying Brick & Mortar AI Play
Eagle Materials (NASDAQ: EXP) is not exactly an AI play, as it has no exposure to the tech market beyond its own investment in operational quality. However, as the nation’s 7th-largest producer of cement and concrete, and the largest U.S.-owned manufacturer of gypsum wallboard, it is very well posi…READ THE FULL STORY
TECHNOLOGY
Analog Devices Provides Much-Needed Pullback: How Low Can It Go?
Analog Devices’ (NASDAQ: ADI) share price peaked in mid-May and is set up to pull back by mid-year. A pullback is much-needed for this market, as the stock price has recently advanced about 35% in a nearly vertical movement. The question is how deep the pullback may get, and the likely answer is n…READ THE FULL STORY
THURSDAY’S EARLY BIRD STOCK OF THE DAY
A Stock With Recent Earnings Beat:International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM)
International Business Machines Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated solutions and services worldwide. The company operates through Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing segments. The Software segment offers a hybrid cloud and AI platforms that allows clients to realize their digital and AI transformations across the applications, data, and environments in which they operate. The Consulting segment focuses on skills integration for strategy, experience, …
Should I Buy International Business Machines Stock? IBM Bull and Bear Case Explained
These insights were generated using artificial intelligence. They are based on proprietary MarketBeat data, news articles, and custom LLM A.I. algorithms. This analysis of International Business Machines was last updated on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 6:13 PM.
International Business Machines Bull Case
- The current stock price is around $218, which may present a buying opportunity for investors looking for value in the technology sector.
- International Business Machines Co. has shown a strong revenue growth of approximately 9.5% year-over-year, indicating robust business performance and potential for future profitability.
- The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.91, exceeding analysts’ expectations, which reflects strong operational efficiency and effective cost management.
- Institutional investors hold a significant portion of the company’s stock, with ownership at about 58.96%, suggesting confidence in the company’s long-term prospects.
- Recent insider buying activity, including a director purchasing shares, can be a positive signal about the company’s future performance and management’s confidence in its direction.
International Business Machines Bear Case
- The company’s debt-to-equity ratio stands at 1.75, indicating a higher level of debt compared to equity, which could pose risks in times of economic downturns.
- Despite recent growth, the stock has experienced volatility, with a 52-week high of $324.90 and a low of $212.34, suggesting potential instability in its market performance.
- The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is around 19.31, which may be considered high compared to industry averages, potentially indicating that the stock is overvalued.
- Recent reductions in stock holdings by some institutional investors, such as Conning Inc., may signal a lack of confidence in the company’s short-term performance.
- The company’s current ratio of 0.80 suggests that it may face challenges in meeting its short-term liabilities, which could impact liquidity and operational flexibility.
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