I’m glad you’re here. In a world gone mad, what you and I have in common is the fact that we are level-headed. We’re skeptical of the media narratives we’re told to believe — but we’re not crazy. Most importantly, we value discernment.
I’m saying this because we’re in another period of mass hallucination and groupthink. We saw how scary this could get during the pandemic — billions of people just taking the narrative they were fed.
Now people are going crazy again, this time in the opposite direction: not believing anything they are told.
We’ve already covered the most recent assassination attempt thoroughly. We know a 31-year-old named Cole Allen rushed a security checkpoint outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner with a shotgun, a handgun, and a bag of knives. He shot a Secret Service agent in the chest. The vest saved the agent’s life. Ten minutes before the attack, Allen emailed his family a 1,000-word manifesto signed “Cole ‘coldForce’ ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ Allen.”
But look what happened next — from elected politicians, the largest social media “influencers,” and everyday people:
By 2:51 a.m. Sunday — about six hours after the shots — Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX)posted on Threads asking whether the attempts on Trump’s life might be “maybe it’s fake … who knows.”
Keith Olbermann, posting to nearly a million followers on X, wrote: “I’m not saying it was STAGED… YOU’RE saying it was staged!”
An X account with roughly half a million followers (@ProudSocialist) summed it up in three words: “False flag confirmed.”
A theory involving time travel passed 1.2 million views by Monday morning.
An AI-generated video of Tucker Carlsonmade the rounds, with the fake Carlson saying “Was this a coincidence? Or another staged incident” while running a clip of Karoline Leavitt’s pre-dinner “shots fired” line — which was a reference to the speeches.
Russian state media amplified the staged narrative. A pro-Iran propaganda accountpiggybacked. On Bluesky, accounts spammed the word “STAGED” through the night. On the right, the mirror version went up: Trump orchestrated the whole thing to push his $400 million ballroom project through the courts.
And Cole Allen — the actual shooter — had spent years on social media amplifying this same kind of conspiracy. After Butler in 2024, he retweeted a post arguing that Trump was “quite capable of having staged a fake assassination attempt” on himself.
There are many reasons to explain this viral delusion. People are right to distrust the media. The legacy outlets earned it. And a generation of online influencers learned that conspiracy and outrage are the fastest path to clicks, followers, and the brand deals that come with them. Some of them get paid, directly or indirectly, to keep their audiences locked in permanent suspicion of everything.
We should be skeptical — but having nothing to believe is dizzying, psychologically unhealthy, and the grounds on which entire populations get brainwashed. During the Korean War, Chinese and Korean troops successfully brainwashed American prisoners of war to hate America and support communism. Their strategy, according to journalist Edward Hunter, was simple:
“No man has ever been brainwashed whose mind has not first been put into a fog.”
We need to be able to trust. And we need to be grounded in reality.
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— Ariel & Brandon
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Exclusive Story from MarketBeat Media
AMD’s Poker Face: Reading the Tell in a Panic-Driven Market
Submitted by Jeffrey Neal Johnson. Article Published: 4/29/2026.
Key Points
AMD’s partnership with a major hyperscaler validates its technology and de-risks the company’s future revenue growth expectations.
Management is using a forward-dated product event to anchor market expectations on its next-generation hardware cycle, countering short-term sentiment.
Sophisticated options traders and institutional investors appear to be accumulating shares, positioning for a significant rally into the late summer.
The current selloff, sparked by systemic concerns about the pace of AI infrastructure spending, has created an attractive entry point for investors able to separate short-term sentiment from medium-term fundamental catalysts.
While the tape shows a stock gapping down nearly 5%, a deeper analysis reveals a company planting a strategic flag for its next-generation hardware cycle, reinforced by a massive new hyperscaler commitment and intelligent positioning from the options market.
Calling the Bluff: Why AI CapEx Panic Is Overblown
The immediate downside pressure is a direct reaction to late April reports of missed internal growth targets at OpenAI, a development that sent a shockwave through the AI supply chain. The narrative has pivoted, almost overnight, to fears of a slowdown in data center capital expenditures. This sentiment-driven rotation is providing cover for profit-taking after a robust 59% 30-day rally in AMD’s stock price.
Compounding the macro pressure was a tactical downgrade from Northland Securities, which shifted its rating from Outperform to Market Perform, citing valuation concerns. The stock currently trades with a trailing price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 126.23, a metric that demands near-flawless execution and sustained high-growth tailwinds. For many, the OpenAI news was the first visible crack in the growth thesis, justifying a move to the sidelines. The resulting price action, a sharp decline to the $318 level, reflects this heightened uncertainty as investors await the company’s critical Q1 2026 earnings release on May 5.
AMD’s Pocket Aces: The Meta Partnership Counter-Signal
Just as the market began to price in a potential CapEx winter, new disclosures provided a powerful counter-narrative. A newly expanded strategic partnership with Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) will see the hyperscaler deploy 6 gigawatts of AMD GPUs. This multi-gigawatt enterprise commitment is a direct and verifiable rebuttal to the thesis that AI infrastructure buildouts are stalling. It provides a foundational layer of demand from a premier client, de-risking forward revenue streams and validating the performance of AMD’s current and future accelerator architecture.
This stands in stark contrast to competitors like Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO), which are aggressively pursuing a custom ASIC strategy that can lead to margin compression and high single-customer concentration risk. The Meta deal underscores the strength of AMD’s more open, flexible hardware ecosystem, a key differentiator for hyperscalers seeking to avoid vendor lock-in and diversify their silicon supply chains.
Betting on the Turn: AMD Signals Its Next Move
AMD management is not waiting for the market narrative to dictate its trajectory. The announcement of its Advancing AI 2026 event, scheduled for July 23, serves as a strategic placeholder for its next hardware cycle. This forward-dated event is a classic maneuver by silicon companies to defend their stock price during sector corrections, signaling confidence in the product pipeline to bridge any gaps in sentiment.
The San Francisco showcase is expected to debut the next-generation Instinct MI400 series accelerators. These products are engineered to directly challenge NVIDIA’s (NASDAQ: NVDA)dominance in the data center. Alongside the new GPUs, the market anticipates a roadmap of the Zen 6 architecture and Zen 7 EPYC enterprise server processors, further strengthening the company’s two-pronged assault on the high-margin data center market. By anchoring expectations to a firm date, AMD forces analysts and institutional capital to look past the current noise and begin pricing in the next wave of product-driven growth.
Who’s Staying in the Game
Despite the jarring price action, institutional conviction remains robust. AMD is currently 71% institutionally owned, with capital flows over the last 24 months showing a decisive bullish bias, $36.96 billion in inflows versus $20.33 billion in outflows. This suggests that long-term allocators are using periods of volatility to accumulate positions.
Recent insider selling, which can often be a bearish indicator, requires deeper context. SEC Form 4 and 144 filings confirm that the widely reported April share sales by CTO Mark Papermaster were executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. This plan was established in November 2025, long before the recent rally, neutralizing any interpretation of the sales as a reaction to current market conditions.
Going All-In: Options Traders Play Their Hand
The options market is providing a clear map of investor strategy. Significant open interest in put options at the $300 and $310 strike prices for near-term expirations establishes a firm technical support floor. Simultaneously, traders are accumulating out-of-the-money call positions, with concentrated open interest at the $340, $350, and $370 strikes.
This bifurcated positioning confirms the broader thesis: sophisticated traders are leveraging the current volatility to purchase downside protection while simultaneously placing directional bets on a rally into the late-summer hardware event. The flow indicates that the market is beginning to front-run the hype cycle for the Advancing AI 2026 event, creating a steady baseline of support that should cushion the stock against further macro-induced panic. The current technical divergence offers an asymmetric risk/reward opportunity to scale into a high-beta technology leader ahead of its most significant catalysts of the year.
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Meet the Red-naped SapsuckerThis handsome woodpecker is named for its dashing plumage. Learn moreRed-naped Sapsucker. Photo: Mick ThompsonBirds on the Move: Desert RiversRivers are lifelines in the arid Southwest. They support birds, wildlife, and communities that depend on them every day. This episode of Birds on the Move explores why rivers and the habitat they sustain are so vital and what’s at stake if we don’t protect them. Because when rivers thrive, birds thrive… and so do we.
Watch videoBirds on the Move. Photo: AudubonWestern Rivers Day 2026Important investments in Arizona’s lands and waters are contained within the budget process. Learn what Audubon Southwest is advocating for including in the fiscal year 2027 state budget.
Read moreCooper’s Hawk. Adam Stunkel/Audubon Photography AwardsBirding Toward HopeWe live in a rapidly changing and increasingly complex world and staying centered can feel more challenging by the day. Birding may be the answer to help lift spirits and inspire hope.
Read moreA migrating Calliope Hummingbird stops in New Mexico for a roadside thistle. Photo: Tucker Davidson/Audubon SouthwestCENTER HIGHLIGHTSEvery Day is Earth DayEvery day, Audubon Southwest staff is working hard to bring people outside to inspire conservation action through volunteer and education opportunities. Check out what we’ve been up to, and how you can get involved to help us protect birds and the places they need. Read moreFirst Graders build bee baths for local pollinators. Photo: Katie Weeks/Audubon SouthwestJoin us for Summer Camp 2026Spaces are available for ages 8 to 12 for Summer Camp at the Randall Davey Audubon Center June 1 to July 31. Campers will get to explore the Santa Fe Watershed, dissect owl pellets, compete in the Great Biomimicry Challenge, play on the Treehouse, and more. RegisterStudents birding. Photo: Meghan Baker/Audubon SouthwestNew trail at Randall Davey Audubon Center The Randall Davey Audubon Center has a new trail that offers great views of Santa Fe Canyon, the Santa Fe Watershed, and Nichols Reservoir. The Buena Vista Trail is a short (0.25-mile) but very steep spur off the top of our Loop Trail. We appreciate the New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors for helping us build the trail! Check out the trail next time you’re visiting. Plan your visitView from Buena Vista Trail. Photo: Carl Beal/Audubon Southwest2026 Appleton-Whittell Research FellowsIt’s time to welcome our 2026 cohort of Appleton-Whittell Research Fellows! We’re excited to be supporting three early career scientists, each studying at Arizona universities and each focusing on questions that are critical to our work of protecting birds and their habitats on the Research Ranch and beyond. Learn more 2026 Research Fellow Alexia Markoutsis. Photo: Northern Arizona University Ecological Restoration Institute, 2025CHAPTERS CORNER: News from Local Chapters in New Mexico and Arizona Climate Watch Bird Surveys, chapter featured in Audubon video series, and planning for the next Audubon Leadership Conference!
Read chapter newsBirding at the 2025 Audubon Leadership Conference. Photo: Evan Barrientos/Audubon
Editor’s Note: I have a message for you from Addison Wiggin at Grey Swan Investment Fraternity. I thought you might find it interesting – check it out here or read more below.
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Managing Editor’s Note: Our friend, the hedge fund legend who delivered a 279% return on cash in 2025 and went on a 20 year winning streak, says Elon Musk is now executing the “Final Phase of his Master Plan”… and he’s identified the ONE ticker that stands to benefit most (it’s not SpaceX, Tesla, or anything you’d associate Elon with). Click here to see the details or read more below…
Dear Bleeding Edge Reader,
There is no one alive who moves markets the way Elon Musk does.
For years, we’ve been told SpaceX is a rocket company. But according to new satellite images from 300 miles above the Earth’s surface, there is something very strange going on at SpaceX right now that has nothing to do with space. It could soon replace our need for foreign oil forever and ignite a $10 trillion boom for the stocks involved. Learn more.What’s Going On With Archer Aviation Stock Monday?
AI enthusiasm, strong earnings and upbeat guidance fueled massive rallies across cloud, chip, infrastructure and space stocks last week, led by DigitalOcean Holdings, Micron Technology and Rocket Lab. Continue reading ➔3 Defense Stocks Driving Future Tech – Ad
From space systems to cybersecurity and advanced weapons, defense innovation is accelerating. These 3 stocks are tied to critical technologies shaping the future of global security.
SANTA CLARA, Cuba (AP) — Yudelaimys Barrero Muñoz used to spend up to three hours on the side of a highway under the blazing sun waving money at drivers as she attempted to hitch a ride from Cienfuegos, to Santa Clara, where she buys supplies to resell and support her husband and two children. Continue reading ➔4 Value Stocks Built to Last a Lifetime
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration announced two more payouts Monday for energy companies to walk away from U.S. offshore wind projects under development. Continue reading ➔
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Photonics is critical to AI, with data centers the primary driver of business in 2026. The vast amounts of data require ultrafast, high-bandwidth transmission, or else face the bottlenecks presented by traditional copper.
However, photonics is good for more than just AI, and space is the placewhere it is needed most. Photonics is viewed as absolutely critical for the development and commercialization of space, as it enables not only the ultra-fast communication required, but also is low-weight and smaller in size, enabling lighter craft and larger payloads, is naturally resistant to interference, and is useful for remote sensing. Remote sensing has many applications, among them the maneuvering and docking of ultra-expensive spacecraft and stations on track for construction in upcoming years.
Aeluma Advances Commercialization Process
Aeluma (NASDAQ: ALMU) is among the best-positioned photonics companies today. It is advancing both compound semiconductor technology and the development of quantum dot lasers to power photonic devices and scalable manufacturing processes.
Its Heterogeneous Integration Platform combines numerous advanced copackaging processes into a single platform, enabling both scale and efficiency that can disrupt the market. Catalysts in 2026 include its path to commercialization, which was amplified by recent government awards.
Aeluma has secured more than $4 million in government contracts, including from NASA, to advance its strategy. Revenue is expected to begin growing by year’s end, but significant gains are not expected until 2028. The opportunity for investors is getting into this stock early, before the race for space gains momentum. Momentum is expected to build this year, coinciding with the SpaceX IPO slated for late spring or early summer.
SpaceX is the single largest space company, dominating the launch schedule, commanding a high-double-digit market share, and opening the door to an influx of institutional investment in space. While Mars remains the endgame, the near-term focus has shifted to a moon base, with Starship rocket bodies serving as the initial structures. The goal is to establish a moon-based manufacturing economy, with initial base construction planned for sometime in 2028.
Coherent: AI Drives Business, But Good for Space, Too
Coherent Corp. (NYSE: COHR) is among the most diversified optics and photonics companies on the market, making a range of reliable, high-speed and copackaged products critical for AI infrastructure.
It also manufactures components made to withstand the harsh conditions of space and is positioned to benefit from the upcoming boom.
As it stands, the stock price is in an uptrend, supported by accelerating growth and better-than-expected guidance that likely underestimates future strength.
\The upcoming launch of Advanced Micro Devices’ (NASDAQ: AMD)MI450 line will unleash a second wave of data center demand, helping Coherent sustain its momentum.
Lumentum Lights Up the Photonic Opportunity
Lumentum (NASDAQ: LITE) is another well-diversified photonic manufacturer with business in space. The company produces a range of products for defense, aerospace, and satellite applications and is expected to grow in 2026.
The business is underpinned by AI and datacenter demand, driving revenue acceleration to 90% in fiscal Q3 2026 and expected to remain strong in upcoming quarters. Catalysts for the stock price include an uptrend in analysts’ sentiment and institutional buying, which indicate a strong support base and a market tailwind.
The stock price action reflects the strength of the tailwind and opportunity ahead. The market for LITE and COHR stock is up by quadruple-digit percentages as of mid-2026 and is likely to continue rising.
The technicals include rising volume and convergent momentum, an indication of a strengthening market, unlikely to reverse course without a change in fundamentals. The only change in fundamentals likely to come is an increase in strength, as AI workloads become more intense and reliant on reliable, high-speed communications.
nLIGHT: Laser Focused on Defense Applications
nLIGHT (NASDAQ: LASR) is a laser-focused photonics company amid a strategic shift. The company targets aerospace and defense applications, with products providing a range of power and output sizes, enabling a wide range of end uses.
Results in 2026 reveal acceleration and the potential for additional acceleration, as defense demand ramps higher. Of them all, space will be the strongest catalyst for nLIGHT as its semiconductor and fiber lasers are critical to a variety of space-specific applications, including advanced manufacturing of rockets and engines, and actively designs space-specific sensing and communications products.
Analyst trends are robust for this company. Although the price action is leading the consensus, MarketBeat’s reported consensus increased by more than 300% on a trailing 12-month basis, with high-end targets offering substantial upside.
The likely outcome is that nLIGHT’s business continues to improve and sustain the positive revision cycle. In this scenario, nLIGHT can easily grow into its earnings outlook and sustain an uptrend over time. READ THIS STORY ONLINE
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Buyback announcements often send key signals to investors about how companies view their own stock. When firms announce new buyback authorizations, it can be an indicator that they see opportunity in shares.
These signals are particularly strong when buyback authorizations represent a significant percentage of a company’s market capitalization. This gives firms the ability to repurchase an ample amount of their shares at what they may view as a depressed price.
Recently, several stocks in the industrials industry have announced notable buyback programs, and in some cases, management has made strong statements as to why.
Builder’s FirstSource Claims “Tremendous Discount” in Shares
Starting off the list of industrial buyback announcements is Builders FirstSource (NYSE: BLDR). The company is the United States’ largest supplier of structural building products for single-family and multi-family housing developers. However, markets have hit the stock very hard lately, down more than 20% in 2026, and down well over 40% from its 52-week high.
General weakness in the housing market has driven this, with Builders FirstSource posting revenue declines for eight quarters in a row. In its latest earnings report, the company posted a year-over-year (YOY) revenue drop of 10%. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) fell by a massive 82% YOY, and the company lowered its full-year guidance.
However, the company also made a significant buyback announcement, authorizing a new $500 million program. This adds to its $200 million in remaining capacity. Overall, the firm’s $700 million in buyback capacity is equal to over 8% of its approximately $8.4 billion valuation, a very significant figure. This comes after the firm spent $306 million on buybacks in Q1.
Notably, CEO Peter Jackson said the company saw “an opportunity to pick up shares of BFS at a tremendous discount.” That’s one of the stronger statements that investors will ever see regarding a company’s buyback activity, and the firm now has much more ammo going forward.
Snap-On Boosts Buyback to Go Along With Solid Dividend
Snap-On (NYSE: SNA) is one of the most recognizable names in the world of automotive tools, selling wrenches, diagnostic systems, and other equipment. Snap-On has a strong presence among dealerships and independent repair shops and serves a broader range of customers in industries like aerospace. The stock has put up decent performance lately, with a 12-month return near 15%.
Sales trends have been improving, with revenue growth hitting 5.8% YOY in its latest quarter after dropping 3.5% in Q1 2025. Tariffs have been a persistent headwind and a recurring topic on earnings calls, and the company noted margin impacts in the last quarter.
However, Snap-On is indicating some optimism going forward, recently announcing a $500 million buyback program. This new program replaces its past one and is equal to around 2.6% of the company’s approximately $19.4 billion market capitalization. The program is meaningful in size, but is not particularly large.
Still, Snap-On attests that its capital return initiatives demonstrate “unyielding confidence in the abundant possibilities of our future.” Notably, Snap-On also pays a fairly significant quarterly dividend of $2.44 per share. This gives the stock a solid indicated dividend yield near 2.6%.
Fortive’s Buyback Capacity Exceeds 5% After Big-Time Spending
When thinking about industrial stocks, Fortive (NYSE: FTV) isn’t necessarily the first name that comes to mind. However, the company provides a range of advanced instrumentation products and software, as well as healthcare sterilization tools, putting it in the industrial sector.
After falling around 2% in 2025, Fortive shares have put up a relatively strong performance in 2026, with a total return near 10%. This sits just above the S&P 500’s approximately 8% return on the year. The stock received a large 10% boost after releasing its Q4 2025 earnings report, with the company providing better-than-expected guidance for 2026. Fortive anticipates adjusted EPS of $2.95 at the midpoint, or an increase of 9% YOY.
Additionally, Fortive has given itself much more buyback firepower, increasing its general buyback authorization to 20 million shares. This is equal to a substantial 6.4% of the company’s 309 million diluted shares outstanding. The company also has $66.7 million in buyback capacity available under a special-purpose repurchase program.
Notably, the firm has been buying back shares at a strong pace, reducing its share count by over 10% since June 2025. Its recent buyback announcement suggests that it intends to continue on a similar path going forward.
Analysts Eye Rebound in Builders FirstSource Amid Housing Woes
In line with management’s strong statements, Wall Street analysts are the most bullish on Builders FirstSource going forward. The MarketBeat consensus price target near $102 implies upside in shares over 30%. Targets updated after the company’s latest earnings report are only slightly lower, averaging approximately $99.50. Still, a significant housing recovery will likely be needed for BLDR shares to reach these optimistic forecasts. READ THIS STORY ONLINE
Former hedge fund manager Larry Benedict generated $274 million in profits – and Barron’s ranked his fund in the top 1% worldwide. Now he’s applying the same approach to the gold market through a strategy called ‘Gold Skimming.’
Individual trades using this method have produced $2,975, $3,781, and even $6,786 from a five-day gold decline – all without owning a single ounce. It works in a regular brokerage account and takes just three steps to execute.WATCH LARRY’S FREE PRESENTATION AND LEARN THE FULL GOLD SKIMMING STRATEGY
On May 12, the April reading of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will be released. Polymarket predicts the number is most likely to come in at 3.7% or 3.8%. That “more of the same” result would support the Federal Reserve leaving interest rates unchanged.
With energy prices surging on Middle East tensions, it would seem rate cuts are firmly off the table. Unless there’s a downside surprise. Incoming Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh has aligned with a narrative that productivity gains from artificial intelligence (AI) will be a “significant deflationary force“—one that could offset energy-driven pressures and put rate cuts back on the table.
Homebuilder and housing-related stocks are hoping for that outcome. While much consumer attention focuses on the lower leg of the K-shaped economy, the housing market is acutely tied to the upper leg—including retirees looking to trade down and first-time buyers, both squeezed by a lack of supply.
Lower mortgage rates won’t be an overnight fix. But if viewed as the first of several cuts over 18–24 months, it could give these stocks real momentum. Supporting the idea that markets are always forward-looking, several housing stocks are getting analyst price target upgrades.
D.R. Horton Uses Volume to Outperform in a Tough Housing Market
To go with a housing metaphor, D.R. Horton Inc. (NYSE: DHI) is the best house in a bad neighborhood. DHI is bucking the sector trend, up over 20% in the last 12 months.
It comes down to strategy. D.R. Horton is the largest U.S. homebuilder by volume. That’s largely due to its “pace over price” strategy. The company offers incentives to keep its inventory moving. It comes at the expense of margin, but in a high-rate market, volume is more important than price. Plus, the company has in-house mortgage and financial service divisions that can allow it to fund rate buydowns directly.
Investors should keep their short-term expectations in check. DHI has been range-bound over the last six months, and it’s only up about 1% in 2026 as of this writing. It’s also trading at about 14x earnings, which is higher than its historic average. But D.R. Horton is likely to get a significant bounce on a market resurgence. It also pays a safe dividend that has been increasing at an average annual rate of over 17% in the last three years.
Lennar’s Asset-Light Strategy Will Be in Focus If Rates Fall
Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN)represents the other side of homebuilder stocks. LEN is down 20% in the last 12 months and over 15% in 2026.
The hope comes from the company’s ongoing pivot to an asset-light model. The company offloads land development to third-party entities to reduce balance sheet exposure.
That was the part of the company’s Q1 2026 earnings report that analysts liked. The problem was the forward guidance, which said mortgage rates would stay around 6.2% to 6.4%. That, along with other headwinds Lennar cited, is keeping institutional investors cool on the stock.
Analysts have been lowering their price targets for LEN, but the consensus price target of $99.87 is 14% above the stock’s price as of this writing. And that may not be capturing the expected earnings growth of around 29%.
LEN trades at around 12x earnings, which is a discount to the broader market, but a premium to its historic average.
Home Depot Is a Housing Recovery Play
Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is the valuation play of this group. At around 22x earnings, it’s trading at a discount to both the S&P 500 and its historic average. However, critics may say that the stock looks cheap for a reason. Total sales and adjusted earnings per share were both down year over year in 2025.
This reflects the fact that Home Depot’s business is adjacent to an active housing market. For a couple of years, the company benefited from a surge in remodeling. And a recent UBS survey showed that the home improvement market may be improving.
That would confirm the broader narrative that the company’s results are fixable if it can get some assistance from the housing market. For now, analysts are trending bearish and lowering their price targets. Still, the consensus price target of $410.86 implies a move of over 30% in the next 12 months.
Home Depot reports its Q1 2026 earnings on May 19. At that point, investors will be listening for the company’s forward guidance, which has been pointing to a potential recovery in the second half of 2026. READ THIS STORY ONLINE
Gold outperformed the S-P 500 in 2026, breaking through 5,000 while stock-heavy retirement accounts swung on every trade war headline. JPMorgan has raised its 2026 gold forecast to 6,300 – with a credible path to 8,000 if investor allocations shift even slightly.
Most Western portfolios still hold less than 1% in gold, and most retirement savers don’t realize their IRA or 401(k) can hold physical gold – no new account, no penalty, no tax hit, done in days.GET THE FREE GUIDE TO ADDING GOLD TO YOUR IRA OR 401-K TODAY
The Night Owl is a financial newsletter that provides in-depth market analysis on stocks of interest to individual investors. Published by MarketBeat and Early Bird Publishing, The Night Owl is delivered around 9:00 PM Eastern Sunday through Thursday. If you give a hoot about the market, The Night Owl is the newsletter for you.
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
— Viktor Frankl, “Man’s Search for Meaning”
Ivan Pentchoukov National Editor
Good morning. It’s Tuesday. Here are today’s top stories:
The U.S. Supreme Court late on Monday cleared the way for Alabama to redraw its congressional election map, marking another win for the Republicans in the intensifying redistricting battle.
The family of one of the victims killed in the Florida State University shooting last year has sued OpenAI, claiming the alleged gunman used ChatGPT to help him carry out the attack, attorneys for the family announced Monday.
The House of Representatives is set to vote on a resolution urging President Donald Trump to make the freedom of political prisoners in China a priority in talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, including during this week’s summit in Beijing.
The president said on Monday that he plans to raise the cases of media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai and pastor Ezra Jin during his upcoming meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
🍵 Health: Five hip opening exercises to help undo a day of sitting.
The Supreme Court in Washington on April 28, 2026. (Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times)
The U.S. Supreme Court late on May 11 cleared the way for Alabama to redraw its congressional election map to comply with the court’s landmark ruling limiting the use of race in redistricting.
The court’s new decision took the form of a brief, unsigned order.
The Supreme Court vacated lower court rulings that required Alabama to use a congressional map that included two majority-black districts out of the state’s seven districts.
The justices waived the usual waiting period and ordered that the new ruling take effect immediately.
Alabama and several other GOP-led states are currently in the process of an unusual mid-decade redistricting they hope will help Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the November elections.
The high court ruled last month in Louisiana v. Callais that race may be only a minor factor in redistricting rationales, not the predominant, overriding reason for how congressional district lines are drawn.
“For too long, unelected federal judges have had more say over Alabama’s elections than Alabama’s voters. That ended today,” Marshall said in a video posted on X.
“My job in this office was to put the legislature in the best possible legal position to draw a congressional map that favors Republicans, seven to zero,” he added.
Election attorney J. Christian Adams, president and general counsel of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, questioned whether Alabama may lawfully draw a map with no black-majority districts.
There is “no way in my view Alabama could have zero without violating the Voting Rights Act,” he told The Epoch Times.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor filed a dissenting opinion, which was joined by two justices, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Sotomayor noted that the majority’s new decision vacates a federal district court ruling that blocked Alabama’s 2023 redistricting plan and sent it back to that court for reconsideration in light of the high court’s new interpretation of the non-discrimination provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act.
“There is no reason to do so,” she said. (More)Sponsored by NativePath
Eye drops offer temporary relief – but they may not be fixing what’s really causing your dry eyes. Discover 5 overlooked reasons your symptoms keep coming back – and the simple shift people are making for longer-lasting comfort.Learn More ➜
President Donald Trump waves after delivering remarks at a Rose Garden Club dinner for National Police Week in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington on May 11, 2026. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Virginia Democrats asked the U.S. Supreme Court on May 11 to block a Virginia Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the state’s voter-approved congressional map that gave Democrats a massive advantage.
Cole Allen, the suspected shooter at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, pleaded “not guilty” in federal court.
A preservation group has filed a lawsuitseeking to stop President Donald Trump’s renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The White House released a list of nominees on Monday for various positions across the federal government, including former Navy SEAL Cameron Hamilton to take over as the Federal Emergency Management Agency lead—a position he was fired from a year ago.
LATEST NEWS
Recess is important for children of all ages, a major pediatrician organization said on May 11. Kids should not face a loss of recess for lagging academically or for poor behavior, the group said, and access to recess should be enshrined in state law. The American Academy of Pediatrics cited research showing that recess improves children’s health, including both physical and mental health.
A researcher who co-authored papers that he and others said undercut claims that measles vaccination causes autism has been extradited to the United States on fraud charges 15 years after he was charged.
CHINA
U.S. President Donald Trump is bringing a delegation of business executives when he travels to China for a summit with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, White House officials confirmed on Monday. Leaders representing aerospace, agriculture, finance, tech, and other industries will sit in on bilateral discussions related to tariffs, trade deals, technology export regulations, and other issues regarding the two nations’ business dealings.
The United States should take a stronger stance against China’s human rights violations and religious repression, according to Sam Brownback, former U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.
The mayor of Arcadia, California, has agreed to plead guilty to operating as an emissary to the Chinese Communist Party, the Justice Department announced on Monday, and, after being charged with secretly carrying out the directives of a foreign government, resigned from her position.
A group of Chinese elementary school students traveled to Russia’s far eastern city of Vladivostok this month to participate in a military-themed children’s parade commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II. The event triggered a rare wave of online criticism inside China before related discussions were censored.
Hong Kong has become a key hub in helping Iran evade international sanctions, according to a new report.
Iranians walk past an anti-US and anti-Israel mural painted on a wall in the capital Tehran on May 10, 2026. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)
WORLD
President Donald Trump said that a weeks-long ceasefire with Iran is in jeopardy and suggested that more U.S. strikes could be coming as he rejected a proposal submitted by Tehran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on May 10 that he hopes to wean Israel off U.S. military support within a decade.
The Pentagon’s May 1 announcement that it would withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany fits a longer pattern of U.S. force repositioning, experts told The Epoch Times.
OPINION
Chinese Money Shouldn’t Cloud America’s Moral Clarity—by Armstrong Williams (Read)
An American Scientist Lied About His Ties to China. Now He’s Working There—by Peter Wood (Read)
From Tiananmen to Iran: Different Regimes, Same Logic of Evil—by Lamont Colucci (Read)
The Soul Leaving the Body—by Mollie Engelhart (Read)
The Hantavirus Panic Machine—by Joseph Varon (Read)
The Case for Tablecloths—by Jeffrey A. Tucker (Read)
Afghan children leave after attending a primary school in Khvajeh Atis village, Afghanistan, on May 11, 2026. (Sanaullah Seiam/AFP via Getty Images)
📸 Day in Photos: Hantavirus Evacuees, Protest for Freedom in China, and Maternal Health Care (Look)
🎙️ Podcast: Most Western competition has rules and rounds. Chinese competition has chan dou — entangled, sticky combat with no breaks. China Watch traces this mindset from Chinese classrooms to the collapse of Evergrande, the troubles at BYD, and what it all means for the Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing. (Listen)
🎵 Music: Discover the musical legacy of composer John Philip Sousa, known as “The March King.” (Read & Listen)
ARTS & CULTURE
“The Angel Is Opening Christ’s Tomb,” circa 1640, by Benjamin Gerritsz Cuyp. (Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest)
We are used to thinking in terms of completion. Seven days make a week; the seventh day, in the biblical account, is the day of rest. It is the point at which the work is done, the structure complete, the pattern fulfilled. Seven, therefore, has long stood as a symbol of wholeness and perfection. But what comes after perfection? This is where the number eight quietly enters the stage—and changes everything.
If seven represents completion, then eight represents something far more mysterious: the moment when completion is not the end, but the beginning of something new. It is, so to speak, the first step beyond the finished circle. Where seven closes, eight opens.
This idea runs deeply through both myth and scripture. In Christian tradition, Christ rises on the first day of the week, which the early Church also came to understand symbolically as the “eighth day”—the day beyond the ordinary cycle of time, marking new creation.
It is not simply a continuation of the week, but a transformation of it. The resurrection is not a repetition; it is a renewal. Something entirely new has entered the world: a new creation, as it were.
We find a similar pattern in the story of the Flood. Noah and his family—eight souls in total—emerge from the ark into a cleansed creation. The old world has passed away; what stands before them is not merely a repaired version of what was, but the possibility of a different future. Once again, eight marks the crossing point between ending and beginning. (More)
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Join us at Goodwives Shopping Center when we will be featuring the cars of England and the United Kingdom: ACJaguarRileyAston MartinLagondaRolls-RoyceAustinLand RoverRoverAustin-HealeyLotusSingerBentleyMGStandardBristolMclarenSunbeamDaimlerMorganTriumphHealeyMorrisTVRHumberRange RoverVauxhallWolseley As usual, ALL MAKE AND MODELS ARE WELCOME. Gates open at 7:00 am. To be eligible for an award, your car must be on the field by 8:00 am. Judging begins at 8:30 am. Awards will be handed out at 10:00 am. May 17 2026 VIP Exhibitor Parking featuring English Marques.Buy now
SCHEDULE CHANGE!!!
The 2026 Cannonball Reunion Event has been rescheduled to Saturday, November 14th.
The event will still run from 6:30 am to 10:30 am, but we’re moving it from Sunday October 11th to SaturdayNovember 14th. We will have Cannonball Cars and Cannonball Racers on hand for the event. The European Car event we had originally planned for Sunday, November 8th will happen on Sunday, October 11th. To stay up on all the Cannonball Reunion details, please check CannonballRunReunion.com.
WE COULDN’T DO THIS WITHOUT OUR SPONSORS
ABOUT CARS AND COFFEE DARIEN
More than just a “cars and coffee” event, Cars and Coffee Darien blends the casual atmosphere of a Sunday morning cars and coffee with a car show – except that there is no cutoff year, and there are no rules about what you can bring: cars, trucks, Jeeps, and motorcycles of any year are all welcome. Cars and Coffee Darien is the only event of its type anywhere in the world with a direct connection to the Cannonball races of the 1970s. Known for being a family-friendly event, it is quite common to see multi-generational families, and young parents with strollers walking about. We’re also pet-friendly, and we encourage you to bring your [leashed] 4-legged children.
Unsubscribe here 7:00 am to 10:30 am Old Kings Market (formerly Goodwives Shopping Center) 25 Old Kings Highway North, Darien, CT 068202nd Sunday of the month at the starting location of the 1979 Cannonball cross-country race.
Stigma grows in silence. Healing begins in community.
Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) gives you a chance to stand with your community and show that no one struggles alone. NAMI’s 2026 Mental Health Awareness Month theme invites everyone to join NAMI in speaking up against mental health stigma.
Mental health impacts everyone in our communities. Your experience, your journey, and your voice can help break stigma, build understanding, and create hope and healing for others.
Stigma grows in silence. Healing begins in community. This Mental Health Awareness Month share your story to help break the silence. Be the reason someone realizes they don’t have to face this alone.
Check out our social media and website for mental health resources you can use and share. And check out NAMI’s MHAM page on ways to share your story.
Your story can spark healing.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Mental Health Awareness Night
NAMI Northern Virginia & our Washington Nationals
We are excited to announce that NAMI NoVA is partnering with the Washington Nationals baseball team for a Mental Health Awareness Night this month. And we want you to join us!
On May 21, for the Mets vs. Nationals game (4:05 PM), we will be honoring Mental Health Awareness Month together with the Nats!!
What does that mean for us?
We will have:
A table in the main gate area (visit us and win a free t-shirt)
A 30-second pre-game PSA
A pre-game on-field recognition (come early and cheer us on)
We want you to be there with us. Be part of the night, cheer on our Nats, and help us spread mental health awareness throughout the DMV.
Get your Mental Health Awareness Night tickets HERE.
We’ll see you at the ballpark!
(Volunteers – make sure you respond with how many tickets you need HERE)
EVENTS
NAMI Talks with SPAN & AFSP –
From Signs to Support: What to Do When Someone You Love is Struggling
Join SPAN, NAMI Northern Virginia, and our local AFSP on Monday, May 18, at 6:00 PM as we discuss how to support someone you care about who may be experiencing mental health challenges. This conversation will explore how to recognize when someone may be struggling, common warning signs to watch for, and how to start a caring, supportive conversation using helpful and respectful language. We will also cover what steps to take after that conversation and share important resources.
This fireside chat is a valuable opportunity for community members, families, and partners to learn practical ways to respond with compassion and connection.
Monday, May 18, 6:00 PM, Virtual
Register HERE and the Zoom meeting link will be sent to you.
Strength Not Stigma: How Our Mental Health Journeys
Shape Our Lives
Rock Recovery, May 28, 2026, 5:30 PM
Our partner, Rock Recovery, is closing out Mental Health Month with an in-person evening of connection, conversation, and community! Offered as a hybrid event, we invite you to join us for a special moderated panel that welcomes our community to explore a powerful truth: our mental health matters. Enjoy networking and refreshments as we hear from professionals across a range of industries who will share how their mental health journeys shaped their experiences.
When: Thursday, May 28th, 5:30 – 7:30 PM ET
Where:
In Person, Northeastern University – Arlington Campus (Rosslyn)
Virtual: Online via Microsoft Teams
Cost:
In Person: $25 (includes networking and refreshments)
More Good Days Together: Breaking the Silence, Building Support
Loudoun County Dept. of Mental Health, Substance Abuse & Developmental Services
Thursday, May 28, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Featuring panelists from the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services; Loudoun County Public Schools; Loudoun Serenity House and the Loudoun County Community Services Board
Please take this opportunity to fill out the survey linked below. This will help us continue our support groups and your feedback is essential in creating the best environment for all participants.
THANK YOU!
Primer y tercer martes de cada mes. 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM. Virtual
Para las personas que se identifica como alguien que vive con una condición de salud mental y que forma parte de la comunidad Hispana/Latina.
NAMI Conexión es un grupo de apoyo para la recuperación de adultos que viven con los retos asociados con una enfermedad mental. El programa está diseñado para ofrece un ambiente de respeto, comprensión, motivación y esperanza. Los grupos de este programa están liderados por facilitadores capacitados que han passado por el proceso de recuperación.
Los grupos de apoyo de NAMI son únicos porque siguen un modelo estructurado, lo que garantiza que todos tengan la oportunidad de ser escuchados y de obtener lo que necesitan.
Gratis para los participantes
Diseñados para adultos con condiciones de salud mental
Duran entre 60 y 90 minutos y se reúnen semanalmente, cada dos semanas o mensualmente (varía según la ubicación)
No se respalda ninguna terapia o tratamiento médico específico
Red-naped Sapsucker. Photo: Mick Thompson
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RJ Hamster 