Markets News, May 19, 2025: S&P 500 Closes Higher for 6th Straight Day After Stocks Rebound from Early Slump as Investors Digest US Credit Rating News

 Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on May 19, 2025 in New York City.
Traders working on the fl🍸oor of the New York Stock Exchan෴ge on Monday.

Spencer Platt / Getty Images

Stocks recovered from steep early-session losses to close slightly higher on Monday, as investors digested news that a major ratings agency had downgraded its assessment of U.S. federal government d🤪ebt.🦋

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官方开奖结果体彩网:a return of risk appetite, as 🌃concerns about global trade 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官方开奖结果体彩网:cut its rating on U.S. debt, citing “persistent, large fiscal deficits” that show no signs of slowing. The downgrade, which puts the U.S. rating one notch below the top tier, com🍷es 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官方开奖结果体彩网: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官方开奖结果体彩网:tumbling more than 20% last week following news the healthcare giant's CEO had stepped down and a report the company faces a Department of Justice♍ investigation into possible Medicare fraud.

Strategy (MSTR), the world's largest corporate holder of bitcoin that until recently was known as MicroStrategy, climbed more than 3% as the price of the digital currency surged. Bi✱t𓆏coin was at $105,500 in late-afternoon trading, up from an earlier low of $102,100.

ꦬ The U.S. dollar index, which measures the performance of the dollar against a basket of fore🐓ign currencies, was down 0.7% at 100.37.

Gold futures were up 1.4% at $3,230 an ounce, 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

May 19, 2025 06:00 PM EDT

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官方开奖结果体彩网: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%.
Brand new refrigerators are displayed at a Best Buy store on March 31, 2025 in San Rafael, California.
A Best Buy store in San Rafael, California.

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.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Michael Bromberg

The Two Words That Sum Up First-Quarter Earnings

May 19, 2025 05:37 PM EDT

First-quarter earnings season is winding down this week. Most ma🌜rket watchers would agree that one issue has loomed large over this round of results.

Of the 451 companie༺s in the S&Pℱ 500 that hosted 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 l🐭ast 10 years that more executives have discussed uncertainty was during the depths of Covid-19 lockdowns in the 𝔉first 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 Friday.

The effects of trade policy, however, are yet to to be seen, Deutsch♕e Bank analysts noted Monday, as most U.S. companies didn’t see much tariff impact in the first quarter. “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官方开奖结果体彩网:handily exceeded expectations. The S&P 500 is on track to post a second consecutive quarte🌳r of double-digit earnings growth. 

The Trump administration's decision to pause 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网: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官方开奖结果体彩网:bilateral deals like the one struck earlier this month with the U.K. will provide some clariꦿty.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Colin Laidley

Quantum Computing Stock Price Levels to Watch

May 19, 2025 05:00 PM EDT

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官方开奖结果体彩网: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官方开奖结果体彩网:quantum technology helping to revolutionize industries like 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:cybersecurity, finance, and healthcare.

Source: TradingView.com.

After breaking above a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网: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官方开奖结果体彩网: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官方开奖结果体彩网:relative strength index confirms bullish momentum, but also flashes 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:overbought conditions, which could lead to short-term volati💖lity.

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官方开奖结果体彩网:technical analysis piece here.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Timothy Smith

Jamie Dimon Says JPMorgan Will Allow Crypto Trading

May 19, 2025 04:24 PM EDT

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) CE෴O Jamie Dimon, known 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.

France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon take part in the Global Markets Conference, ahead of the Choose France summit, in Paris, on May 15, 2025.
ꦕJPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon speaks alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at an event in Paris last week.

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官方开奖结果体彩网:spot bitcoin ETFs since August, CNBC reported. Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Morgan Stanley was looking to bring 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网: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." 

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Aaron Rennie

TXNM Energy Hits Record High on $11.5B Blackstone Deal

May 19, 2025 03:58 PM EDT

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 Tarr🌼y will oversee operations as President and CEO.

TXNM all-time stock price chart

TradingView

TXNM ⭕Energy shares were up nearly 7% at $56.50 in late trading Monday, after hitting a record high of $57.29 early in the sessio♉n.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Bill McColl

What Analysts Think of Home Depot, Lowe's Ahead of Earnings

May 19, 2025 02:21 PM EDT

Home Depot (HD) and rival Lowe's (LOW) are scheduled to report quarterly financial results on Tuesday and Weꦑdnesday, respectively, with analysts largely bullish on both home improvement 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官方开奖结果体彩网: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 co✨mpanies have done this earnings seas🔥on.

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官方开奖结果体彩网:category Lowe's and Home Depot 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:struggled with last year as squeezed consumers avoided b🎉ig purchases.

Home Depot vs Lowe's vs S&P 500 price chart YTD
Home Depot and Lowe's have moved roughly in tandem and are both down since the start of the year, lagging the performance of the S&P 500.

TradingView

Home Depot shares were down slightly at around $380 in mid-afternoon trading Monday, while Lowe's shares inched higher to about $235.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Aaron McDade

Wall Street Largely Shake Off Credit Rating Downgrade Worries

May 19, 2025 12:56 PM EDT

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官方开奖结果体彩网: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 mandator💧y spending 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 damage to debt markets due to🐼 America’s “dept👍h and breadth in accountability as well as comparative high levels of transparency in governance.” 

Oppenheimer analys🌠ts 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 than broadly ‘buying the dips,’” considering elevated uncertainty.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Colin Laidley

JPMorgan Downgrades Netflix Stock to Neutral

May 19, 2025 11:47 AM EDT

JPMorgan downgraded Netflix (NFLX) share♋s to “n💛eutral” from “overweight” Monday, citing a sharp run-up in the streaming giant’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 last 🐽week, were down 0.5% at $1,185 in recent trading. The stock has gained 33% sin🦋ce the start of 2025.

The analysts said that Netflix shares currently trade at 39 times forecast 2026 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:earnings per share (on a GAAP basis) and may have already priced in the upside to its 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网: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.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Nisha Gopalan

Walmart Slips as Trump Says Company Should 'Eat Tariffs'

May 19, 2025 10:43 AM EDT

Walmart (WMT) shares slumped in early trading Monday after President Donald Trump said the retailer should 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:absorb the cost of tariffs rather than pass it on to customers �ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ�by raising prices. 

“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 shoul⛦d, as is 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官方开奖结果体彩网:profits could fall this year depending onဣ the♓ direction of trade policy.

“Given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:reduced levels anno🌌unced this week, we aren't able to absorb all the pressure given the reality o🔜f narrow retail margins,” McMillon said during the company’s earnings call Thursday, a transcript 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官方开奖结果体彩网:roll back import taxes for a period of 90 days.&nbs🥃p;“We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible,” the CEO added.

WMT vs S&P 500 YTD price chart
Walmart shares are up nearly 8% so far this year, while the benchmark S&P 500 index has addꦑed 1%.

TradingView

Walmart shares were down about 1% in recent trading. The stock is up about 8% since the start of🍬 the year, handily outpacing the performance of the S&P 500 over that period.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Andrew Kessel

Watch These CoreWeave Levels After Last Week's Huge Rally

May 19, 2025 09:59 AM EDT

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 ൲investors had anticipated. The stock is moving higher again this morning.

CoreWeave, which went public in late March, reported Wednesday that first-q🍸uarter revenue grew over 400% yeꦍar-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官方开奖结果体彩网:initial public offering holdings of roughly 5%. The company also said last week that it had agreed to a four-year deal with ChatGPT maker OpenAI🏅 w🦂orth up to $4 billion, 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官方开奖结果体彩网:$40 IPO price, boosted by last week’s news and investor appetite for up-and-coming 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:generative AI plays that are scaling to meet the technology’s widespread demand. The stock wওas up about 🀅1% at around $81 this morning, after gaining 56% last week.

Source: TradingView.com.

CoreWeave shares forged a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:cup and handle pattern on the chart between late April and early May before breaking out above the formation’s top trendline last we꧃ek. 

Importantly, the move higher has occurred on above-average 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:trading volume, indicating conviction from larger market participants behind the buying. Moreover, the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:relative strength index confirms bullish price momentum with an elevated reading, though the indicator fell below the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:overbought threshold on Friday, suggesting minor 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网: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官方开奖结果体彩网:technical analysis piece here.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Timothy Smith

S&P 500, Dow in Positive Territory for 2025

May 19, 2025 09:31 AM EDT

While stocks are set to open lower on Monday, the major U.S. indexes hav🐭e 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 posteܫd their biggest weekly gains since the week of April 7. The Dow added 3.4% last week, while the S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq jump🌠ed 5.3% and 7.2%, respectively.

With their recent gains, the S&a🍒mp;P 500 and Dow nudged back into positive territory for 2025, while the Nasdaq remains down slightly

S&P 500 vs DJIA vs Nasdaq Composite YTD chart
The S&P 500 is up 1.3% since the start of the year,🅠 while the Dow has tacked on 0.3%. The Nasdaq is down just 0.5% si⭕nce the start of 2025.

TradingView

Major Index Futures Point To Sharply Lower Open

May 19, 2025 08:39 AM EDT

Fu🌌tures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were downꦛ 0.6%.

DJIA futures - May 19, 2025

TradingView

S&P 500 futures were off 1.1%.

S&P 500 futures - May 19, 2025

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Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 1.5%.

Nasdaq futures - May 19, 2025

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