Stock Market Hits New Highs: S&P 6,380, Nasdaq Soars, Alphabet and Deckers Lead

Markets Extend Gains as S&P 500 Breaks Records on Earnings and Trade Momentum

The S&P 500 surged past 6,380, advancing 0.27% on Friday and marking its fifth consecutive record close. It is now up 1.2% for the week, supported by a 13th record close this year. The Nasdaq Composite crossed 21,100 for the first time ever, gaining 0.23% intraday and nearly 1% this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed to 44,809.50, adding 121 points on the session and closing the week with a 1% gain. Risk appetite was fueled by stronger-than-expected earnings across major sectors and renewed optimism around international trade agreements.

Alphabet (GOOGL) Drives Nasdaq Surge with Strong AI-Led Quarter

Shares of Alphabet climbed 4% on the week, propelling the Nasdaq higher. Q2 earnings exceeded expectations, with double-digit growth in Search and YouTube. AI Overviews now reaches 2 billion users, up from 1.5 billion just months ago, and management confirmed a CapEx boost to $85 billion from $75 billion, reinforcing its long-term AI investment. Despite higher spend, Alphabet trades at only 19.3x forward earnings versus the S&P 500’s 24x, suggesting undervaluation. With core advertising proving resilient and AI adoption expanding revenue verticals, Alphabet is clearly positioned for sustained outperformance. Verdict: Strong Buy

Intel (INTC) Tanks 9.2% as Strategic Confusion Overshadows Revenue Beat

Intel posted $12.86 billion in revenue, topping analyst expectations of $11.92 billion. But a deeper look reveals instability. The company reported an adjusted loss of $0.10 per share, offered weak Q3 guidance, and announced 15% workforce reductions alongside project cancellations in Germany and Poland. Its Foundry unit delivered $4.2 billion, up just 2%, failing to make meaningful gains against TSMC. Analyst sentiment remains cautious — Barclays lowered its target to $19, warning that Intel's AI strategy lacks visibility and its competitive moat is shrinking rapidly. Verdict: Hold — too many unanswered questions and execution gaps

Deckers (DECK) Rockets +13.92% on Explosive Hoka and UGG Sales

Deckers surged after reporting $0.93 EPS versus the $0.68 expected and $965 million in revenue versus a $901 million estimate. Hoka and UGG brand sales drove a 17% YoY revenue increase, with international sales soaring 49.7%. Domestic revenue declined 2.8%, but the company issued strong Q3 guidance: $1.38–$1.42 billion in revenue and $1.50–$1.55 EPS. The brand's global positioning and rising consumer demand validate further multiple expansion. Verdict: Buy — premium brand momentum and earnings surprise justify continued upside

Tesla (TSLA) Faces Margin Pressure as Tariffs Bite into Q2 Results

Tesla shares dropped 3.5% after revealing Q2 earnings and revenue missed consensus. The CFO flagged $300 million in tariff-related costs, directly impacting profitability. CEO Elon Musk warned of “rough quarters ahead,” pointing to the repeal of EV and solar tax credits in President Trump’s recent budget bill. European sales remain soft, and regulatory bottlenecks delay its ride-hailing expansion. Musk reiterated his goal for U.S. autonomous taxi deployment by year-end but admitted it depends on regulatory green lights. Verdict: Hold — innovation is real, but macro policy headwinds are overwhelming short-term gains

Crypto Equities Slide as Dollar Strength and BTC ETF Outflows Weigh

Crypto-related stocks reversed lower Friday as the U.S. Dollar Index gained 0.35% to 97.72. Coinbase (COIN) fell 2%, Marathon Digital (MARA) dropped 2.6%, and Riot Platforms (RIOT) lost 3.6%. MicroStrategy (MSTR), the largest corporate BTC holder, slid 2.5%. Bitcoin ETFs posted $58.64 million in outflows this week — their first weekly loss since June — while Ether ETFs booked $1.39 billion in inflows. Ethereum’s role in tokenized asset infrastructure and TradFi/DeFi convergence is capturing institutional flow. Verdict: Bearish on BTC equity proxies, bullish tilt emerging for ETH-led names

Centene (CNC) Sinks 14% After Disastrous Earnings Miss and Medicare Slippage

Centene posted a Q2 loss of $0.16 per share versus expectations for an $0.11 profit. Despite revenue beating at $48.7 billion (FactSet consensus: $44.1 billion), investors punished the stock over deteriorating margins and membership losses across Medicaid and Medicare plans. CEO Sarah London admitted execution gaps and called the performance “disappointing.” With government-backed plan enrollments in flux and looming healthcare policy shifts under the Trump administration, the outlook remains cloudy. Verdict: Sell — structural reimbursement pressure and policy volatility create too much downside

Charter (CHTR) Collapses 17.2% as Subscriber Losses Accelerate

Charter reported a net loss of 117,000 broadband subscribers in Q2, well above the 73,240 expected. The 60,000 subscriber loss in Q1 was already a warning sign. Competitive pressure from Verizon and AT&T bundling high-speed fiber with 5G plans is eroding Charter’s urban market share. With legacy cable economics under threat and telcos rapidly expanding their footprint, Charter’s earnings model is deteriorating. Verdict: Sell — structural risk, competitive erosion, and no turnaround in sight

Phillips 66 (PSX) Delivers Margin-Fueled Beat with 12.4% Refining Expansion

Phillips 66 gained 2.7% after reporting $2.38 in EPS, beating the $1.71 estimate, driven by a 12.4% YoY rise in refining margins to $11.25 per barrel. Crude utilization hit 98%, and the refining segment earned $392 million, up 30%. The company returned $906 million to shareholders in Q2. While earnings remain below post-pandemic highs, supply tightness and geopolitical risk in Russia-Ukraine and the Middle East support refining spreads. Verdict: Buy — resilient cash returns and strong operational leverage in refining

Union Pacific (UNP) Posts Solid Q2 as Coal Shipments, Efficiency Improve

Union Pacific reported EPS of $3.03 vs. $2.91 expected and $6.15 billion in revenue, just shy of consensus. Coal and grain shipments rebounded due to favorable executive orders, and the railroad's adjusted operating ratio improved by 230 bps to 58.1%. The company confirmed merger talks with Norfolk Southern (NSC), which could reshape the U.S. rail landscape. Verdict: Hold — strong earnings, but regulatory merger risks cap upside near term

Blackstone (BX) Adds $140 Billion AUM in Q2, Signals Deal Pipeline Surge

Blackstone reported a 13% jump in assets under management to $1.21 trillion and a 72% YoY rise in Q2 profit to $764 million. The firm’s leadership declared that the “dealmaking pause is behind us,” citing the largest IPO pipeline since 2021. With the Trump tariff shock subsiding, capital market activity is rebounding. Verdict: Buy — institutional capital is flowing, and Blackstone is positioned to monetize it first

Dow, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 Show Divergence Beneath Surface Despite Highs

While major indexes hit records — with the S&P 500 at 6,380.46 (+0.27%), Nasdaq at 21,105.71 (+0.23%), and Dow at 44,809.50 (+0.26%) — sector breadth is narrowing. Ned Davis Research noted weakening cyclicals beneath headline strength. Mega-cap AI and defensives are carrying index gains, but small caps like the Russell 2000 are underperforming. Since the April Trump tariff surge, “bro-billionaire” stocks like Meta (+0.35%), Nvidia (+0.26%), and Palantir (+2.84%) have vastly outpaced the Russell 2000, which is flat year-to-date. The gap underscores a bifurcated rally driven by liquidity concentration, not broad growth.

That's TradingNEWS