Recent developments in the cybersecurity space have put a focus on F5 Network (FFIV)’s network security products.
Since the failure of several Crowdstrike (CRWD) systems over the summer, F5 Networks has announced the development of their robust application security and delivery capabilities to AI deployments powered by Intel.
This new joint solution combines industry-leading security and traffic management from F5's NGINX Plus offering with the cutting-edge optimization and performance of the Intel Distribution of OpenVINO toolkit and Infrastructure Processing Units to deliver superior protection, scalability, and performance for advanced AI inference.
The timing of the product announcement and the company’s third quarter earnings results – which beat analyst expectation and raised guidance for the company’s fourth quarter – resulted in new 52-week price highs, putting FFIV shares on target for their $250 price. and new all-time highs.
I always say that you find the “trend” in gold and the “trade” in the miners. That’s exactly what we have this week as shares of IAMGOLD (IAG) are positioned to benefit from a bullish breakout in Gold’s trend.
Gold (GLD) started a new short- to intermediate-term rally on Friday as the ETF broke above its top Bollinger Band on heavy volume. This sets the “Yellow Metal” up for another 10-15% rally as the elections approach.
IAMGOLD shares also broke above a critical level, the $5 price.
Shares of the miner closed above the psychologically significant $5 level for the first time since 2020, when gold prices were flying high on demand due to the Pandemic.
Today, the elections and the coming shift in interest rates are the bullish driver for gold prices, and thus driving miners like IAG higher.
I always stress that mining companies should be seen as a shorter-term trade that is driven by larger trending moves in gold, that stands true today.
Watch for the next 10-15% move higher in gold to drive IAMGOLD prices to $8.
Larger banks like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs aren’t seeing the benefit of lower rates immediately on their prices. Investors are more worried about the continued potential of a recession’s effect on these stocks.
Shares of Sofi Technologies (SOFI) on the other hand, are rallying ahead of the Fed’s interest rate decision this week and are likely to continue.
Sofi’s loan business – mainly to those paying higher interest rates – has been strong since the Pandemic, but that comes with a risk. Analysts have expected the Fintech company to fact a wall of loan defaults that could undercut their business.
Lower rates over the next two years will help to calm those fears and instill confidence in investor’s long-term bullish outlook for the stock.
Shares are breaking into a new long-term bullish trend as they cross above $7 with a target price of $10.
Moderna (MRNA) released their outlook for the 2025 fiscal year and things aren’t good. The vaccine company’s lack of product development is narrowing its revenue stream while other pharma companies like Eli Lilly and Pfizer are broadening their businesses.
Last quarter, Pfizer (PFE) beat analyst expectations for earnings and revenue and guided investors expectations higher for 2025 as their drug pipeline and acquisitions are building a stronger outlook.
Shares are trading in a long-term bear market trend. That said, recent strength has moved Pfizer ’s 50- and 200-day moving average into bullish trends, suggesting that the worst may be behind the company.
Currently, the stock provides a 5.74% dividend yield, outpacing many pharma companies. The higher yield is due to the stock having traded 40% lower from its highs in 2022.
Investors should expect that the intermediate-term turnaround will gain strength as the company moves through 2025.
Oil and energy stocks continue to build on their weak trends.
Last week, shares of Exxon Mobil (XOM) dropped to their 200-day moving average as the stock responded to reports that oil demand will slow in 2025. Those reports came from OPECs forecast due to weakening demand in China.
The stock’s 50-day moving average just shifted into a bearish pattern which suggests XOM shares are more likely to close lower each day as negative momentum grows.
A break of the $110 price level for XOM shares will accelerate prices quickly to a test at $100.
From these, investors should expect to see the market try to support XOM shares at this psychologically round numbered support.
A break of $100 would result in a fast and aggressive loss of another 10% as the stock would target $90.
Investors holding the stock may want to consider hedging positions for this weakness or initiating stop-limit measures to minimize losses.
