Schwab Network

"Our view has not changed" on bullish AI memory expectations, says Lucas Downey of MoneyFlows.com. He explains that money flows into companies like Micron (MU), SanDisk (SNDK), Western Digital (WDC) and similar names continue to accelerate forward earnings momentum. Lucas likes SanDisk in particular due to the stock's current valuation, even after a stunning 600% rally over 2026. Chris Ward adds that "incredible demand for AI" won't waver anytime soon due to the seemingly parabolic AI infrastructure buildout. He turns to the Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) as a gauge on the overall health of the memory chip trade.

Andrew Graham says the story for Meta Platforms (META) will be Muse AI, backed by the vast amount of downloads and monetization opportunities it presents. He compares the Mag 7 company's latest innovations to competing AI software and makes the case that Muse and Meta's new VR glasses offer a ramp for the company to capitalize on its massive social media footprint.

With Meta Connect in the rearview mirror, Steven Dickens offers his big takeaways from the event and what new Meta Platforms (META) tech means for the Mag 7 stock as it hits 52-week highs. He believes the company's Muse AI agent, along with the pocket-sized Muse Charm and VR glasses, will embed AI directly with people's day-to-day lives. That infusion is what Steven sees giving Meta a deeper monetization entrenchment that its massive social media footprint already provides.

LikeFolio's data points to Costco (COST) being in "exactly the right position" in the big box retailer trade. Andy Swan shows that Costco's year-over-year demand has risen 17% over the previous 90-day period. That, combined with the stock price decline, is something Andy sees as a favorable trading set-up into earnings. Two tentative sticking points he sees hitting the stock: guidance and margins, which both faced pressure in past reports.

Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options: https://bit.ly/2v9tH6D. Oracle (ORCL) shares are sliding back toward 52-week lows after it sent a "force majeure" notice to the developer behind Project Jupiter. Reports suggest the company is trying to shield itself from accumulating expenses on the data center, which is part of key infrastructure for OpenAI. Kevin Hincks and Tom White weigh on whether the headline is overall bullish or bearish for Oracle as discussions surrounding the company's debt accumulate. Both offer example options trades for Oracle's stock.

Bitcoin and Ethereum have both climbed roughly 10% over the last five trading sessions, something @CharlesSchwab's Adam Lynch calls "impressive" following the Fed's interest rate hike and failed Clarity Act vote. However, a strong boost in leverage leads Adam to issue some caution for crypto traders. He then addresses the fallout in D.C. since the Senate failed to each enough votes to pass the Clarity Act last week.

Mizuho's Nick Setyan believes Darden Restaurants (DRI) did a good job at justifying weakness the company's earnings showed. Now, it needs to outline a clear path for guidance. Nick points out that casual dining trends remain strong, but QSR categories are weakening. Michelle Korsmo of the National Restaurant Association sees greater confidence long-term due to a steady climb in restaurant hiring and guest counts. She discusses surveys done by the association which she believes show key pain points for the restaurant industry.

Jake Hanley says a U.S. diesel export ban is a "really bad idea." He points to diesel transportation as the crux to his argument, saying "we are not built for this" and will accelerate inflation instead of capping it. Neither the U.S.-Iran war nor Russia-Ukraine are showing signs of cooling down, something Jake sees as a significant headwind to the energy trade.

Jason Brown (@brownreport) turns to stocks that are the faces of the restaurant, financial, and consumer staples industries. He expresses concerns in McDonald's (MCD) core fundamentals following the company's investor day and subsequent selloff, expects CapitalOne (COF) to see pressure from consumers pulling back on borrowing, and Procter & Gamble (PG) as an investing fortress amid all the uncertainty. Jason offers example options trades for his stock picks while Rick Ducat takes investors through his technical analysis in the charts.

Underneath the surface of the S&P 500 (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 (NDX) strength, there's a lot of weakness, says @OptionsPlay's Tony Zhang. He explains why the lasting rally across Treasury yields adds to warning signals in equities. That said, Tony points to trading opportunities in stocks and ETFs tied to the yield volatility. He offers example options trades for the Invesco U.S. Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP) and Apollo Global Management (APO).