On this week’s episode of The Morning Filter, Dave Sekera and Susan Dziubinski unpack Fed Chair Powell’s comments after the Federal Reserve’s 25 basis interest rate cut last week and preview the upcoming PCE reading. Dave explains why he’ll be watching the earnings reports for AutoZone AZO and Costco COST this week—and why he disagrees with President Trump’s suggestion that companies do away with quarterly reports.

They also cover what investors can learn from last week’s earnings reports from Lennar LEN, FedEx FDX and Darden Restaurants DRI. Tune in to find which stocks in the news last week look like stocks to sell today. And Dave’s stock picks this episode are all undervalued stocks to buy from a part of the market that’s often overlooked: mid-caps.

Episode Highlights 

Interest Rate Cuts: What’s Next? 

Should Companies Do Away with Quarterly Reports? 

Which Stocks in the News to Sell 

Stocks to Buy While They’re Still Off-Radar
 

Read about topics from this episode. 

Read Dave’s latest stock market outlook: https://www.morningstar.com/markets/stock-market-outlook-where-we-see-investing-opportunities-september

Are Mid-Cap Stocks the Sweet Spot for Investors Today? https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/are-mid-cap-stocks-sweet-spot-investors-today

Got a question for Dave? Send it to [email protected].

Follow us on social media.

Dave Sekera on X: @MstarMarkets

Dave Sekera on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesekera

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

Viewers who’d like more information about any of the stocks Dave talked about today can visit Morningstar.com for more details. Read more from Susan Dziubinski and Dave Sekera.

Subscribe to The Morning Filter to get notified when we post. We’ll see you next Monday!

On this week’s episode of The Morning Filter, Dave Sekera and Susan Dziubinski discuss how big the Federal Reserve’s interest cut this week might be and what to listen for in Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s comments. Recent stock pick Lennar LEN reports earnings in the next few days, and Dave explains why he’s watching for results from FedEx FDX and Darden Restaurants DRI this week, too.

Oracle’s ORCL shockingly strong forecast drove investors wild last week but left Dave feeling very late-1990s; tune in to find out exactly what that means. They also unpack earnings results from Adobe ADBE, Chewy CHWY, and several companies viewers and listeners have been asking about.

Small-cap stocks remain an undervalued pocket in a fairly valued market. Special guest Bryan Armour, Morningstar director of ETF and passive strategies research, argues why stock investors would be wise to invest in smaller companies via an ETF and shares several of his picks. And Dave’s stock picks this week are undervalued small-cap stocks to buy before they rally.

Episode highlights: 

Is Oracle Stock Worth the Hype?

Lightening Round: Earnings Season Recap

Undervalued Small-Cap ETFs to Consider

Stocks to Buy Before They Rally
 

Read about topics from this episode. 

Read Dave’s stock market outlook: https://www.morningstar.com/markets/stock-market-outlook-where-we-see-investing-opportunities-september

Learn more about Morningstar’s approach to stock investing: Morningstar’s Guide to Investing in Stocks

Read the earnings note for Oracle: https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/oracle-earnings-skyrocketing-ai-data-center-demand-fuels-outlook

Got a question for Dave? Send it to [email protected].

Follow us on social media.

Dave Sekera on X: @MstarMarkets

Dave Sekera on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesekera

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

Viewers who’d like more information about any of the stocks Dave talked about today can visit Morningstar.com for more details. Read more from Susan Dziubinski and Dave Sekera.

Subscribe to The Morning Filter to get notified when we post. We’ll see you next Monday!

On this week’s episode of The Morning Filter, Dave Sekera and Susan Dziubinski catch up on tons of economic news, covering everything from tariffs to inflation to jobs—and whether the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its September meeting.

They unpack Morningstar’s fair value increase on Nvidia’s NVDA stock after earnings, whether Marvell Technology MRVL is still a buy after issuing so-so guidance, and if it’s time to throw in the towel or back up the truck on Bath & Body Works BBWI stock. They share Morningstar’s take on stocks in the news, including whether Kraft Heinz KHC stock is a buy ahead of the company’s split and if Alphabet’s GOOGL stock still looks attractive after the company skirts a breakup in its antitrust case.

They’ll also discuss Dave’s latest stock market outlook and his stocks to buy before the next Fed meeting.

Episode highlights: 

Tariffs, Inflation, Jobs & The Fed  

New Research on NVDA, KHC, GOOGL, More  

Updated Stock Market Outlook  

Stocks to Buy Before the Fed Meeting

Read about topics from this episode. 

Read Dave’s stock market outlook: Stock Market Outlook: Where We See Investing Opportunities in September

Learn more about Morningstar’s approach to stock investing: Morningstar’s Guide to Investing in Stocks

Read the full earnings reports for Kraft Heinz, Alphabet, Nvidia, and Marvell. 

Got a question for Dave? Send it to [email protected].

Follow us on social media.

Dave Sekera on X: @MstarMarkets

Dave Sekera on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesekera

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

Viewers who’d like more information about any of the stocks Dave talked about today can visit Morningstar.com for more details. Read more from Susan Dziubinski and Dave Sekera.

Subscribe to The Morning Filter to get notified when we post. We’ll see you next Monday!

On this week’s episode of The Morning Filter, Dave Sekera and Susan Dziubinski catch up on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s remarks from Jackson Hole and the latest tariff news. A couple of economic reports bear watching this week, including the latest PCE figures. And while Nvidia’s NVDA upcoming results could move the market, a few less dominant but still interesting tech companies are reporting this week, too.

They provide Morningstar’s latest take on in-the-news stocks Intel INTC and Walmart WMT and discuss whether the stock of Unitedhealth Group UNH is appealing after Berkshire Hathaway’s BRK.A BRK.B sizable investment. And tune in to find out why now may be a good time to consider small cap stocks and which five stocks to buy before their big discounts vanish.

Episode highlights: 

Fed Takeaways & Tariff Updates 

Is NVDA a Buy Before Earnings? 

New Research on PANW, AMAT, WMT 

Stocks to Buy Trading at Big Discounts

Read about topics from this episode. 

Follow Morningstar’s coverage of earnings season: Company Earnings

Learn more about Morningstar’s approach to stock investing: Morningstar’s Guide to Investing in Stocks

Going Into Earnings, Is Nvidia Stock a Buy, a Sell, or Fairly Valued?

Read the full earnings reports for UnitedHealth, Intel, and Walmart.  

Got a question for Dave? Send it to [email protected].

Follow us on social media.

Dave Sekera on X: @MstarMarkets

Dave Sekera on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesekera

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

Viewers who’d like more information about any of the stocks Dave talked about today can visit Morningstar.com for more details. Read more from Susan Dziubinski and Dave Sekera.

Subscribe to The Morning Filter to get notified when we post. We’ll see you next Monday!

This week on The Morning Filter podcast, we have a special episode for our audience. Usually, Susan Dziubinski sits down every Monday morning with Morningstar’s chief U.S. market strategist Dave Sekera to talk about the week ahead.

But we’ve got something a bit different for you on the podcast this week. Instead of our usual deep dive into the market and stocks, we’re taking a step back to look at the big picture of investing: things like how to build a smart portfolio, avoid common investment mistakes, and time-tested principles to invest by.

Our special guest is Christine Benz. Christine is Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning. She’s also the host of The Long View podcast and author of the book How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful and Wealthy Retirement. 

Episode highlights: 

What you need to know from stocks to bonds, and core investments to dividend payers 

Things you shouldn’t overlook in retirement and tips for setting yourself up for success

Is “set it and forget it” is a good way to invest in today’s market?

Read about topics from this episode. 

Tune in to The Long View podcast.

Access Christine Benz’s article and video archive on Morningstar.com.

Order a copy of Christine’s book, How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful and Wealthy Retirement.

Register for the 2025 Bogleheads Conference.

Watch the How to Retire podcast, a companion podcast to the How to Retire book.

Got a question for Dave? Send it to [email protected].

Follow us on social media.

Dave Sekera on X: @MstarMarkets

Dave Sekera on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesekera

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

Viewers who’d like more information about any of the stocks Dave talked about today can visit Morningstar.com for more details. Read more from Susan Dziubinski and Dave Sekera.

Subscribe to The Morning Filter to get notified when we post. We’ll see you next Monday!

On this week’s episode of The Morning Filter podcast, David Sekera and Susan Dziubinski chat about whether U.S. stocks are overvalued, which types of stocks—growth or value—look more attractive right now, and if it might be time for investors to ease up on buying stocks.

They also cover where things stand on tariffs and which economic and earnings reports to watch this week, unpack new Morningstar research about high-profile companies like Palantir and Eli Lilly after earnings, and revisit a few former stock picks, identifying which ones are still stocks to buy today.

This week’s picks are all undervalued stocks from sectors that look overpriced.

Episode highlights: 

On Radar: Inflation & Earnings 

New Research on PLTR, LLY, Others 

Is the Stock Market Overpriced Today? 

Undervalued Stocks to Buy

Read about topics from this episode. 

Follow Morningstar’s coverage of earnings season: Company Earnings

Learn more about Morningstar’s approach to stock investing: Morningstar’s Guide to Investing in Stocks

Read Dave’s new stock market outlook: August 2025 Stock Market Outlook: Where We See Investing Opportunities

Got a question for Dave? Send it to [email protected].

Follow us on social media.

Dave Sekera on X: @MstarMarkets

Dave Sekera on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesekera

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

Viewers who’d like more information about any of the stocks Dave talked about today can visit Morningstar.com for more details. Read more from Susan Dziubinski and Dave Sekera.

Subscribe to The Morning Filter to get notified when we post. We’ll see you next Monday!

On this week’s episode of The Morning Filter podcast, David Sekera and Susan Dziubinski catch up on which countries have and haven’t inked trade deals with President Trump and speculate whether the Fed will or won’t cut interest rates in September. They also discuss which company earnings to watch this week (Eli Lilly LLY is one) and recap how several former stock picks look after earnings. 

They cover new research from Morningstar about four members of the Magnificent Seven that reported earnings last week—including the one that got a 20% fair value upgrade after earnings. And this week’s stock picks include a handful of undervalued stocks with significant upside potential.

Episode highlights: 

The Fed: Will They or Won’t They in September?

Company Earnings to Watch This Week 

New Research on MSFT, META, AAPL, AMZN & More 

Undervalued Stocks to Buy

Read about topics from this episode. 

Follow Morningstar’s coverage of earnings season: Company Earnings

Learn more about Morningstar’s approach to stock investing: Morningstar’s Guide to Investing in Stocks

Read the full earnings reports for Microsoft, Meta, Scotts Miracle-Gro, Kraft Heinz, and Boeing.

Got a question for Dave? Send it to [email protected].

Follow us on social media.

Dave Sekera on X: @MstarMarkets

Dave Sekera on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesekera

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

Viewers who’d like more information about any of the stocks Dave talked about today can visit Morningstar.com for more details. Read more from Susan Dziubinski and Dave Sekera.

Subscribe to The Morning Filter to get notified when we post. We’ll see you next Monday!

On this week’s episode of The Morning Filter, David Sekera and Susan Dziubinski unpack the busy week ahead for investors. They cover pivotal economic events, including the looming tariff deadline, the Fed meeting, a crucial inflation report, and the latest jobs numbers. Plus, they preview the Magnificent Seven stocks reporting earnings this week—Microsoft MSFT, Apple AAPL, Amazon AMZN and Meta Platforms META—and revisit some former stock picks reporting soon, too.

They reveal whether Tesla TSLA or Alphabet GOOGL are good investments given their latest guidance. And they wrap things up with a list of stocks investors should consider buying and selling post-earnings.

Episode highlights:

On Tap: Tariffs, The Fed, Inflation & Jobs

Mag Seven Earnings We’re Watching

New Research on Tesla, Alphabet & Others

Stocks to Buy and Sell After Earnings

Read about topics from this episode.

Follow Morningstar’s coverage of earnings season: Company Earnings

Learn more about Morningstar’s approach to stock investing: Morningstar’s Guide to Investing in Stocks

Read the full stock analyst reports for Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Meta, Tesla, and Alphabet.

Got a question for Dave? Send it to [email protected].

Follow us on social media.

Dave Sekera on X: @MstarMarkets

Dave Sekera on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesekera

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar...

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

Viewers who’d like more information about any of the stocks Dave talked about today can visit Morningstar.com for more details. Read more from Susan Dziubinski and Dave Sekera.

Subscribe to The Morning Filter to get notified when we post. We’ll see you next Monday!

On this week’s episode of The Morning Filter, David Sekera and Susan Dziubinski unpack the latest inflation numbers and debate whether the numbers will influence the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision later this month. They also discuss which company earnings reports matter this week (hint: Tesla TSLA and Alphabet GOOGL top the list) and which stocks look attractive after reporting last week. They cover key takeaways from bank earnings, fair value estimate changes for Nvidia NVDA and Advanced Micro Devices AMD, and what Morningstar thinks of the possible breakup at Kraft Heinz KHC, too.  

Dave’s stock picks this week are a trio of names that’ve outperformed the market during the past year yet still look undervalued today.  

Episode highlights:  

• Our Take on Inflation & Fed Impact
• What We’re Watching: TSLA & GOOGL Earnings
• Which Stocks Look Like Buys After Earnings?
• Cheap Stocks That Are Beating the Market

Read about topics from this episode.  

Read Dave’s 3Q Stock Market Outlook: Q3 2025 Stock Market Outlook: After the Rally, What’s Still Undervalued?

Follow Morningstar’s coverage of earnings season: Company Earnings

Learn more about Morningstar’s approach to stock investing: Morningstar’s Guide to Investing in Stocks

Read the full analyst earnings reports for Johnson & Johnson, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and JPMorgan Chase.  

Got a question for Dave? Send it to [email protected].

Follow us on social media.

Dave Sekera on X: @MstarMarkets

Dave Sekera on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesekera

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

Viewers who’d like more information about any of the stocks Dave talked about today can visit Morningstar.com for more details. 

Read more from Susan and Dave:

Susan Dziubinski https://www.morningstar.com/people/susan-dziubinski

Dave Sekera https://www.morningstar.com/people/david-sekera

Subscribe to The Morning Filter to get notified when we post. We’ll see you next Monday!

On this week’s episode of The Morning Filter, Dave Sekera and Susan Dziubinski catch up on tariff and economic news and preview bank earnings. They also discuss what to watch for when Johnson & Johnson JNJ reports this week, whether Constellation Brands STZ remains a stock to buy after earnings, and if former stock pick Fluor FLR is still attractive after its recent price gains.

Plus, they review Dave’s Q3 2025 Stock Market Outlook and reveal which of Morningstar analysts’ top picks for the quarter he likes best.

Episode highlights: 

Tariffs & Jobs & Inflation, Oh My! 

Bank Earnings Preview 

3Q 2025 Stock Market Outlook 

Great Stocks Getting Overlooked Today

Read about topics from this episode. 

Read Dave’s 3Q Stock Market Outlook: https://www.morningstar.com/markets/q3-2025-stock-market-outlook-after-rally-whats-still-undervalued

See all of Morningstar’s analyst picks for 3Q 2025: https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/33-undervalued-stocks-2

Learn more about Morningstar’s approach to stock investing: https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/morningstars-guide-investing-stocks

Here Are the Sectors and Industries That Are Vulnerable if Reciprocal Tariffs Come Back https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/here-are-sectors-industries-that-are-vulnerable-if-reciprocal-tariffs-come-back

Got a question for Dave? Send it to [email protected].

Follow us on social media.

Dave Sekera on X: @MstarMarkets

Dave Sekera on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesekera

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

Viewers who’d like more information about any of the stocks Dave talked about today can visit Morningstar.com for more details. 

Read more from Susan and Dave:

Susan Dziubinski https://www.morningstar.com/people/susan-dziubinski

Dave Sekera https://www.morningstar.com/people/david-sekera

Subscribe to The Morning Filter to get notified when we post. We’ll see you next Monday!