Archives May 2025

Wendy’s (WEN) stock got an upgrade from JPMorgan analysts on Monday, but the upgrade also came with a lowered price target as analysts are staying cautious on an uncertain fast-food industry.

Last week, Wendy’s and burger-making rival McDonald’s (MCD) reported weaker first-quarter sales than analysts had expected. McDonald’s said it has seen economic pressures spread from low- to middle-income consumers, and Wendy’s said it could see sales decline rather than grow in 2025.

JPMorgan analysts upgraded Wendy’s stock to “overweight” from “neutral” on Monday, but said they now expect the stock to reach $15 by the end of 2026, rather than $17 previously.

The analysts are slightly more bullish than average on Wendy’s stock, which has a consensus price target of about $14, according to Visible Alpha data. The target, above Wendy’s Friday close of $12.55, comes as analysts are divided on how to rate the stock with two “buy,” four “hold,” and three “sell” ratings.

Wendy’s current price “provides a value-oriented opportunity as we see significant upside,” JPMorgan analysts said, adding the fast-food giant has room to improve its free cash flow with a “higher focus on franchise accountability,” and grow its international footprint. However, the analysts noted a 2% decline in fast-food traffic compared to the last several quarters and pre-pandemic levels as a reason to be cautious.

Wendy’s shares were up 3% in early trading Monday. Still, they’ve lost about a fifth of their value since the start of the year.

President Donald Trump Sunday said he has authorized a 100% tariff on movies made overseas, blindsiding the movie industry and media giants as he took his tariffs war beyond levies on the import of physical goods into the country.

The announcement, made by the president on his Truth Social platform, was hitting shares of media giants like Walt Disney Co. (DIS) and Netflix (NFLX) Monday morning. Shares of Disney, which reports quarterly results Wednesday, were trading down 2%, while those of Netflix were 5% lower in premarket trading.

The president called tax incentives that lure production of American movies overseas a “national security threat” in a Truth Social post on Sunday and said the tariffs on all movies produced in “foreign lands” would take effect immediately. Many American movies and TV shows are made in Canada and the U.K., both of which offer tax incentives, among other places.

“The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death,” Trump said. “Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated.”

“WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” he concluded in his post, which did not name specific companies.

Netflix and Disney didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Industry executives were reportedly surprised by the announcement, not least because it was unclear what exactly the tariffs would entail.

The movie industry “generated a positive balance of trade in every major market in the world,” according to the Motion Picture Association latest economic impact report.

Written by the Market Insights Team

Latest US job report cements no rate cuts this week

Kevin Ford – FX & Macro Strategist

The labor market tends to be a lagging indicator during periods of economic softening. After the latest nonfarm payroll (NFP) report, the pressing question is whether this will be the last strong jobs report before tariff impacts begin to take hold. Here are the key takeaways from the latest data:

• A 58K downward revision to the previous two months stands out, continuing the trend of negative adjustments. April may follow suit.
• Part-time jobs have made up a sizable portion of overall payroll gains over the past three months, raising concerns about labor market stability.
• Health care added 51K jobs, while manufacturing lost 1K, slightly better than expected but coming off two consecutive months of gains.
• Federal government jobs fell by 9K in April, bringing the total decline since January to 26K.
• Hourly wage growth slipped to 0.2 percent on a three-month average—the lowest since the pandemic and below 2019 levels—suggesting weakening labor demand.

One thing seems certain after this: the Fed won’t be cutting interest rates at this week’s meeting.

What’s up with the markets?

Kevin Ford – FX & Macro Strategist

Why is the VIX at 23, practically at the same level before Liberation Day? Why are investors still willing to pay the same price for stocks as they did 30 days ago, despite current level of tariffs and the worries about slowdown in the economy? Is this recovery irrational?

On one hand, markets are welcoming the first glimpses of de-escalation in the trade war between US and China, and this time, it’s confirmed that China might soften its stance, although with conditions.

But there’s another angle to this surprising rebound in sentiment. A month ago, the worst-case scenario was a big question mark, an unknown variable looming on the horizon. Today, that uncertainty has shifted, and markets now have a clear view of the potential downside. The U.S. administration has already begun to retreat from its initial stance. The question is no longer about how severe the tariffs will be, but rather how much of it will be reversed and mitigated.

Markets inherently dislike uncertainty, and the level of ambiguity has diminished compared to March. What was once an unpredictable risk has now become a known challenge, one that investors can assess more rationally. While the situation remains fluid, the prevailing sentiment suggests that conditions may not be as dire as initially feared, leading investors to maintain valuations despite the remaining headwinds. US stocks have embraced the re-certainty from the U.S. administration and major equity indexes have erased all loses following ‘Liberation day’.

The U.S. dollar, meanwhile, hasn’t experienced the same enthusiasm. While it has seen a slight recovery, it has lagged behind the broader rebound and shift in market sentiment. As May begins, the key question is whether the DXY will climb back above 100 and maintain its historical trend of May appreciation or if concerns over de-dollarization and more secular trends will continue to weigh on its performance.

So, what’s the biggest risk ahead? The lagging impact of tariffs on the economy. Markets may be underestimating just how much pressure is coming, with average U.S. tariffs set to jump roughly tenfold compared to 2024. While hard data has held up better than surveys so far, recession risks are growing.

Will the current buy-the-dip momentum carry markets through the summer once tariff effects start hitting growth and inflation? That’s the real test and negative headlines might come sooner than expected. According to the executive director of the Port of L.A., retailers could run out of full inventories in just seven weeks due to U.S.-China trade tensions.

While markets are hopeful that major tariffs will be negotiated down, the U.S. administration seems unlikely to abandon the baseline 10% tariff anytime soon.

De-escalation hopes help Loonie

Kevin Ford – FX & Macro Strategist

Our initial assessment that USD/CAD would drift toward 1.39 as the U.S. dollar rebounded on risk-on sentiment turned out to be off the mark. Instead, tariff-related headlines have helped the Loonie hold the 1.38 level and even test a potential breakout lower.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday to discuss trade relations and broader bilateral ties. However, for USD/CAD to sustain its downward trajectory and break below key levels, it will likely take more than preliminary discussions,

The Loonie has also found support following China’s indication that it is assessing the possibility of initiating trade talks with the U.S.

Reviewing monthly prices, for the Loonie to sustain momentum below the 20-month SMA at 1.382, will require solid and concrete work in the tariff front with a clearer timeline for renegotiating the CUSMA/USMCA trade deal.

As a final note, one of the most notable developments in FX markets this past week has been the sharp appreciation of the Taiwanese dollar. Single-session rallies of this magnitude against the U.S. dollar have not been seen since the late 1980s and this is the biggest daily drop against the CAD ever. Unlike previous spikes, this movement does not come after central bank intervention or external pressures. The surge appears to be driven by genuine investor demand for Taiwanese assets amid improving economic conditions, as well as optimism that trade tensions may be easing.

U.S. yields higher, Oil finding support at $55

Table: 7-day currency trends and trading ranges

Key global risk events

Calendar: May 5 – 9

All times are in ET

Have a question? [email protected]

*The FX rates published are provided by Convera’s Market Insights team for research purposes only. The rates have a unique source and may not align to any live exchange rates quothave a unique source and may not align to any live exchange rates quoted on other sites. They are not an indication of actual buy/sell rates, or a financial offer.

Shares of Block (XYZ) plunged nearly 25% Friday, a day after the payments technology provider posted worse-than-expected results and guidance as it warned about economic conditions ahead.

The operator of Square and Cash App reported first quarter adjusted earnings per share of $0.56, well short of the $0.92 analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha were looking for. Revenue declined 3% year-over-year to $5.77 billion, also missing forecasts. 

Gross profit rose 9% to $2.29 billion, and payment volume increased 4.4% to $56.80 billion. However, they were below expectations as well.

The results were dragged by falling bitcoin revenue, which slid 16% to $2.30 billion, and CEO Jack Dorsey explained that Cash App didn’t perform as anticipated as the company “saw changes to consumer spending as the quarter progressed that we believe drove the majority of our forecast miss.”

Block Sees Q2, FY Gross Profit Below Expectations

COO and CFO Amrita Ahuja added that “we’re operating in a more dynamic macro environment, so we’ve reflected a more cautious stance on the macro backdrop into our guidance.”

Block sees current-quarter gross profit of $2.45 billion and full-year gross profit of $9.96 billion. The Visible Alpha estimates were for $2.54 billion and $10.18 billion, respectively.

Block shares sank to their lowest level in almost a year and a half.

​Are early investors willing to take this opportunity, or will they miss the next chance of an upcoming wave of blockchain innovation?

The latest buzzword in the exciting and ever-changing world of cryptocurrency has become “crypto presales.” Before opening a project for public listings, the early bird gets very profitable discounted rates on the tokens. Presales offer this strategic advantage to developers and early backers alike. Be amazed by the rumors that the two best crypto presales campaigns currently going on are Aureal One and DexBoss; each will be targeted to take out its disruption in a major blockchain sector.

Aureal One: Where Gaming Meets Blockchain Brilliance

A New Era for Gamers and Developers

Aureal One is launching a high-performance blockchain network specialized in gaming and the metaverse. With its super-fast transactions and ultra-low gas fees, it provides the perfect environment for developers and gamers alike. By tackling high latency and expensive fee challenges, Aureal One establishes itself as a potential go-to chain for next-gen gaming.

DLUME: Fueling the Gaming Ecosystem

For in-game purchases, governance, and staking, DLUME is Aureal One’s native token. The token will be available in an ICO consisting of 21 rounds, with early buyers costing DLUME at $0.0005 while the final presale price is set at $0.0045, with the target listing price of $0.0055. Thus, the campaign aims at raising $50 million with rewards for early participants.

Tech That Powers the Future of Play

The most distinguishing aspect of Aureal One is its integration of ZK-Rollups, which are set to provide an alternate path for improving scaling while minimizing costs, thereby making such rapid and secure interactions possible for game developers. The platform also fosters community participation in staking and governance, thereby allowing DLUME holders to influence major development decisions while receiving passive rewards.

What’s Next: From Launchpad to Metaverse

The presale started in Q4 2024, while the launch of the mainnet is appealingly on track for early 2025. The first game, Clash of Tiles, is set for release in the second quarter, while a token swap will occur in the third quarter. Plans for new games and metaverse applications are made for 2026.

DexBoss: The DeFi Gateway for Everyone

Making DeFi Click for the Masses

DexBoss is bringing up handy DeFi for the majority, uniting classical finance functionalities with decentralized efficiencies. The $DEBO-based platform will offer staking, liquidity farming, and near real-time trading under a smooth, user-friendly interface.

A Strategic Token Launch with Investor Rewards

The presale runs over 17 rounds, starting from $0.01 to $0.0458, for a total of 1 billion tokens, with 50% of the total amount allocated to early contributors. The listing price will be $0.0505. Funds are earmarked for development, liquidity, and marketing.

Tackling DeFi’s Toughest Problems

DexBoss addresses some of the real key challenges that need to be cut out in a decentralized financing exchange. With its high simplicity, it will then bring trading tools in easy reach while having areas with deep liquidity pools that significantly lower slippage and heighten the efficiency. Advanced instruments like margin trading, liquidity farming staking, and all the remaining options provide the users with complete choices in a completely intuitive environment. The platform also promises near-real-time order execution so that the users can act in an extremely fast-moving market.

On the Road to a Smarter Financial Platform

Presale will commence during Q1 of 2025, and listings on exchanges will follow in Q2. Advanced trading tools will be implemented in Q3, and integrations with fiat currencies will take place in Q4, making way for a hybrid finance platform that truly lives up to its name.

Current Token Values: Early Movers’ Advantage

Currently, DLUME trades at $0.0013 while $DEBO is valued at $0.011, both in their presale stages. Investing into the tokens now offers huge potential, with clear roadmaps and solid fundamentals backing each of them.

What Makes Aureal One and Dexboss Unique?

Fast transaction speeds and the scalability offered by ZK Rollup, along with a dedicated ecosystem in the metaverse, are hallmarks of Aureal One. In contrast, DexBoss aims to bridge the gap between centralized and decentralized finance with a convenient trader platform charged with deep liquidity and powerful tools. 

The major distinction would be their concentration on true utility, community-building governance, and a well-calibrated token system that rewards early adoption while nurturing a sustainable ecosystem.

Final Thoughts: The Rise of Real Utility in Crypto

Best crypto presales for investors, developers, and users at the moment are Aureal One and DexBoss which have some serious transformative opportunities. Whether you’re a gamer or a trader, or just curious about crypto’s potential, these projects certainly promise to live up to the heights like that of Bitcoin and become the next big crypto. 

Always conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. ​

Disclaimer: The views and opinions presented in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CoinCheckup. The content of this article should not be considered as investment advice. Always do your own research before deciding to buy, sell or transfer any crypto assets. Past returns do not always guarantee future profits.

Do you have $35,000 in cash? You should, according to an Investopedia analysis.

That might seem like a lot of money—and it may strike you as higher than other recommended emergency fund figures. (It’s about 40% of the average US household’s annual income, according to Census Bureau data.)  But that’s the estimated cost of six months’ expenses for the average household, which is what experts recommend you aim to save. 

An emergency fund can help account for all types of unexpected costs—from a surprise home or car repair to a potential job or health insurance loss. To illustrate that point, Investopedia analyzed the average cost of six months of the household expenses you’d need to pay if you lost a job.

We calculated the cost of six months of housing, utilities, food, medical care, and car payments for an average U.S. household of at least two people, ending up with a total of $35,217.73—about $2,000 more than last year, and much more than most households have in their savings. (Our full methodology is at the bottom of this article.) Much of that is associated with healthcare and automotive expenses. 

“Given the recent increase in economic uncertainty and a realistic calculation of what our ‘needs’ actually cost on a monthly basis, $35,217 sounds like a lot, and is a lot of money for most households,” says Investopedia Editor-in-Chief Caleb Silver. “But having that emergency cushion could help prevent you and your family from falling deep into debt due to unforeseen circumstances,”

The median balance in all transaction accounts for US households with at least one account was about $8,742 in 2025 dollars, according to Federal Reserve data. That’s enough to cover about a month and a half of expenses for the average American household. 

This year, concerns regarding tariffs, market volatility, stubborn inflation, a potential recession and falling consumer confidence have signaled economic uncertainty, which could mean you’re more likely to need your emergency fund. 

Most people plan to rely on savings in an emergency. About 43% said they would dip into their savings account in a hypothetical financial emergency, according to a 2022 survey by the Federal Reserve. That’s far larger than the amount who said they would work more, borrow money, postpone payments or cut spending.

What’s My Own Emergency Fund Total?

The exact amount you’d need depends on the number of people in and specific needs of your household. Financial experts recommend keeping enough cash to cover at least three, and preferably six, months of money to cover:

• Rent or Mortgage
• Utilities
• Food
• Transportation (car payment, gas, other necessary transportation fees)
• Medical costs

The cost of medical care, transportation, and housing for six months made up the bulk of the expenses in Investopedia’s analysis, costing $11,634, $10,621, and $9,785, respectively. Medical care was the highest expense, costing the average American household $11,634 for six months, followed by the cost of owning two cars, and housing at $10,621 and $9,785, respectively.

Where Should I Keep My Emergency Fund?

While the cost of an emergency fund keeps getting higher, it’s an essential part of your financial plan. There are ways to maximize savings beyond stashing it in a regular savings account. Investopedia’s Silver suggests a a high-yield savings or money market account,

“Your emergency fund needs to be liquid and accessible immediately, but you should try to keep it in a higher interest earning type of account,” says Silver.

Methodology

Medical care was calculated by multiplying the average annual premium cost for single-coverage employer sponsored health insurance (KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey, 2024) by 2.5 to reflect the average number of people in both households and consumer units, and increased by 2% to reflect COBRA administrative costs. 

Car costs are calculated by adding together the annual fixed (owning) costs for two vehicles and the annual variable (operating costs) for one vehicle (Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2024).

Housing and utilities are calculated by adding together the median monthly housing costs for both owners and renters (American Communities Survey, 2023) along with the annual consumer expenditures on trash and garbage collection, telephone and internet services to cover utilities not included in the former (Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2023). 

The cost of groceries is sourced from annual expenditures on food at home  (Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2023). 

All figures are adjusted for inflation to reflect March 2025 dollars, and to reflect 6 months worth of expenditures.

Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO) shares tumbled Friday after the company said it has delayed the launch of its blockbuster video game “Grand Theft Auto VI” to May 26, 2026, from the expected fall 2025 release date.

Take-Two said its wholly owned Rockstar Games label would release the game during its fiscal 2027 year.

“We support fully Rockstar Games taking additional time to realize their creative vision for Grand Theft Auto VI, which promises to be a groundbreaking, blockbuster entertainment experience that exceeds audience expectations,” Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said. “While we take the movement of our titles seriously and appreciate the vast and deep global anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI, we remain steadfast in our commitment to excellence.”

JPMorgan analysts stuck with their “overweight” rating for the stock, but said the new timeline for the videogame was well beyond delays investors had anticipated. “We believe investors were braced for a potential slight delay” to the winter of this year, the analysts wrote, “but certainly not mid-2026.”

The analysts added the postponed game could give Take-Two rival Electronic Arts (EA) “a window to launch” its “Battlefield” game franchise in fiscal year 2026, though said they believed the risk of a “further delay is limited.”

Shares of Take-Two, which reports fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on May 15, entered Friday up 28% since the start of the year. They dropped over 8% soon after the opening bell.

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B) is slated to hold its annual shareholder meeting and release its first-quarter financial results on Saturday. 

The event, dubbed the “Woodstock for Capitalists,” draws tens of thousands of visitors each year, and amid economic uncertainty in the face of President Trump’s shifting tariff policies, many investors will be watching closely to see what the “Oracle of Omaha” has to say.

Earlier this month, Berkshire issued a statement dismissing comments allegedly made by Buffett on social media following speculation he had endorsed Trump’s tariffs, and the legendary investor told CNBC he wouldn’t comment further on the economy or markets until Berkshire’s meeting.

That’s after Buffett in March called tariffs an “act of war” in a televised interview with CBS News. 

“Over time, they’re a tax on goods,” he said, adding “I mean, the Tooth Fairy doesn’t pay ’em! And then what? You always have to ask that question in economics. You always say, ‘And then what?'”

Berkshire Stock Has Rallied Amid Volatility

While the S&P 500 is down about 4% year-to-date amid heightened market volatility, Berkshire’s shares have added close to 19%. 

UBS analysts recently boosted their earnings and stock price targets for Berkshire Hathaway, calling it a “safe haven in a turbulent environment.”

“While BRK’s shares have meaningfully outperformed YTD and are trading near historical high valuations, given its substantial cash position and generally defensive business mix, we believe its shares deserve a premium in the current uncertain economic environment,” they said. 

CFRA analysts, however, warned that a weakening economy “would likely dampen demand for many of BRK’s products.” They issued a “hold” rating for Berkshire, in contrast to UBS’ “buy” rating. 

CFRA also pointed to Buffett’s age, at 94, as a risk factor. While Berkshire has not formally announced a successor yet, Buffett said in his annual letter to shareholders in February that “it won’t be long before Greg Abel replaces me as CEO.”

What Are Buffett’s Plans for Huge Cash Pile?

Investors will also focus their attention on Berkshire’s cash pile, which swelled to a record $334.2 billion at the end of 2024, and how Buffett might deploy it—or keep adding to it. Buffett said last year that “things aren’t attractive,” with a dearth of options that would satisfy Berkshire’s criteria.

In the fourth quarter, Berkshire had entered a new position in Modelo maker Constellation Brands (STZ), while raising its stakes in SiriusXM (SIRI), Occidental Petroleum (OXY), Domino’s Pizza (DPZ), Verisign (VRSN), and Pool Corp. (POOL). Berkshire also trimmed its stakes in Bank of America (BAC), Capital One (COF), and Citigroup (C), while exiting Ulta Beauty (ULTA).

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) shares will be on investors’ radar screen after legendary investor Warren Buffett said on Saturday at the conglomerate’s annual meeting that he plans to step down as CEO at the end of this year.

The 94-year-old Buffett, who has headed the company for 60 years, said he will hand over the reins to Vice Chairman Greg Abel, who has long been identified by Berkshire as Buffett’s successor. Buffett’s retirement marks the end of an era that has cemented his place as an investment icon and American success story after transforming a faltering textile company into a trillion dollar conglomerate with successful businesses across many sectors.

Berkshire shares climbed to a fresh record high on Friday before Buffett’s announcement on Saturday. As of last week’s close, the stock has gained 19% since the start of the year and trades 35% higher over the past 12 months. By comparison, the benchmark S&P 500 has lost 3% and added 11%, respectively, over the same periods.

Below, we take a closer look at the technicals on Berkshire’s chart and identify key price levels investors will likely be watching.

Ascending Triangle Breakout

Berkshire shares broke out above the upper trendline of an ascending triangle in Friday’s trading session, potentially setting the stage for a continuation move higher.

Meanwhile, the relative strength index (RSI) confirms bullish price momentum with a reading above the 50 threshold, though the indicator sits below overbought levels, providing ample room for the stock to trend higher.

Let’s apply several technical analysis techniques to Berkshire’s chart helping us identify key overhead areas worth watching, while also locating two crucial support levels that could come into play during future pullbacks.

Key Overhead Areas to Watch

Measured Move Target

To project an upside target using the measured move technique, we calculate the distance between the ascending triangle’s two trendlines near the start of the pattern and add that amount to Friday’s breakout point. Therefore, we add $50 to $535, which forecasts a target of $585, about 8% above Friday’s closing price.

Bars Pattern Target

Investors can also use the bars pattern tool to project a bullish target. When applying the technique to Berkshire’s chart, we extract the price bars comprising the stock’s trend higher from early February to late March and reposition them from Friday’s breakout point. 

This projects a target of around $606, around 12% above of Friday’s close. We selected this prior move higher as it followed a breakout from an earlier ascending triangle on the chart, providing insight into how a similar uptrend may play out if price action rhymes.

Crucial Support Levels to Monitor

A close below the ascending triangle’s top trendline could trigger an initial pullback in the stock to around $519. This area on the chart may provide support near the prominent early-March peak and a period of trading activity that formed within the pattern.

Finally, a more significant retracement could see Berkshire shares revisit lower support at $490. Investors may seek entry points in this region near the notable early-March swing low during a dip toward the 50-day moving average.

The comments, opinions, and analyses expressed on Investopedia are for informational purposes only. Read our warranty and liability disclaimer for more info.

As of the date this article was written, the author does not own any of the above securities.

Investopedia’s choice for best overall Small Business Administration (SBA) loan lender is Live Oak Bank because of its deep expertise in originating SBA loans and its strong performance across every area we measured, from loan cost to customer experience. If you’re looking for the lender with the lowest average APR, consider Bank of America. If you’re a startup, try Huntington National Bank.

We collected 385 data points from 11 of the most active SBA lenders to create our list below. We also evaluated data from tens of thousands of loans issued in 2024 to find average APRs, average loan terms and amounts, and average time to fund for each lender, all based on real-world loan transactions.