Markets continued to push to new all-time highs as the latest data on GDP and inflation both showed a resilient economy. Consumer spending was up during the holiday season, but inflation still trended lower, even though it’s still above the Federal Reserve’s preferred target of 2%. 

Looking at individual stocks, Netflix was a big winner after posting blowout earnings. On the other hand, Tesla Inc. NASDAQ: TSLA stock continues to fall after missing expectations on both the top and bottom lines. 

Earnings season kicks into high gear next week, with many big tech names reporting. Lower or cautious guidance could easily throw cold water on this rally. You’ll also want to pay attention to the report from United Parcel Service Inc. NYSE: UPS to see what it has to say about the consumer’s health. 

The MarketBeat team will be on top of these and other stories affecting your money. Here are some of the top stories the MarketBeat team covered this week.  

Articles by Jea Yu 

Many analysts are bullish on biotech stocks in 2024. If so, it may be due to the promise of gene editing. This week, Jea Yu wrote two articles that helped investors understand the possibilities in this fast-moving sector. 

Yu provides two gene editing stocks for speculative investors looking for watchlist stocks that are not generating revenue yet but may in 2024. 

Yu also wrote about the opportunity in Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. NASDAQ: SRPT. The company already has a product in the market and is pursuing an expanded label that will increase the company’s addressable market. 

Yu also wrote about the state of CAVA Group Inc. NYSE: CAVA before it reports earnings next week. The company’s stock has been rallying hard for the last three months as it continues to show strong revenue growth and will benefit from the age of personalization. 

Articles by Thomas Hughes 

One of the biggest bullish moves of the week came from Netflix Inc. NASDAQ: NFLX. The streaming giant posted blockbuster earnings showing leverage in the sector. Thomas Hughes broke down the highlights from the report and pointed investors to where NFLX stock may go. 

High-yield dividend stocks may look attractive if you’re looking for a less volatile option in 2024. But that’s only if the stock is a real value and not a value trap. This week, Hughes analyzes Verizon Communications Inc. NYSE: VZ and AT&T Inc. NYSE: T and explains why you should like and avoid the other. 

Big tech stocks report earnings next week, but Sam Quirke gave investors a preview of what to expect from several of these heavy hitters. 

Regarding Meta Platforms Inc. NASDAQ: META, Quirke gives three reasons why the stock is likely to move higher. 

Microsoft Corporation NASDAQ: MSFT pushed past the $400 price per share this week. But as Quirke writes, far from being frothy, the gains in MSFT stock may still have room to go higher. Speaking of stocks moving to new highs, you’ll want to read what Quirke writes about Apple Inc. NASDAQ: AAPL. 

The energy sector is another area showing promise in 2024. Quirke wrote about  that investors should have on their radar. 

The spot price of uranium recently hit a 16-year high. This week, Chris Markoch points you to three uranium stocks to buy to capitalize on what is likely to be the beginning of a long rally, as demand should outpace supply for several years. 

Markoch also wrote about the results from  and why investors should  to buy company shares before it splits off its power-generation business, GE Vernova, in the second quarter of 2024. 

Articles by Kate Stalter  

Many investors take a more risk-on approach as the market hits record highs. That means finding attractively priced growth stocks. This week, Kate Stalter explains the chart action that could push these five growth stocks higher in the coming months. 

Less risk-tolerant investors may also want to look at stocks that are undervalued from a fundamental perspective. This week, Stalter highlights three undervalued stocks trading at a low multiple relative to their earnings expectations. 

Palantir Technologies Inc. NYSE: PLTR remains a polarizing stock. Whether you already have a position or are considering getting involved, you’ll want to read Stalter’s take on the doubts surrounding Palantir and why its upcoming earnings will show if the company continues to silence its doubters. 

Articles by Ryan Hasson 

If you’re looking for tech stocks beyond the Magnificent Seven stocks, Ryan Hasson wrote about two stocks with strong momentum heading into earnings. Hasson writes about the recent breakthrough with Super Micro Computer NASDAQ: SMCI after the company pre-reported revenue for its upcoming second-quarter earnings. 

Hasson also explained the bullish technical setup pushing Snowflake Inc. NYSE: SNOW stock higher in the last three months. He also analyzes why the best may come for the data analytics company. 

Hasson also highlighted several stocks with high short interest that squeezed higher and explained why elevated short interest means that there could be a secondary squeeze in these three highly shorted stocks.

Articles by Gabriel Osorio-Mazilli 

The steel sector will benefit from rate cuts that would reduce the cost of capital for business. This week, Gabriel Osorio-Mazilli writes about three steel stocks investors should have on their watch list if there is a revival in manufacturing and industrial stocks. 

Osorio-Mazilli also wrote about the insider buying with Alibaba Group Holding Limited NYSE: BABA. Chinese stocks have been beaten down, but a money shift may occur, and BABA may be one of the winners if that happens. 

This week’s economic data shows that Wall Street believes the economy is stronger than expected. However, it doesn’t feel like that on Main Street. Osorio-Mazilli offers up three defensive stocks for investors who want to hedge their bets on a rally in growth stocks. 

Articles by MarketBeat Staff 

Dividends, dividends, dividends. That was on the mind of the MarketBeat staff, who gave investors two different ideas for investors. If you’re a fan of consumer cyclical stocks, the staff offers up three well-known consumer stocks that have a dividend yield of over 5%. 

If you’re looking for reliable dividend stocks ready to deliver upside stock price growth, you should look at this article highlighting three large cap stocks with high dividend yields and trade near their 52-week lows.  

And sports betting remains one of the best sectors for investors. 

This week, the staff wrote about the surge in Flutter Entertainment plc OTCMKTS: PDYPY as it prepares for its listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), which could happen as soon as next week. 

Before you consider Tesla, you’ll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street’s top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on… and Tesla wasn’t on the list.

While Tesla currently has a “Hold” rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here