Financial Stability

Business

The Great Tax Swap: States Eye Sales Tax Hikes to Offset Income Tax Cuts, Sparking Debate Over Revenue and Reform

A growing movement to eliminate state income taxes is gaining momentum, backed by the White House. However, a new analysis warns that replacing lost revenue may require significantly higher sales taxes than proponents claim, forcing a fundamental choice: accept steeper consumption taxes or shrink the size of government.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Analysts See KION GROUP Shares Trading at a Significant Discount to Fair Value

A new discounted cash flow analysis suggests shares of the German industrial giant KION GROUP AG could be undervalued by nearly 30%, presenting a potential opportunity for investors amid broader market volatility.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Prediction Markets Signal 71% Odds of Bitcoin Slump Below $65K by 2026 as Bearish Sentiment Grows

A stark consensus is emerging among prediction market traders and analysts, with a 71% probability now priced in for Bitcoin to fall below $65,000 within two years. This bearish outlook follows a weekend sell-off to nine-month lows and is supported by underwater ETF positions, technical warnings, and concerns over a sustained market downturn rather than a temporary correction.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Magic Number: Why Your FICO Score Holds the Key to Homeownership in 2026

As the housing market evolves, a three-digit number remains the decisive factor for mortgage seekers. The latest FICO scoring model now considers rental history, potentially opening doors for millions of aspiring homeowners.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

KeyCorp Outpaces the Market: Analysts Bullish on Regional Bank's Growth Trajectory

Cleveland-based KeyCorp (KEY) is riding a wave of positive analyst sentiment following a strong earnings beat, with its stock performance significantly outpacing broader market indices. The bank's diversified model and robust capital returns are fueling optimism for sustained growth.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Eli Lilly Bets Nearly $2 Billion on Repertoire Immune Medicines to Pioneer Next-Generation Autoimmune Therapies

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly enters a strategic collaboration potentially worth up to $1.93 billion with biotech firm Repertoire Immune Medicines, aiming to develop precision treatments for autoimmune diseases that move beyond broad immunosuppression.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Piper Sandler Lifts Diamondback Energy Target to $218, Citing Permian Basin Strength Amid Volatile Oil Pricing

Analysts at Piper Sandler have increased their price target for Permian Basin-focused producer Diamondback Energy (FANG) to $218, maintaining an Overweight rating. The move comes as the firm anticipates solid Q4 results for gas-focused companies, while oil producers navigate a tougher pricing environment.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Brown & Brown Shares Face Headwinds as BMO Capital Trims Price Target Amid Mixed Q4 Signals

Insurance brokerage giant Brown & Brown sees a key price target cut to $81 following its fourth-quarter earnings, which revealed robust fee growth but concerns over slowing organic revenue expansion.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Morgan Stanley Boosts HF Sinclair Target to $61, Citing Refining Strength and Strategic Acquisition

Analyst Joe Laetsch raises HF Sinclair's price target, highlighting favorable crude differentials and a recent $38 million acquisition aimed at expanding its lubricants business, as the refiner lands on a list of top low-risk dividend stocks.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Huntington Bancshares Gains Analyst Favor: Price Target Boosted Amid Strong Outlook

Truist Securities raises its price target on Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) following a robust Q4 performance, as the regional bank forecasts record interest income growth and benefits from improving industry tailwinds.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Barclays Lifts Target on NorthWestern Energy as Utility Merger, Steady Growth Draw Investor Focus

Barclays raises its price target on NorthWestern Energy Group (NWE) to $62, citing solid quarterly performance and strategic moves, including a pending merger with Black Hills Corporation, as the regulated utility reaffirms its long-term growth outlook.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Kimberly-Clark Shares Get a Lift as UBS Analyst Raises Price Target Following Solid Earnings

UBS analyst Peter Grom increased his price target for Kimberly-Clark (KMB) to $110, citing steady core performance despite lingering Kenvue-related uncertainties, after the consumer goods giant reported better-than-expected quarterly profit driven by cost discipline and resilient demand.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Stifel Trims Altria Price Target Amid Cost Pressures, Maintains Buy on Dividend Strength

Stifel Nicolaus lowered its price target on Altria Group (MO) by $4 to $68, citing higher-than-expected operating costs. Despite near-term headwinds, the firm reaffirmed its Buy rating, pointing to the tobacco giant's resilient dividend profile and long-term earnings guidance.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Scotiabank Trims Comcast Price Target Amid Broadband Subscriber Losses, Intensifying Competition

Scotiabank has lowered its price target for Comcast (CMCSA), reflecting ongoing pressure in its core broadband business as the media giant reports higher-than-expected customer losses in Q4 and faces fierce competition from fiber and fixed-wireless rivals.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Wells Fargo Trims UnitedHealth Target by $30, Citing Medicare Advantage Headwinds

Wells Fargo lowered its price target on UnitedHealth Group (UNH) following its Q4 report and a disappointing Medicare rate proposal from regulators, highlighting pressures on the healthcare giant's key growth engine.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Pfizer's 2026 Challenge: Navigating the Patent Cliff and GLP-1 Race

Despite a partial recovery, Pfizer's stock remains significantly below its pandemic-era peak. As 2026 approaches, the pharmaceutical giant confronts a critical juncture defined by looming patent expirations, a high-stakes catch-up effort in the lucrative GLP-1 market, and a dividend under pressure.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

OpenText Faces Analyst Caution as Price Target Trimmed Amid Strategic Shift

CIBC lowers OpenText's price target to $37, citing softer guidance and a watchful stance on the company's planned divestiture of non-core assets to sharpen its AI focus.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Why Small Investors Hold an Edge Over Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway

Warren Buffett once admitted that managing a smaller pool of capital can be a 'huge structural advantage.' For retail investors, this isn't just theory—it's a practical edge in accessing high-growth opportunities that are now out of reach for the investing giant.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Disney's Q1 2026: Streaming Profits Soar 72% as 'Zootopia 2' and Parks Drive Revenue, But Subscriber Counts Go Dark

Disney's first fiscal quarter of 2026 saw revenue climb to $25.98 billion, buoyed by record theme park sales and blockbuster films. While streaming income surged dramatically, the company has followed Netflix's lead in ceasing public reporting of Disney+ and Hulu subscriber numbers, shifting investor focus to profitability.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Could the Ozempic Effect Lead to Cheaper Flights? Airlines Eye Fuel Savings as Weight-Loss Drugs Take Off

A provocative analysis suggests the widespread adoption of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy could trim airline fuel bills by reducing passenger weight, potentially passing savings to travelers. But industry experts debate whether the math adds up.

Feb 2, 2026