Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) is set to release its third-quarter earnings report after the closing bell on Thursday, August 15. Analysts anticipate strong results, with earnings projected at $2.02 per share, an increase from $1.81 per share in the same period last year. Revenue is expected to reach $6.67 billion, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Rob Sechan of NewEdge Wealth highlighted Applied Materials on CNBC’s “Halftime Report Final Trades,” suggesting it as a potential investment opportunity.
Meanwhile, Nu Holdings Ltd. (NU), a Brazilian bank, reported impressive second-quarter results. The company saw a 65% year-over-year increase in revenue, reaching $2.8 billion. Adjusted net income also surged to $563 million, up from $263 million in the same period of 2023. Notably, Nu added 5.2 million new customers during the quarter, bringing its total customer base to 104.5 million as of June 30. This strong customer growth was accompanied by an average revenue per active customer of $11.20.
Joseph Terranova of Virtus Investment Partners named Nu Holdings as his final trade recommendation, emphasizing its strong performance and growth potential.
In the realm of defensive investment strategies, Bryn Talkington of Requisite Capital Management suggested the JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ) as a way to navigate potential market volatility. This ETF provides income while offering protection in a declining market.
Shannon Saccocia of NB Private Wealth recommended the iShares U.S. Industrials ETF (IYJ) as another option for investors.
Price movements on Wednesday reflected the positive sentiment surrounding these companies. JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF gained 0.2%, Applied Materials shares increased by 0.4%, iShares U.S. Industrials ETF rose by 0.5%, and Nu Holdings shares jumped by 5.3%.
