MarketBeat Week in Review – 09/28 - 10/02

Stocks spiked sharply higher after a weaker-than-expected September Jobs report lowered expectations for an October interest rate hike. As of Oct. 2, the CME FedWatch tool puts the odds of a hike at about 20%, down from about 55% after the last FOMC meeting. It's another case of bad news being good news.

However, lower oil prices and a lower yield on the 10-year Treasury note also contributed to the risk-on sentiment. The takeaway for investors is that despite some pockets of weakness, the economy and consumers continue to show resilience.

As hard as it is to believe, we're entering the last quarter of 2026. The bullish sentiment could carry into the next earnings season, which starts in a couple of weeks. Earnings will provide the next signal. The MarketBeat analysts will be tracking the stocks and stories that are moving the market. Here are some of the most popular articles from this week.

Articles by Thomas Hughes

Ahead of October, Thomas Hughes highlighted five stocks with strong tailwinds and bullish chart setups. Third-quarter earnings could be the catalyst for each one.

CarMax NYSE: KMX delivered a strong fiscal second quarter and plans to resume share buybacks. Hughes explained why that's an important signal that the turnaround is gaining traction. He also explained why analysts still haven't caught up.

Plenty of stocks have high short interest. But Hughes explained why days to cover is the metric that matters and why two heavily shorted stocks may only need the right catalyst to trigger a squeeze.

Articles by Sam Quirke

On the surface, it looked contradictory. Deutsche Bank upgraded Netflix NASDAQ: NFLX to Buy while cutting its price target. Sam Quirke explained why both moves make sense and what investors should watch when the company reports in three weeks.

Apple NASDAQ: AAPL was hit with a $5.7 billion patent verdict. Quirke wrote that the one-time payment isn't the real concern. He explained the bigger risk and why the pullback may be a buying opportunity.

McDonald's NYSE: MCD is trading near four-year lows. The company is also introducing a data-driven pricing recommendation tool for franchisees. Quirke weighed whether the potential margin upside is worth the risk.

Articles by Chris Markoch

Six Flags Entertainment NYSE: FUN launched a buy-now-pay-later option for season passes. Meanwhile, an activist investor is pushing the company to explore a sale. Chris Markoch explained why the timing is telling and what investors should watch next.

Data center REITs have gotten the AI hype. But Markoch wrote that office REITs may get the rent hikes. He highlighted three office REITs where the market's perception lags the fundamentals.

Oracle NYSE: ORCL issued a force majeure notice on a major data center project, and CoreWeave NASDAQ: CRWV stock got a lift. Markoch explained why two analysts came to opposite conclusions about the stock in the same week.

Articles by Ryan Hasson

Not long ago, AI looked like a threat to cybersecurity companies. Ryan Hasson explained why it has become a tailwind instead, and why two cybersecurity leaders are breaking out.

Two of the biggest names in tech have booked big gains on their Anthropic stakes, but those profits exist only on paper. Hasson explained how an Anthropic IPO could put them to the test.

After a painful summer, Rocket Lab NASDAQ: RKLB is bouncing off its lows. Hasson highlighted three catalysts behind the rebound, including buying from a well-known investor.

Articles by Leo Miller

Why would companies spend big on buybacks while their share prices are sliding? Leo Miller looked at three struggling stocks and what their buyback announcements may signal.

Meta Platforms NASDAQ: META wants its Muse AI agent to take on e-commerce. Miller explained why Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) is on board, but Amazon isn't playing along.

Broadcom NASDAQ: AVGO has a $161 billion commitment from Anthropic. Miller asked the question that matters for Broadcom's AI growth story: Can Anthropic afford it?

Articles by Nathan Reiff

Nuclear, missile, and aerospace demand is driving momentum in the defense sector. Nathan Reiff highlighted three defense plays riding that wave.

AI uncertainty is rising, but not every chip investment is losing steam. Reiff pointed to three semiconductor ETFs that still have momentum.

The 10-year Treasury yield recently reached its highest level since 2007. Reiff explained what that means for income investors and highlighted three bond ETFs to watch.

Articles by Dan Schmidt

Fertilizer prices keep climbing, yet some of the stocks that benefit still trade at a discount. Dan Schmidt highlighted three fertilizer stocks riding natural gas spreads.

Fervo Energy NASDAQ: FRVO hit a major geothermal milestone. But Schmidt explained why profitability is still years away and whether the milestone will matter for the stock.

Articles by Jeffrey Neal Johnson

Starbucks NASDAQ: SBUX is closing 250 stores, and analysts are downgrading the stock. Jeffrey Neal Johnson explained what the closures mean for the company's turnaround.

Taiwan Semiconductor NYSE: TSM is pushing ahead with 2-nanometer chips. Johnson explained why the company is pricing out the competition and why that signals a durable chip demand cycle.

Boeing NYSE: BA won the F/A-XX fighter contract over Northrop Grumman NYSE: NOC. Johnson explained why the victory could open the door to decades of defense revenue.

Articles by Peter Frank

O'Reilly Automotive NASDAQ: ORLY has a strong business, but the stock price doesn't show it. Peter Frank explained why the slump may be hiding a stronger company, and why the valuation is part of the story.

First Watch Restaurant Group NASDAQ: FWRG was trading near its 52-week low when Frank examined the stock, while its consensus price target implied roughly 84% upside at the time. Frank explained why the company's growth story is meeting a reality check.

Should You Invest $1,000 in CarMax Right Now?

Before you consider CarMax, you'll want to hear this.

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View The Five Stocks Here