PPL Corp. Stock Underperforms Thursday When Compared To Competitors

PPL Corp.'s stock fell 1.87% to $34.16 on Thursday, marking its fourth consecutive day of losses. The stock underperformed compared to competitors like NextEra Energy, Southern Co., and Dominion Energy. PPL Corp. is 10.73% below its 52-week high of $38.27. Trading volume was significantly higher than the 50-day average. The S&P 500 rose 0.11%, while the Dow Jones fell 0.07%.

Charles Schwab Corp. Stock Outperforms Competitors On Strong Trading Day

Charles Schwab Corp. (SCHW) shares rose 1.11% to $95.03, outperforming competitors in a mixed trading session. The S&P 500 Index increased by 0.11%, while the Dow Jones fell 0.07%. This marks the second consecutive day of gains for Schwab, closing 4.58% below its 52-week high. Competitors like Blackstone Inc. and BlackRock Inc. saw declines, while Morgan Stanley experienced a smaller rise. Trading volume was slightly below the 50-day average.

Treasury yields perk up and help boost the US dollar

Treasury yields have risen, boosting the US dollar and impacting stocks negatively. The S&P 500 is down, while conflicting deficit priorities in Washington are noted. The market anticipates a Fed rate cut, stoking inflation fears. US jobs data is slipping, but retail sales remain solid. Dollar strength affects EUR/USD, which is down 20 pips.

The S&P 500 index fell 0.3%, hitting a new daily low

BND Is a Great Choice for Most, but I Like BLV ETF Better

The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) is a leading bond ETF with over $129.5 billion in assets, offering broad exposure to the bond market. However, the Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV) is preferred for its higher yield of 5.4% compared to BND's 4.7%. BLV focuses on long-term bonds, resulting in a higher average effective maturity of 22.2 years versus BND's 8.2 years. Despite BND's better short-term performance, BLV is expected to provide higher long-term returns and income due to its focus on longer-dated bonds and current interest rate trends.