Edition #170
Investing Unlocks: How to Capitalize on the Hot Topics From The Last 7 Days

We analyze recent trends and opportunities, offering strategic insights that help you manage risks and identify growth opportunities for your portfolio.

☝🏻 Tech and Cooling Inflation Lift Stocks to Records

Last week, cooler inflation data and strong tech earnings powered the S&P 500 to fresh all-time highs, marking a third straight winning week. July’s CPI came in at 3.4% annually, easing from June, while wholesale prices were essentially flat, taking some heat off the Fed rate hike debate. Tech and AI names led, with the Nasdaq 100 jumping roughly 2.3% and the Russell 2000 also hitting records. Still, the rally told two stories as corporate earnings remained strong while consumers pulled back, with retail sales falling 0.6% and Michigan sentiment dropping sharply.

This week, the focus shifts to how households are actually holding up, with Home Depot, Walmart, Target and Lowe’s all reporting earnings after that weak retail sales print. The FOMC minutes from the July meeting land midweek, while flash PMI readings close the week and will show whether manufacturing momentum is firming or fading. The gap between record stock prices and softening consumer confidence is the tension investors need to watch most closely right now.

Hot Topics

Data Center Tracking

According to the AI Data Center Index, there are now 346 data center facilities in its index, 294 of which are plotted on this map covering 64 countries. The most notable operators are Microsoft, Google, Amazon Web Services, Meta, and Nvidia, but the index tracks 225 distinct operators across 117.2 GW of capacity.

Meanwhile, Data Center Tracker is tracking America's AI data center buildout, along with community response and legislative action. To date, it has tracked 1,486 actions and $2.6T in investment. Only a third of tracked actions have been favorable for communities, with nearly 40% still pending.

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Investing Data Story

A ranked look at the largest US-accessible public video game companies by market cap. The biggest gaming stocks span several different business models.

Ranked: Top Public Video Game Stocks by Market Cap

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Earnings Performance

Sigma Lithium (NASDAQ: SGML)

**Source:** Sigma Lithium Q2 2026 Presentation

Low operating costs are providing Sigma Lithium (SGML) meaningful protection against lithium price volatility while preserving strong margins. Sigma’s Q2 earnings story is about higher production, lower unit costs, and stronger profitability. Production increased 52% sequentially to 35,400 tonnes, helping net revenue reach a record $55 million, up 29%. At the same time, costs declined.

That cost improvement translated into a 60% gross margin and 47% adjusted EBITDA margin, while Sigma generated $27 million of operating cash flow in the first half. The key takeaway for investors is that Sigma is not just producing more; it is getting substantially cheaper to operate as volumes recover. That matters ahead of plans to increase production capacity 1.8x by year-end 2027 and 2.5x to 830,000 tonnes per year by year-end 2028.

Other Earnings Updates

Pan American Silver (NYSE: PAAS): Posts Record Q2 Returns
Bending Spoons (NASDAQ: BSP): Reports 126% Q2 Revenue Growth
Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB): Posts Record ARR, Raises Outlook

Analyst Strong Buy Ratings This Week! 📈

Looking for stocks with strong analyst backing? These companies have earned top-tier "Strong Buy" ratings from analysts, signaling potential upside for investors.

Whether you’re eyeing small-to-mid cap opportunities in the U.S. and Canada or want to stick with trusted S&P 500 blue-chip picks, this list highlights stocks that experts believe could outperform.

🔍 Do your research and see if any of these fit your portfolio!

On Holdings: Stuck in the Middle

On Holding (NYSE: ONON) reported Q2 results on August 11 that sent shares down 20% in their worst day since its 2021 IPO. Revenue missed estimates, and management trimmed full-year sales growth guidance from “at least 23%” to the low 20s. The Americas was the weak spot, with constant-currency growth slowing to 13% as the U.S. wholesale market turned promotional.

On has outperformed Nike, which is down roughly 40% over the past year, but has lagged Adidas, which has managed a partial recovery on lifestyle momentum and leaner inventory.

What makes On’s selloff notable is the quality underneath. Gross margin hit a record 65.4%, more than 15 points above Nike. Direct-to-consumer sales grew 34% and now account for nearly half of revenue. Asia-Pacific grew 55%. These are not the numbers of a company in trouble.

The market’s problem is growth pace, not profitability. When a stock is priced for 30%+ and delivers low 20s, the multiple compresses regardless of margin quality. On is now below its IPO price and down 33% year-to-date. Closing the gap between valuation and fundamentals requires the Americas to re-accelerate.

Edition #170Investing Unlocks: How to Capitalize on the Hot Topics From The Last 7 Days

Investing Intel

⚡ Markets Hit Records, Now Comes the Reality…