Matthew Clark

Delray Beach, Greenville

Research Analyst at Money & Markets

Longtime journalism veteran. Research analyst for @TheMoneyMarkets and editor of Stock Power Daily.

Articles

No Repeat of This 2020 Covid Earnings Guidance Trend

1 week ago | moneyandmarkets.com | Matthew Clark

Traditionally, when a company issued strong earnings, its stock would push higher. Conversely, if earnings were down, the stock would follow suit. However, something changed at the turn of the century. In the 1970s, the Securities and Exchange Commission promoted the idea of companies releasing their financial forecasts during quarterly reports. The practice didn’t actually take hold until the 2000s.
“Bearish” LUV Stock Needs More Than $35 Per Bag

1 week ago | moneyandmarkets.com | Matthew Clark

It’s the end of an era in the airline industry…For more than 50 years, Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) allowed travelers to check their first two bags for free, a policy that set the U.S. carrier apart from its competitors. However, all of that changes today as Southwest ends its free checked bag policy and charges $35 for the first bag, and $45 for the second. It got me to thinking… why?
"Uncertainty" Has Dominated the Earnings Conversation

2 weeks ago | moneyandmarkets.com | Matthew Clark

Matt here. Welcome to the Earnings Friday edition of What My System Says Today. I’ll get into bullish and bearish earnings in a bit, but I wanted to start today with the one word Wall Street hates. It’s a word that sends investors scrambling and stocks down almost every time it creeps up in headlines. The word is “uncertainty.”When there is uncertainty around a company’s performance, future guidance or even the impacts of government policy, investors get twitchy.
The U.S. Tech Companies That Are Betting Big on China

2 weeks ago | moneyandmarkets.com | Matthew Clark

In 2024, the United States ran up a $295.4 billion trade deficit with China — the largest deficit with any single trading partner in the world. So, it stands to reason why trade with China has been in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. The deficit was the motivating factor behind President Trump’s triple-digit reciprocal tariff issued in April (since paused). While we won’t know the true impact of these trade levies for months, we can glean some insights from certain data points.
It’s Been an Upbeat Earnings Season, Actually

3 weeks ago | moneyandmarkets.com | Matthew Clark

Editor’s Note: On Fridays going forward, Chief Research Analyst Matt Clark is taking the reins in What My System Says Today. Read on to see what crossed our earnings radar for next week!Hey everyone, it’s Matt here with the Earnings Friday edition of What My System Says Today. Currently, about 90% of companies in the S&P 500 have reported first quarter earnings.
How 1 Stock Rates as Consumer Confidence Hits 4-Year Low

2 months ago | moneyandmarkets.com | Matthew Clark

I was talking to my neighbor Danny the other day. You might remember Danny … he asked me about investing in a new cryptocurrency some years back. This time around, we were talking about trips to the grocery store. He told me he spent more than $200 on groceries that might last a week, maybe two … and it’s just him, his daughter and his grandson. Needless to say, he was beyond frustrated at the cost … and that’s without frivolities or extras. And he isn’t alone.
How Does Your State Stack Up on Taxes?

2 months ago | moneyandmarkets.com | Matthew Clark

It’s that time of year. The time we all come to dread … paying the taxman. For millions of Americans, not only do you have to file federal taxes, but the state wants their cut as well. But not all states are the same. Some charge different tax rates based on adjusted gross income, while some have a flat tax rate, no matter how much you make in a year. A select few don’t charge any state income taxes at all.
Hyundai's $20 Billion Bet on the U.S. + Mag 7 Poll

2 months ago | moneyandmarkets.com | Matthew Clark

A South Korean company plans to announce a multibillion-dollar investment in the U.S.Reports indicate automaker Hyundai will unveil a $20 billion investment, including a $5 billion steel plant in Louisiana, this week. The plant will employ around 1,500 people and produce steel that Hyundai will use to build vehicles at its two U.S. locations – in Alabama and Georgia.
Skunk Works and a Slogan for Today’s Market

2 months ago | moneyandmarkets.com | Matthew Clark

I keep running an old saying through my mind when looking at markets these days: “Keep it simple, stupid.”Overthinking is a killer, especially when it comes to investing. You really like an idea you have, so you start digging … and digging … and digging. You build an airtight case to back up your idea,but by that time, the optimal window to invest has passed you by. Instead, you should have just kept it simple. There’s a reason why I bring this up today, but first, an origin story of sorts.
$3.6 Million in Revenue Per Employee?!

2 months ago | moneyandmarkets.com | Matthew Clark

Imagine you are the owner of XYZ Corp., a tiny company with 10 employees that just brought in $1 million in total revenue in 2024. “Not a bad bit of business,” you say to yourself while reviewing the numbers. However, your biggest competitor, ABC Inc., also brought in $1 million in total revenue for the year. Another good year. But when you start digging around, you find that ABC Inc. managed the same revenues with only five employees … half your manpower at XYZ…ABC Inc.