In an eventful week of trading, The Numbers took calculated positions in a diverse range of equities, leading to mixed outcomes. Here’s a concise wrap-up of our portfolio’s performance over the past week.
Starbucks Corporation stood out as the week’s clear winner, juicing up our returns with a robust 7.39% gain. Investors were likely buoyed by Starbucks’ strategic expansion efforts and innovative digital initiatives, which continue to resonate well with customers. A winning brew indeed!
United Parcel Service (UPS) chipped in with a modest 0.48% return. The logistics giant has been benefitting from stable e-commerce demand, although rising fuel charges might have kept gains in check. Nonetheless, it held the line in a week where green was rarely seen.
Not all sip the sweet mocha of success, as TAKING position in AT&T led us to a slight dip of 0.80%, a whisper of uncertainty perhaps linked to concerns over its sizable debt amidst rising interest rates.
Unfortunately, the tech contingent’s attempts to spark returns were hampered. Meta Platforms grappled with an uncomfortable 1.11% decline, possibly stemming from market fatigue over heavy investment in the metaverse while facing escalating competitive pressure.
Coca-Cola Company didn’t fare much better, slipping by 1.34%. Concerns over inflationary pressures impacting consumer spending or costs possibly squashed its fizz this week.
Netflix’s riveting dramas couldn’t divert its 1.62% drop. Market concerns move about subscriber growth rates and content competition, particularly with other streaming platforms in the mix, creating some static in its usual signal.
Merck & Co experienced a 1.49% setback. Despite a promising pipeline, pharmaceutical stocks like Merck can be sensitive to patent timelines and generic competition, impacting investor sentiment.
Retail giant Costco Wholesale Corporation experienced a small snag, down by 1.77%. With inflation hovering, whispers about potential consumer spending adjustments may have pinched Costco slightly.
Oracle Corporation couldn’t compute an increase either, yielding a loss of 2.26%. Despite its strong cloud business, some investors might have recalibrated expectations amidst broader tech sector rotations.
Advanced Micro Devices showed its volatility, edging down 3.06%, as the competitive semiconductor landscape and macroeconomic factors like interest rates and supply chain issues might have weighed heavily.
Finally, Broadcom left us with a 3.31% decline. Tensions in chip supply and demand misalignments persist, challenging steady performance for high-performing tech stocks.
In total, our calculated moves resulted in a narrow gain of 0.14%, although this was 0.70% shy of the S&P500’s 0.84% gain for the week. The success rate of our trades landed at 17%, highlighting both the rewards and risks inherent in our strategic approach. Such weeks remind us that the market’s choreography can sometimes surprise even the most well-prepared players.