Year: 2024

Despite America being one of the world’s best economies, the typical person living in the United States falls woefully short of saving for a comfortable retirement. According to studies, the median retirement savings across all U.S. families is $87,000. So, if you’re at or around $100,000 today, I have two crucial nuggets of good news for you.

First, you’re doing better than you might give yourself credit for, so give yourself some love. Second, the next $100,000 will feel much easier, thanks to the power of compounding.

Yes, retiring with $1 million or more in savings is attainable. However, the work to get there may depend on your life circumstances once you hit that first $100,000 milestone.

Here are three scenarios to outline what you can expect moving forward. Remember, you’re never out of the game, no matter where you start.

Scenario No. 1: You’re ahead of the game

The typical family doesn’t have $100,000 saved, so hitting this goal anytime before age 35 puts you well ahead of the game. Perhaps you are a high earner or lived frugally during your 20s and early 30s. Regardless of your circumstances, you can ease off the gas over the coming decades. Suppose you have this $100,000 invested in a diversified portfolio that generates an annualized return of 8%.

Assuming you’re 35, you would retire at 65 with almost $1.1 million without adding another penny. You could achieve FIRE (financial independence, retire early). For example, if you contributed $500 per month starting at 35, you would cross $1 million in savings by age 58. Bump that to $1,000, and you’ll hit $1 million by age 55. The bottom line is that you would have options, which is what financial independence is all about.

Scenario No. 2: You got a late start

Most families get a late start, based on the data on what people retire with. That’s OK. Life happens: People buy homes, start families, and have student loans. No, the math isn’t as friendly if you’re starting later, but there is still tons of time to build a comfortable retirement. For this scenario, imagine a family starting late but saving $100,000 by age 45.

You don’t benefit from compounding as much as those starting earlier. Without additional contributions, you would retire with $492,000 at age 65. How much do you need to add? Contributing $1,000 monthly will get you to $1 million by retirement.

That sounds like a lot; however, many people enter their prime earning years in their mid-40s. It could be time to revisit your budget if you struggle to contribute the necessary amounts. For example, the average new car payment is $726. Downgrading to a used vehicle isn’t ideal but could free up hundreds of dollars toward that monthly contribution goal. Eventually, one must sacrifice some luxuries to build a comfortable retirement. It doesn’t sound fun now, but I promise you won’t be thinking about that new car you once had decades later.

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Scenario No. 3: You’re playing catch-up

Naturally, those who wait the longest to save for retirement have the most challenging road ahead. However, there is still time, even if you’re way behind. The worst thing you can do is give up because you think it’s too late.

Suppose you hit $100,000 at age 55 and want to retire with $1 million. You’ll have to save aggressively, but it is still possible. Contributing $4,300 monthly could likely get your retirement savings to $1 million by the age of 65, assuming an 8% interest rate.

No matter their budget, many people may not have that money available. So, you may have to extend your career to give compounding some extra time to help you. Retiring at 70 instead of 65 means an additional five years to save. In this scenario, one only needs to contribute $2,000 monthly to retire a millionaire. In other words, that additional five years cuts your monthly contribution goal to less than half! Compounding makes a tremendous difference, even with just five extra years.

This is the take-home point

You’ve read it throughout this article, but it is important enough to say it once more: You have time to build a better retirement, no matter where you are in life. The math might change based on your situation, but anyone can plan and work toward a better retirement than they would have otherwise.

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Have $100,000? Here Are 3 Ways to Grow That Money Into $1 Million for Retirement Savings was originally published by The Motley Fool

Today’s savings account interest rates are some of the highest we’ve seen in more than a decade due to several rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Even so, savings interest rates vary widely by bank, so it’s important to be sure you’re getting the best rate possible when shopping around for a savings account. The following is a breakdown of savings interest rates today and where to find the best offers.

Overview of savings interest rates today

The national average savings account rate stands at 0.46%, according to the FDIC. This might not seem like much, but consider that just two years ago, it was just 0.07%, reflecting a sharp rise in a short period of time.

This is largely due to monetary policy decisions by the Fed, which began raising it’s benchmark rate in March 2022 to combat skyrocketing inflation. Since then, the Fed increased rates 11 times, though it paused further rate hikes in 2024. Experts believe the Fed will eventually begin to lower its target rate in September, which means deposit account rates, including savings interest rates, will likely begin to fall.

Although the national average savings interest rate is fairly low compared to other types of accounts (such as CDs) and investments, the best savings rates on the market today are much higher. In fact, some of the top accounts are currently offering upwards of 5% APY.

Poppy Bank, for instance, is currently offering the highest savings account rate today at 5.50% APY for its Premier Online savings account. The minimum opening deposit is $1,000 and this rate is guaranteed for three months.

Betterment also offers an account with 5.50% APY. However, this is a cash management account for brokerage customers and not a traditional savings account. There is no minimum opening deposit required.

Since these rates may not be around much longer, consider opening a high-yield savings account now to take advantage of today’s high rates.

Here is a look at some of the best savings rates available today from our verified partners:

Related: 10 best high-yield savings accounts today>>

How much interest can I earn with a savings account?

The amount of interest you can earn from a savings account depends on the annual percentage rate (APY). This is a measure of your total earnings after one year when considering the base interest rate and how often interest compounds (savings account interest typically compounds daily).

Say you put $1,000 in a savings account at the average interest rate of 0.45% with daily compounding. At the end of one year, your balance would grow to $1,004.52 — your initial $1,000 deposit, plus just $4.52 in interest.

Now let’s say you choose a high-yield savings account that offers 5% APY instead. In this case, your balance would grow to $1,051.27 over the same period, which includes $51.27 in interest.

The more you deposit in a savings account, the more you stand to earn. If we took our same example of a high-yield savings account at 5% APY, but deposit $10,000, your total balance after one year would be $10,512.67, meaning you’d earn $512.67 in interest. ​​

Read more: What is a good savings account rate?

Today’s certificate of deposit (CD) interest rates are some of the highest we’ve seen in more than a decade thanks to several rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Still, CD rates vary widely across financial institutions, so it’s important to ensure you’re getting the best rate possible when shopping around for a CD. The following is a breakdown of CD rates today and where to find the best offers.

Overview of CD rates today

Historically, longer-term CDs offered higher interest rates than shorter-term CDs. Generally, this is because banks would pay better rates to encourage savers to keep their money on deposit longer. However, in today’s economic climate, the opposite is true.

See our picks for the best CD accounts available today>>

As of August 31, 2024, CD rates remain competitive across the board. However, the highest CD rates can be found for shorter terms of around one year or less.

Today, the highest CD rate available is offered by Marcus by Goldman Sachs on its 1-year CD. Account holders can earn 4.70% APY with a minimum deposit of $500.

It’s also possible to find CDs with longer terms of two years or more that offer competitive rates, though they are closer to about 4% to 4.5% APY.

Here is a look at some of the best CD rates available today from our verified partners:

How much interest can I earn with a CD?

The amount of interest you can earn from a CD depends on the annual percentage rate (APY). This is a measure of your total earnings after one year when considering the base interest rate and how often interest compounds (CD interest typically compounds daily or monthly).

Say you invest $1,000 in a one-year CD with 1.81% APY, and interest compounds monthly. At the end of that year, your balance would grow to $1,018.25 – your initial $1,000 deposit, plus $18.25 in interest.

Now let’s say you choose a one-year CD that offers 5% APY instead. In this case, your balance would grow to $1,051.16 over the same period, which includes $51.16 in interest.

The more you deposit in a CD, the more you stand to earn. If we took our same example of a one-year CD at 5% APY, but deposit $10,000, your total balance when the CD matures would be $10,511.62, meaning you’d earn $511.62 in interest. ​​

Read more: What is a good CD rate?

Types of CDs

When choosing a CD, the interest rate is usually top of mind. However, the rate isn’t the only factor you should consider. There are several types of CDs that offer different benefits, though you may need to accept a slightly lower interest rate in exchange for more flexibility. Here’s a look at some of the common types of CDs you can consider beyond traditional CDs:

• Bump-up CD: This type of CD allows you to request a higher interest rate if your bank’s rates go up during the account’s term. However, you’re usually allowed to “bump up” your rate just once.

• No-penalty CD: Also known as a liquid CD, type of CD gives you the option to withdraw your funds before maturity without paying a penalty.

• Jumbo CD: These CDs require a higher minimum deposit (usually $100,000 or more), and often offer higher interest rate in return. In today’s CD rate environment, however, the difference between traditional and jumbo CD rates may not be much.

• Brokered CD: As the name suggests, these CDs are purchased through a brokerage rather than directly from a bank. Brokered CDs can sometimes offer higher rates or more flexible terms, but they also carry more risk and might not be FDIC-insured.

The key to successful investing lies in choosing the right stocks, though achieving this is no small feat.

Investors employ a wide array of strategies to select stocks – some trust their instincts, others analyze past performance, and many lean on expert advice. For those seeking a more impartial and data-driven approach, TipRanks’ Smart Score offers an ideal solution. This advanced algorithm leverages AI and natural language processing to sift through vast amounts of data from public trading floors, providing a clear and objective guide for investors.

That data is a treasure trove of stock information, based on the aggregated trades of thousands of investors across thousands of stocks, with tens of millions of transactions every day. It would be the work of several lifetimes to sort and understand it – but the Smart Score automates that, and uses the data to give every stock a simple rating, on a score of 1 to 10, based on a group of factors that are proven to line up with future outperformance. A stock with a ‘Perfect 10’ score deserves a closer look and deeper consideration.

When the Smart Score aligns with Wall Street analyst recommendations, it signals a strong, bullish opportunity for investors. With this in mind, we’ve used the TipRanks platform to explore what analysts think of two top-scoring ‘Perfect 10’ stocks. Here’s a closer look at these stocks and the analyst insights.

PowerFleet (AIOT)

We’ll start with PowerFleet, a company that specializes in combining AI and IoT tech into a unified platform that integrates people, assets, and AIoT data for optimized operations. In practical terms, the company’s platform enables enterprise customers to effectively manage industrial fleets – trucks, tractor trailers, intermodal shipping containers, and other vehicles – ensuring security, tracking, and overall control of these high-value assets.

Among the features that PowerFleet makes available to its customers are regulatory management and compliance, safety and security, fuel management, and maintenance and performance oversight – all vital operations in keeping industrial vehicle fleets in prime operating condition. The company boasts over 7,500 customers around the world and provides top-level support, educational, and implementation services on demand.

In its latest earnings report for fiscal Q1 2025, which ended on June 30, PowerFleet posted a revenue of $75.4 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of ~10%. Of this total, $56.7 million was generated by the company’s Services segment, with ‘safety-centric product solutions’ contributing significantly to the revenue gain. On the earnings front, the company’s non-GAAP EPS came to $0.00, for a break-even.

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For Craig-Hallum analyst Anthony Stoss, PowerFleet stands out as a quality tech company with plenty of potential.

“We continue to believe investors should own AIOT as we see them developing as a strong SaaS play with an interoperable software platform for 130 different 3rd party devices. We note the company continues to see strength around safety applications with safety solutions up 25% Y/Y. Further, we highlight AIOT increased their total subscriber count 11% Y/Y to 1.95M and management is seeing acceleration with their Unity platform,” Stoss opined.

Looking ahead, Stoss lays out a clear path for PowerFleet to keep up its sound performance, adding, “We continue to reiterate our view on a ‘one plus one equals three’ scenario forming from the company’s business from solutions in the warehouse to on the road. We continue to believe investors will find value in AIOT with strong long-term growth prospects, over 7,500 enterprise customers worldwide, driving $20+ ARPU, and with now 75% of revenues recurring.”

These comments back up the 5-star analyst’s Buy rating on AIOT stock, while his $9 price target implies a one-year gain of 80%. (To watch Stoss’ track record, click here)

Overall, AIOT has earned a Strong Buy consensus rating from the Street, based on 6 unanimously positive analyst reviews. The shares are priced at just under $5, and their average price target of $9 matches the Craig-Hallum view. (See AIOT stock analysis)

AngioDynamics (ANGO)

The next stock we’ll look at, AngioDynamics, is a medical device developer and innovator that’s been in the medical-tech business since 1988. The company has a strong portfolio of medical devices and products, designed to put the right tools in the physicians’ hands so that they can provide an elevated standard of care for patients with cardiovascular and oncologic diseases. These two medical categories are leading causes of death worldwide. Globally, 1 in 6 deaths is caused by cancer; AngioDynamics aims to bring those figures down.

AngioDynamics works toward that goal by offering lines of medical devices aimed at multiple medical specialty fields, including interventional radiology, interventional cardiology, and surgery. The devices are used to diagnose various cancers as well as peripheral vascular disease, and are designed to minimize invasive operations.

Several of AngioDynamics’ products deserve special notice. These include the AlphaVac, a therapeutic device used in endovascular procedures; the NanoKnife, which can provide localized treatments for various cancers; and the Auryon, another endovascular treatment tool optimized for peripheral atherectomy technology. These, and many other high-end medical devices, are available in more than 50 markets around the world, across the US, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

In its most recent fiscal 4Q24 report, for the quarter ending May 31, AngioDynamics exceeded expectations on both the top and bottom lines. The company reported revenue of $70.98 million, a 22% year-over-year decline, yet still managed to surpass estimates by $120,000. On the bottom line, AngioDynamics posted a net loss of 5 cents per share – while negative, this was a significant 23 cents per share better than anticipated.

For Canaccord Genuity analyst John Young, all of this adds up to a sound outlook for the company. He says of this medical device maker’s prospects, “AngioDynamics remains focused on 1) pursuing larger, faster growing markets, 2) driving portfolio transformation, and 3) improving its financial profile and capital structure. Q4’s results show that this strategy is starting to pay off… Looking ahead, we think ANGO has a solid set up with momentum and catalysts in the Med-Tech business across the board — AlphaVac, NanoKnife, and Auryon have opportunities that leave us cautiously optimistic, particularly given ANGO’s current valuation.”

Young goes on to put a Buy rating on ANGO shares, and he complements that with a price target of $13, showing his confidence in a 74% upside potential for the one-year time horizon. (To watch Young’s track record, click here)

Overall, there are 3 recent analyst reviews on file for ANGO shares, and they are all in agreement that this is a stock to buy, making the Strong Buy consensus rating unanimous. The shares are trading for $7.46 and the average price target, at $13.33, is slightly more bullish than the Canaccord view, indicating room for ~79% appreciation in the coming months. (See ANGO stock analysis)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

The stock market’s performance has become more bifurcated this year. While high-flying tech stocks have driven the S&P 500 index to new highs, consumer spending headwinds have weighed on the performance of industry-leading consumer brands.

Two widely held stocks that have delivered subpar performance are Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) and Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX). However, both stocks recently jumped as new growth catalysts came into focus, and two Wall Street analysts believe now’s the time to buy. Here’s why these top stocks are poised to take off in the coming years.

1. Tesla

Tesla shares delivered phenomenal returns to investors over the last decade, but the stock has been flat over the last few years. It’s been challenging to sell more electric cars, with higher interest rates making financing more expensive, in addition to increasing competition. Despite the headwinds, Tesla stock is up 16% over the last three months as investors have also turned their attention to other promising opportunities in the near term.

Piper Sandler analyst Alexander Potter believes the stock is a buy heading into Tesla’s robotaxi unveiling scheduled for Oct. 10. A robotaxi service should be very profitable for Tesla over time, but it also highlights the opportunity in the company’s battery production, which is intended to reduce manufacturing costs and improve margins.

Tesla’s battery production is ramping up quickly. It produced 50% more 4680 cells in the second quarter than the first quarter. This will support the rapid growth Tesla is experiencing in its energy storage business while also potentially supplying millions of electric cars on the road, especially robotaxis.

Ark Invest believes that Tesla’s operating profit per kilowatt-hour deployed could be $466 for robotaxis compared to just $60 for normal electric cars. This fits into to the firm’s projection that Tesla will increase its profitability and send the stock to as high as $2,600 by 2029.

CEO Elon Musk believes the optimistic projection is possible. The world is shifting toward electric and autonomous transportation. Tesla’s rapidly growing battery production highlights an advantage in manufacturing, which will become quite valuable. Transportation is a $10 trillion market, and Tesla is the disruptor.

2. Starbucks

Starbucks is the top restaurant brand in the world, according to Brand Finance, but like Tesla, the stock is weighed down by sluggish consumer spending. Starbucks’ comp sales declined over the last two quarters, but the stock is up 30% after the company announced it was hiring Brian Niccol from Chipotle Mexican Grill as CEO.

Niccol steered Chipotle to incredible growth over the last five years. It was already a high-performing business, but Niccol was able to squeeze higher margins out of the restaurants, which helped send the stock up 232% over the last five years.

Evercore ISI analyst David Palmer sees a similar opportunity at Starbucks. Palmer recently upgraded the stock to an outperform (buy) rating. The hiring of Niccol increases the probability of a successful turnaround for Starbucks, according to Palmer.

One factor that has benefited Chipotle is its digital ordering capabilities, which make up 35% of Chipotle’s business. Starbucks is also great at implementing mobile ordering, but it should see more enhancements under new management that could reduce wait times and improve store efficiency. Niccol’s previous record of leading similar initiatives at Chipotle should put Starbucks on a profitable growth trajectory.

Palmer  sees Starbucks annualized earnings growth reaching 15% or greater over the next three years. Assuming the stock continues to trade at a market average price-to-earnings ratio of 27, investors should see attractive returns on their investment.

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2 Top Stocks to Buy Now, According to Wall Street was originally published by The Motley Fool

Inheriting an IRA or 401(k) can add to your wealth but it can also bring some potential tax headaches. One tricky issue involves required minimum distributions or RMDs. IRA and 401(k) plan owners are required to take minimum distributions from their accounts beginning in the year they turn 72. The IRS has special rules regarding the RMD in the year of death that IRA and 401(k) beneficiaries need to be aware of. A financial advisor can help you through the ins and outs of planning for retirement to put your mind at ease.

When Do RMDs Begin?

Under the tax code, certain retirement account owners are required to begin taking minimum distributions once they turn 72. The types of accounts that are subject to RMDs include:

Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs during the account owner’s lifetime. You will, however, be subject to RMDs if you inherit a Roth IRA. The IRS is very specific about when these distributions must begin. The required beginning date (RBD) for RMDs is April 1^st of the year following the year that the account owner turns 72. That’s important for understanding when an RMD in the year of death is necessary.

When Is an RMD in Year of Death Required?

If you inherit an IRA or another tax-advantaged account that’s subject to RMDs, the timing determines whether you’re required to take an RMD in the year of death.

Here’s how it works:

• You must take an RMD if the account owner has reached their required beginning date but has not taken a required minimum distribution for the year.

• You do not have to take an RMD if the account owner passes away before their required beginning date.

Here’s an example of how this works. Say your father turned 72 in March of 2020, making his required beginning date April 1, 2021. He passes away in November 2021 without having taken his RMD for the year. In that instance, you would be responsible for taking the distribution as the account beneficiary.

Now, say your father passed away in March of 2021 instead. Since he has not reached his required beginning date, you would not be obligated to take an RMD in the year of death.

When beneficiaries must take an RMD in the year the account owner dies, the amount is reported on their tax return as income. They must pay taxes on it, the same way that the account owner would have had to if they had taken the distribution themselves.

How to Calculate RMD in Year of Death

If you’re required to take RMDs in the year of death after the account owner passes away, the calculation method is based on the RMD they would have received. Following IRS rules, the RMD for any year is determined using this formula:

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Required minimum distribution = account balance as of the end of the preceding calendar year divided by a distribution period from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table

The Uniform Lifetime Table is designed for unmarried IRA owners, married IRA owners whose spouses aren’t more than 10 years younger than they are and married owners whose spouses aren’t the sole beneficiaries of their IRAs. Table I (Single Life Expectancy) is used when the beneficiary is not the spouse of the IRA owner. Table II (Joint Life and Last Survivor Expectancy) is used for owners whose spouses are more than 10 years younger and the sole beneficiary of the IRA.

If the account owner named multiple beneficiaries and didn’t take their required minimum distribution, each beneficiary shares responsibility for it. Beneficiaries can split the account into multiple inherited IRAs, which would allow them to claim their share of the account balance while also shouldering their part of the tax obligation.

For RMDs in the year following the account owner’s death, distribution calculations will depend on who is the beneficiary of the account. Generally, designated beneficiaries will use the IRS Single Life Expectancy Table to figure the distributions. This table uses life expectancy and the IRA balance to determine RMDs.

What If You Don’t Take an RMD in Year of Death?

The deadline for taking RMDs in the year of death is December 31^st of the year in which the original account owner passes away. The IRS imposes a strict penalty when RMDs are required but not taken by beneficiaries. If you inherit an IRA or 401(k) and fail to take the RMD for the year of the account owner’s death, a 50% tax penalty applies.

There’s an exception if the estate is named as the beneficiary of an IRA. In that case, the estate takes the RMD and is responsible for reporting the distribution.

The 50% penalty can substantially reduce what you’re able to withdraw from an inherited IRA or 401(k). For that reason, it’s important to understand when RMDs are or are not required when the account owner passes away. Talking to a tax expert or your financial advisor can help you to prepare for any tax liability that might be created if you stand to inherit an IRA or 401(k) from someone else.

Withdrawing an Inherited IRA

The IRS rule for the year of death RMDs is not the only tax rule to be aware of with inherited retirement accounts. You also have to be aware of your tax liability for managing the account in future years.

Spouses have several options for inheriting an IRA. For instance, they can:

If you are not the account owner’s spouse, you can only set up an inherited IRA. You won’t be allowed to make any new contributions to the account. You also have to fully withdraw all of the money in the account. You have 10 years following the original account owner’s death to do so. If you fail to do so, the IRS can apply a tax penalty.

In terms of how withdrawals are taxed, they follow the same tax rules as the original IRA. So if you inherit a traditional IRA, withdrawals are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate. If you inherit a Roth IRA, RMDs are required but withdrawals are tax-free as long as the account is at least five years old. A financial advisor can help you navigate an inheritance.

The Bottom Line

Inheriting retirement accounts can add a wrinkle to your tax situation and it’s important to be aware of the rules for the year of death RMDs. The main thing to know is when the account owner’s required beginning date is, as that can decide whether you’ll need to take an RMD in the year of death or not.

Tips for Retirement Planning

• Consider talking to your financial advisor about how to handle an inherited retirement account. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

• When rolling over an inherited IRA, give some thought to which brokerage you’d like to use to hold those funds. Brokerages can vary greatly in terms of the fees they charge and the range of investment options they offer. Comparing different online brokerages can help you find the best place to keep inherited retirement funds.

• Keep an emergency fund on hand in case you run into unexpected expenses. An emergency fund should be liquid — in an account that isn’t at risk of significant fluctuation like the stock market. The tradeoff is that the value of liquid cash can be eroded by inflation. But a high-interest account allows you to earn compound interest. Compare savings accounts from these banks.

• Are you a financial advisor looking to grow your business? SmartAsset AMP helps advisors connect with leads and offers marketing automation solutions so you can spend more time making conversions. Learn more about SmartAsset AMP.

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The post How to Calculate RMD in Year of Death appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.

Coming up: Labor Day holiday, August job numbers and earnings from Broadcom, Zscaler, Dollar Tree

Key Takeaways

• Markets will be closed for the Labor Day holiday Monday.

• While reports on job openings and private-sector hiring will set the stage earlier in the week, August jobs data will capture attention on Friday.

• This week’s technology company earnings include Broadcom, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Zscaler.

• Retailers Dollar Tree, Big Lots, and Dick’s Sporting Goods also are scheduled to report their financial results.

Markets will be closed for the Labor Day holiday on Monday. After that, investors will be focused on key labor market data, primarily the Friday release of the August jobs report.

Earnings reports this week are again led by a chipmaker, with Broadcom’s (AVGO) financials on Thursday, while Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Zscaler (ZS), and Samsara (IOT) are other noteworthy tech companies also on deck. Investors will also hear from retailers Dollar Tree (DLTR), Big Lots (BIG) and Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS).

Monday, Sept. 2

Tuesday, Sept. 3

• S&P manufacturing PMI (August)

• ISM manufacturing (August)

• Construction spending (July)

• Zscaler and GitLab (GTLB) report earnings

Wednesday, Sept. 4

• Trade deficit (July)

• Job openings (July)

• Factory orders (July)

• Federal Reserve Beige Book

• Copart (CPRT), Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Dollar Tree, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Hormel Foods (HRL) report earnings

Thursday, Sept. 5

• Initial jobless claims (Aug 31)

• ADP employment (July)

• U.S. productivity and costs (Second-quarter revisions)

• S&P services PMI (August)

• ISM services (August)

• Broadcom, Samsara, Guidewire Software (GWRE), and DocuSign (DOCU) report earnings

Friday, Sept. 6

• U.S. employment report (August)

• Final day before Federal Reserve officials’ public-speaking blackout period

• BRP (DOOO) and Big Lots report earnings

Jobs Report Gives Fed Last Look at Labor Market Before Meeting

With the focus turning to jobs, Federal Reserve officials will get one last look at the labor market when the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases August employment and wage numbers on Friday.  Last month’s report showed an unexpected jump in the unemployment rate to 4.3%, unsettling the markets and raising questions about whether the Fed missed its opportunity to cut rates at its July meeting.

Since then, jobless claims have been fairly steady and close to expectations. However unexpected movements in the data could raise more questions about how the Federal Reserve will cut rates at its Sept. 17-18 meeting. Wednesday’s job openings report, Thursday’s private-sector ADP employment report, and weekly jobless claims data will set the stage for the Friday labor report.

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Chipmaker Broadcom Leads Tech, Retail Earnings

Following the momentum from last week’s market focus on Nvidia (NVDA), another chipmaker will take the spotlight when Broadcom reports its earnings on Thursday. Nvidia slid despite a beat on its earnings, and Broadcom’s report comes after its recent 10-for-1 stock split.

Market watchers will have other tech earnings to study this week, including additional Thursday reports from Samsara, Guidewire Software, and DocuSign. Hewlett Packard Enterprise headlines Wednesday’s report schedule as the server provider looked to continue to stoke results with earnings from its artificial intelligence (AI) products. Cybersecurity provider Zscaler and software platform GitLab report on Tuesday.

A handful of value retailers are scheduled to deliver reports this week, including Dollar Tree, which is coming off a disappointing prior quarter, and Big Lots, whose report comes on the heels of talk of bankruptcy amid a decline in its home and furniture sales.

Read the original article on Investopedia.