Author: Mary Waters | Lending Agent
Key takeaways A fixed-rate mortgage carries the same interest rate and monthly payment for the life of the loan. An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) has an interest rate that changes at preset intervals, increasing or decreasing the monthly payment. The introductory interest rate on an ARM is usually lower than the rate on a fixed-rate mortgage. Fixed-rate mortgages are more popular than ARMs. Generally, ARMs are best for borrowers who plan to move or refinance prior to the end of the introductory rate period, or can afford higher monthly payments. Fixed-rate vs. adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) Fixed-rate mortgages are the go-to for…
Xcel Energy (XEL) had quite a run in 2024. While the stock finished the year up just 9%, it rallied nearly 60% from the March low to the November high — before aggressively fading to conclude 2024. That was part of a broader reset for many stocks during those final weeks last year, especially utilities. The wild turns didn’t stop there, with XEL then ripping higher once more, but then again failing to overtake that same level that it topped at last fall. Since February, though, XEL has been carving out what now looks like a potential bullish inverse-head-and-shoulders pattern. Notably, this…
Mortgage rates didn’t move much last week, but homebuyers continued to pull back amid concerns over the broader economy.Applications for a mortgage to purchase a home dropped 4% last week compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. Volume was just 3% higher than the same week one year ago, even though interest rates last year were considerably higher.The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances, $806,500 or less, decreased to 6.89% from 6.90%, with points increasing to 0.67 from 0.66, including the origination fee, for loans with a…
With bellwethers of the artificial intelligence trade down big so far in 2025, Deepwater co-founder and managing partner Gene Munster says he is at a key inflection point after years of high conviction in the AI trade. “This has made me a little nervous that I’m too bought into the power of AI,” Munster told CNBC. “It’s a test of our conviction [and] it’s something that if you get it wrong, people will ask ‘how on earth did you get that one wrong?’ Shares of chipmaker Nvidia have plummeted more than 20% in 2025. Microsoft, which is a key investor…
The U.S. economy contracted in the first quarter of 2025, thanks in part to a massive increase in imports as retailers tried to get ahead of looming tariffs on foreign goods. The U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), which is the total of all goods and services produced in the U.S., was down at an annualized rate of 0.3% in the first quarter, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The GDP for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 2.4%. The GDP news was part of a flurry of economic data released Wednesday morning that offered a contradictory view…
Homebuyers seized the opportunity to lock in lower interest rates last month, with pending home sales leaping 6.1%. It was the largest month-over-month increase since December 2023, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). “Homebuyers are acutely sensitive to even minor fluctuations in mortgage rates,” NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun stated. “While contract signings are not a guarantee of eventual closings, the solid rise in pending home sales implies a sizable buildup of potential homebuyers, fueled by ongoing job growth.” Fixed-rate mortgages with a 30-year term hovered in the range of 6.63% to 6.67% in March…
Hispanolistic/Getty Images: Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways Millennials continue to believe that owning a home is a key part of the American Dream. This demographic of buyers faces several hurdles to homeownership, including steep home prices, limited inventory and high interest rates. Millennials tend to purchase larger homes than other generations of homebuyers. Millennials are the largest generation in the U.S. This massive demographic was poised to reshape the housing market, but that hasn’t quite happened in the way we might’ve expected. While millennials value homeownership, high costs have hampered their ability to buy. Here are the latest statistics…
All of the upside potential from artificial intelligence demand for Nvidia may already be priced into the stock, according to Seaport Research Partners. The firm initiated research coverage of the market bellwether and AI darling with a rare sell rating on Wednesday, alongside a $100 per share price target. Seaport’s forecast implies more than 8% downside from Tuesday’s $109.02 close. Shares have pulled back more than 21% in 2025, and are almost 31% below the January all-time high, a stark contrast to the massive runup Nvidia saw in the heyday of the AI boom. Jensen Huang’s company soared 239% in…
As the market continues to stabilize, it is creating a favorable backdrop for tech stocks like Zoom, which have been under pressure but are now showing signs of recovery. Zoom’s aggressive push into AI, highlighted by the rapid adoption of AI Companion 2.0, alongside strong enterprise growth and an attractive valuation, positions it as a compelling opportunity for a rally. With the stock exhibiting signs of a bearish to bullish trend reversal, this is an optimal setup to add bullish exposure. Trade Timing The timing for adding bullish exposure to ZM is ideal, as the stock has recently broken above…
Goldman Sachs is sticking with its buy rating for Brinker International , despite investors dumping the stock after its fiscal third-quarter earnings report on Tuesday. Brinker International, which owns chains such as Chili’s and Maggiano’s Little Italy, reported fiscal third-quarter adjusted earnings of $2.66 per share on revenue of $1.43 billion. This exceeded the profit of $2.56 per share on revenue of $1.38 billion that analysts polled by FactSet had expected. The company also raised its full-year revenue guidance versus its previous outlook. However, investors still sent the stock down 15% on Tuesday, as some viewed the growth as unsustainable.…