February 3, 2026 10:56 AM EST
Walmart hits $1 trillion valuation
Just moments ago
A new player has officially entered the trillion-dollar arena.
Walmart (WMT) saw a 2% jump in its stock price on Tuesday, elevating its market cap beyond the impressive $1 trillion mark.
Throughout 2026, Walmart shares have appreciated nearly 14%, with a significant part of that growth occurring in the last year as the company targets higher-income demographics.
This week also marked a leadership change, with John Farner stepping in as CEO, taking over from Doug McMillon, who retired in November.
Eli Lilly (LLY), with a market cap close to Walmart’s at $935 billion, is scheduled to release its quarterly earnings on Wednesday.
February 3, 2026 09:47 AM EST
Palantir’s earnings impress investors, driving up stock prices
An hour and 40 minutes ago
Palantir appears to be gearing up for a comeback.
Shares of the AI-based software firm surged 6.5% in early trading, countering a three-month slump. Palantir (PLTR) stock has now neared $159, significantly reducing this year’s losses. It had closed 2025 at just below $178 per share.
The company’s optimistic revenue projections and quarterly performance released last night exceeded expectations, catapulting the stock higher. CEO Alex Karp’s boastful letter also provided a reassuring signal that software companies could thrive alongside AI concerns—though this is not a universally held view.
February 3, 2026 8:58 AM EST
Disney selects D’Amaro as new CEO, succeeding Iger
Two hours and 28 minutes ago
The Walt Disney Company (DIS) has appointed Josh D’Amaro as the new CEO, succeeding longtime head Bob Iger.
On Tuesday morning, the entertainment giant announced D’Amaro, who previously served as chairman of Disney Experience, would officially take over at the company’s annual meeting set for March 18.
Reportedly, D’Amaro was the front-runner to succeed Iger, who is planning to step down by year’s end when his contract concludes.
During an earnings call earlier this week, Iger noted that while he hasn’t disclosed a successor until now, the company has positioned itself for significant opportunities ahead.
Despite announcing better-than-expected results, Disney shares dropped 7.4% on Monday, but perked up by 1% during pre-market trading following the news about the CEO transition.
February 3, 2026 8:37 AM EST
Key considerations for keeping money in a savings account
Two hours and 49 minutes ago
Having funds in a savings account can provide comfort, but this safety may come with hidden costs. Inflation and rising living expenses mean that accounts yielding less than 2% or 3% steadily lose purchasing power. Currently, the national average savings rate is only 0.39% (APY) at the start of 2026, suggesting that your money could be losing value each month.
Saving effectively is crucial for financial stability, but how one saves is also vital. Here, we’ll evaluate both the benefits and potential drawbacks of maintaining funds in a savings account while exploring smarter options that might be more advantageous.
Traditional savings accounts excel in two areas: immediate access and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) coverage, safeguarding up to $250,000 per depositor.
However, the trade-off is opportunity cost. If you save $10,000 for a year at 0.50%, you’d only earn $50 in interest (before taxes). If inflation averaged 2.5% that year, your real purchasing power would diminish by over $1,200. You might mitigate market risks, but your savings could quietly lose value over time.
February 3, 2026 08:01 AM EST
Why are some savings accounts still at 5% despite Fed rate cuts?
Three hours and 25 minutes ago
After the Federal Reserve enacted three interest rate cuts last fall, the highest rates on savings accounts have remained steady. They hit 5.00% before the first cut in September and haven’t budged despite further reductions in October and December bringing rates down by a total of 0.75 percentage points.
Nonetheless, the wider savings market isn’t unaffected by Federal Reserve moves. Nowadays, the best high-yield savings accounts show a gradual decline in rankings. Currently, the tenth offering has a 4.20%, while the fifteenth highest rate touches 4.02%.
A few months back, mid-tier savings accounts had higher returns. Back in early September, before the first cut, the tenth-best account yielded 4.40% and the fifteenth 4.31%. Now, while lesser rates have declined, the top rate remains solid at 5.00%.
February 3, 2026 07:28 AM EST
The Great Wealth Transfer: Inheriting a Home Might Not Equal Wealth
Three hours and 58 minutes ago
When a family member passes, the expectation of an inheritance often arises, be it jewelry, assets, or a house.
While inheriting a home can certainly feel like a boon, it can also introduce hidden challenges. Many Americans are likely to encounter this scenario soon as a significant wealth transfer is underway.
Over the next couple of decades, a staggering $124 trillion is anticipated to change hands, primarily going to heirs, according to Cerulli Associates.
With this transfer on the horizon, many individuals may eventually need to relinquish their family homes.
A Freddie Mac survey conducted in late 2024 showed that around three-quarters of baby boomer homeowners plan to either leave their homes or leave the proceeds from the home sales to their descendants.
February 3, 2026 07:06 AM EST
Will new CEOs at Walmart and Target opt for continuity or transformation?
Four hours and 20 minutes ago
Two major retailers, Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT), recently appointed new CEOs on Sunday, each facing distinct challenges. At Target, Michael Fidelke aims to halt investor exodus and revive dwindling sales, while Walmart’s John Farner focuses on maintaining customer growth and investor satisfaction.
According to Oliver Chen, senior equity research analyst at TD Cowen, “They’re actually at very different crossroads. Target needs to reinvent. Walmart needs to keep going.”
Fidelke steps into a precarious situation at Target, which has seen sales decline year-over-year for the past four quarters. Consumers are tightening their spending on non-essential items, coupled with some of Target’s merchandising strategies faltering. The company was also slow on the uptake of a competitive delivery system, which has drawn customers to rival retailers.
February 3, 2026 6:39 AM EST
Stock futures mostly up as Palantir leads the tech sector
Four hours and 47 minutes ago
Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped by 0.1%.
Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures edged up 0.1%.
Nasdaq 100 futures, however, gained 0.4%.
