CEO Watchlist: Week In Review (7/20/25)

TOP NEWS AFFECTING THE STOCK MARKET THIS WEEK:

Earnings Season Is Here: 5 Must Watch Stocks For This Week! (Source)

Stocks mentioned: $ASML, $TSM, $PEP, $NFLX, $GOOG, $NOW, $NEE, $TSLA, $ISRG
Earnings season is off to an explosive start! We just had our first big batch of earnings ranging from consumer names to big tech companies and even some major international stocks. Two major international stocks that reported were ASML (ASML) and Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM). Both had explosive moves, but in opposite directions. While ASML beat earnings on the top and bottom line, they held back their 2026 guidance due to uncertainty with tariffs. This caused the stock to drop over 10%, while a company like TSM, who also reported a double beat, was able to jump up by 4%. It seems like this is going to be another volatile earnings season!

It wasn't just the international tech stocks that had large moves. It was also "the boring stocks" like Pepsi (PEP). Pepsi, which was down over 30% from its all time high, finally had a little life pumped back into the stock price with a double beat on their revenue and earnings per share (EPS). This double beat caused Pepsi to jump up by over 7%, its best day since March of 2020, where it posted a 6.9% gain in a single day! Even after this big jump in price, Pepsi is still down 25% from its all time high, and may be a buying opportunity, not just for its potential upside, but also because it pays you a hefty 4.3% dividend!

The last stock we want to touch on from last week's earnings is Netflix (NFLX), which had a great quarter, but the market decided to sell it off by over 5%. We didn't find anything bad in the report, the only issue we have with Netflix is its valuation and how quickly it has moved up in stock price. Just for reference, in the past year alone, it was up over 100% from its lows to its highs! In addition, Netflix announced some very interesting news...they used generative AI in one of their shows for the first time! For us at CEO Watchlist, this is extremely bullish because this opens the door for companies like Netflix to cut costs dramatically thanks to this new technology. Imagine instead of having to fly out to Iceland to shoot a scene for one of your shows or movies, you just have generative AI make the scene for you. The amount of captial the company is going to save is going to be enormous! Also, the amount of content they will be able to put out will increase due to the simplicity of not having to fly, film, and edit all this content together. Instead, you have one guy sitting at a computer, typing in a prompt, and BOOM! Just like that, you have an entire scene ready to go at a fraction of the cost! We are very excited about this news, and that is why we believe Netflix will be able to outperform the S&P500 over the coming years.

Looking ahead, next week offers an even bigger proving ground for the market. Key names to watch include:

Alphabet (GOOG) – Needs to demonstrate how AI tools are translating into meaningful gains across Search, YouTube, and Google Cloud. Google has been under pressure from claims that search is dying, but we believe that search isn't dying, it's just evolving and Google's Gemini will help them lead the way into this new age of search. Google is one of our favorite stocks in the market today, based on our implied risk-reward ratio.

ServiceNow (NOW) – For ServiceNow’s earnings, watch for signs of strong AI adoption, especially growth in "Now Assist", and any updates on large customer wins or expansion deals. Also keep an eye on remaining performance obligations (RPO) and renewal rates, which show long-term demand and customer stickiness. Last quarter, the stock reported an incredible earnings and if it can do it again, we wouldn't be surprised if it jumped up to $1100/share.

NextEra Energy (NEE) – For NextEra Energy's upcoming earnings, we are focusing on how production from renewables, especially new solar, wind, and battery storage capacity, is trending, alongside project backlog volume and cost dynamics in the NextEra Energy Resources (NEER) segment. Also key: updates on large-scale data center power deals and progress on nuclear/battery/storage projects, which signal long-term demand and execution momentum

Tesla (TSLA) – For Tesla's earnings, we have noticed in the past that the revenue and EPS tends to not matter as much as what Elon says during the earnings call. We will be focused on forward guidance and what Elon has to say about RoboTaxi's and Optimus (their robotics division). Just this past week, Trump imposed a 94% tariff on Chinese battery materials, which directly impacts electric vehicles, especially Tesla. Did Trump impose these tariffs due to his fued with Musk? We don't know Trump's reasonings, all we know is that these tariffs are extremely bad for Tesla and we hope Elon addresses them on the call. We have mixed feelings about Tesla. The good: they're focusing on all the sectors we like such as AI, robotics, and full self driving vehicles. The bad: The CEO is in a fued with the president, the stock has a crazy high valuation, and Tesla sales and revenue have been falling. For those reasons, this is a stock we have sidelined, but we are watching closely.

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) – With AI-assisted robotic surgery still gaining traction, ISRG’s update on procedure volumes and international expansion will be a key litmus test for med-tech innovation. We like this name and will be looking to add it to our portfolios, depending on how the earnings play out.

What we’re witnessing isn’t just another earnings cycle, it’s a "make it or break it" point for a lot of these key stocks. The market is at all time highs and companies need to prove they deserve higher valuations. Either companies are going to rise to the occasion and break out higher, or they're going to fall to the mounting pressure of tariffs and competition. This is the most competitive landscape we have seen in a long time and this earnings season should be one of a lot of opportunity.
Crypto Regulation Just Flipped: Why the GENIUS Act Could Spark the Next Crypto Bull Run! (Source)

Stocks mentioned: $BMNR, $COIN, $SI, $HOOD, $XYZ

For years, crypto has been framed as a threat to banks, to regulators, and even to national security. But with the stroke of a pen, that narrative just changed. The GENIUS Act (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act), a surprise bipartisan bill signed into law this week, not only clears the regulatory path for blockchain innovation, but actively incentivizes investment in decentralized networks, crypto-native payments, and Web3 infrastructure. Framed as a competitiveness bill in the race against China, it also marks the most pro-crypto legislation in U.S. history.

The GENIUS Act directs federal agencies to prioritize blockchain-based financial technologies for infrastructure modernization, greenlights token-based settlement pilots across treasury systems, and opens the door to SEC-regulated crypto ETFs beyond just Bitcoin. It also includes targeted tax credits for companies using blockchain to secure supply chains, verify identities, and facilitate cross-border trade. Translation: the U.S. government is officially legitimizing, and subsidizing, crypto rails. This isn’t just bullish for Bitcoin. It’s a greenlight for the entire public market crypto ecosystem.

More importantly, the timing may be ideal. According to data from Carson Research, the second half of July tends to be volatile and directionless for U.S. equities, a “choppy zone”, often marked by lower institutional participation and increased uncertainty. That creates fertile ground for a rotation trade. Investors seeking asymmetry may look beyond traditional equities into crypto and crypto-correlated stocks; particularly those with exposure to trading volumes, token custody, or blockchain infrastructure. The setup is almost too perfect: declining equity momentum, improving legislative clarity, and an early entry point into an asset class most funds remain underweight.

Here are five publicly traded names positioned to benefit directly from this shift:
- Coinbase (COIN) – The most direct crypto equity play. As the only publicly traded crypto exchange in the U.S., Coinbase benefits from increased trading volumes, wallet usage, and regulatory clarity. The GENIUS Act potentially paves the way for tokenized treasury markets, all of which could run through COIN infrastructure.
- Robinhood (HOOD) – Often overlooked, Robinhood has quietly become one of the largest crypto custodians for retail traders. With their recent acquisition of Bitstamp, they’re doubling down on crypto trading just as government policy flips in their favor. One other tailwind for Robinhood is that it hasn't been added to the S&P 500 yet. We believe it is one of the next prime candidates to be added, which we would expect the stock price to jump on that announcement.
- Bitmine Immersion Tech (BMNR) – BMNR is a blockchain technology company that operates large scale, immersion‑cooled Bitcoin mining facilities, offers hosting and mining as a service, and maintains significant Bitcoin and Ethereum treasuries through self-mining and asset strategies. Naturally as pro-crypto legislation is passed, companies that hold large amounts of bitcoin and ethereum will see an increase in their stock price, relative to the increase in crypto.
- Block Inc. (XYZ) – Jack Dorsey’s payment firm continues to push Bitcoin-based settlement infrastructure. XYZ could see long-term benefit if stablecoin and BTC-based rails become compliant pathways for business to business (B2B) and cross-border transfers under the new regulatory regime. One other benefit for XYZ is it was just added to the S&P 500 on Friday, which caused the stock price to jump over 8% in the after-hours.
- Marathon Digital (MARA) – As one of the largest Bitcoin miners in the U.S., Marathon stands to benefit from increasing institutional exposure to digital assets and a potential rise in BTC demand driven by government sanctioned use cases.
Of course, there’s pushback. Critics argue the GENIUS Act opens the door to further volatility and regulatory arbitrage, and that backing crypto infrastructure may come at the cost of regulatory oversight. But markets don’t wait for philosophical consensus, they move on incentives and momentum. And right now, both are pointing in crypto’s direction. The GENIUS Act is more than a policy win, it’s a signal that the U.S. is no longer on the sidelines in the digital asset arms race. With equities entering a historically weak seasonal window, the asymmetry has shifted. The future isn’t just decentralized, it may also be one of the best risk-adjusted trades left in 2025.

If you're an Investment Club member, CLICK HERE to log in and see what crypto stocks and individual cryptocurrencies we currently are buying before the next bull run! If you're not an Investment Club member, we know that crypto can still feel like a mystery to a lot of people and that’s exactly why we educate our members on it. Whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your understanding, we break things down simply, show you exactly how we’re approaching the market, and give you access to the specific crypto positions we’re currently holding. If the GENIUS Act has you wondering whether now’s the time to finally learn how crypto fits into your portfolio, we’d love to help you take that next step. Don't waste any more time, we’re giving you $200 off our Investment Club membership! In addition to gaining access to the cryptos we own, you will also get: full access to our proven strategies, real-time stock and options trades, and the exact system that’s helped so many of our members level up fast. But this deal ends soon, so [CLICK HERE to claim your spot now] before it disappears.

Stock Spotlight: This Stock Is Up Over 70% In The Past Year And We Think It Has A Lot More Room To Run! (Source)

Stocks mentioned: $TOST, $XYZ, $FI, $SHOP, $AMZN

The stock we want to highlight today is Toast (TOST). Toast is not just another point-of-sale (POS) system, it’s a vertically integrated software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform purpose-built for the restaurant industry. In a fragmented ~$1 Trillion U.S. restaurant market, where most still rely on outdated legacy systems or general-purpose providers like Block (XYZ) owned Square and Clover (FI), Toast offers a cloud-native, all-in-one platform that combines payments, operations, marketing, and payroll into one intuitive system. This vertical focus allows Toast to provide unmatched product depth, faster innovation cycles, and better customer retention in one of the most operationally intense sectors in the economy. While the stock is up over 70% in the past year, we believe Toast is still in the early innings of its growth story and over the next few years, it has the potential to materially outperform the S&P 500.

What sets Toast apart is its ability to serve the massive base of small and mid-sized restaurants that have historically been overlooked by larger software providers. While Square is optimized for general retail and Clover focuses on merchant processing, Toast is designed for the complex workflows of food service, whether it’s tableside ordering, tip pooling, or kitchen display systems. Toast’s "land-and-expand" strategy has proven effective: starting with POS and expanding into financial services, scheduling, and customer engagement. Its gross retention rate is among the highest in SaaS, and the monetization of add-on modules is just beginning to scale. Moreover, Toast’s unique take-rate on payments gives it leverage as restaurants process more revenue over time, creating a powerful flywheel effect.

Zooming out, the macro picture only strengthens Toast’s long-term position. Rising labor costs, higher food inflation, and ongoing staff shortages are forcing restaurants to automate, streamline, and digitize. According to the National Restaurant Association, nearly 50% of operators plan to increase tech investments in 2025, and Toast is well-positioned to capture this capital. More importantly, the continued shift toward mobile ordering, QR menus, and digital payments accelerated by COVID but now cemented in consumer behavior means restaurants can no longer afford to operate without a unified digital infrastructure. Policy trends such as increased reporting requirements for tips and wage transparency also boost demand for cloud-based compliance tools, an area where Toast excels. These tailwinds aren’t temporary, they represent a permanent reshaping of the restaurant value chain, and Toast is building the digital backbone of that transformation.

We acknowledge that some investors may view Toast’s valuation, trading at a premium to legacy processors, as expensive, especially in a higher interest rate environment. But, as the saying goes, "the best things in life aren't free" and they're definitely not cheap. The concept that it's expensive fails to appreciate the structural nature of Toast’s growth, which is not purely a function of top-line expansion but of compounding platform economics. As restaurants mature on Toast’s ecosystem, revenue per location rises steadily through cross-sell, increased payment volume, and value-added services. This dynamic mirrors the early days of Shopify (SHOP) or Amazon (AMZN). Two companies that looked expensive on a backward-looking basis, but proved to be generational compounders. Simply put, we believe Toast has just entered its profitability phase, and we’re still early in the market re-rating. Investors waiting for multiple quarters of profits to feel "safe" may miss the opportunity because Toast’s operating leverage is already kicking in, and this is when SaaS re-ratings tend to accelerate.

In conclusion, Toast is no longer just a POS vendor, it’s becoming the operating system for the modern restaurant. The shift toward digitization in hospitality is inevitable, and Toast has emerged as the category leader in a space ripe for disruption. With a strong product moat, expanding monetization avenues, and macro tailwinds at its back, Toast represents a rare opportunity: a vertical SaaS company with platform potential in an under-digitized market. Despite its recent run-up, the market continues to underprice the inevitability of Toast’s dominance. We believe the next few years will reward early conviction and this may be one of the best opportunities in the payment space currently for those with a higher risk tolerance.

INSIDER TRADES FROM THE WEEK:

1. Helen Of Troy (HELE) - Brian Grass, CEO, bought ~$200,000 of HELE stock on July 15, 2025, but it was reported to the public on July 18, 2025. (Source)

2. Crispr (CRSP) - George Simeon, director, bought ~$51 million of CRSP stock on July 16, 2025, but it was reported to the public on July 17, 2025. (Source)

3. Newegg Commerce (NEGG) - Vladimir Galkin, director, bought ~$21 million worth of NEGG stock between July 8-17, 2025, but it was most recently reported to the public on July 18, 2025. (Source)

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