CEO Watchlist: Week In Review (7/27/25)

TOP NEWS AFFECTING THE STOCK MARKET THIS WEEK:

Earnings Season Most Pivitol Week Is Here: Top 5 Stocks We're Watching! (Source)

Stocks mentioned: $GOOG, $TSLA, $META, $MSFT, $AMZN, $AAPL, $V, $MA, $TOST, $CDNS, $VRT, $HOOD, $LRCX, $COIN, $NET

This next week of earnings is going to be the most important week for the entire stock market! We have ~33% of stocks in the S&P500 reporting this week. But before we dive into the stocks that we are watching for this week, we need to acknoweldge what happened with two of the biggest companies in the world from last week: Google (GOOG) and Tesla (TSLA). Google beat their earnings by a landslide and the stock soared, while Tesla cratered -10% as margin pressures and slowing deliveries resurfaced.

We have been living in a world of two very different narratives. Google, a stock that has incredible fundamentals and growth, but the narrative is that the company is dying. Tesla on the other hand, has weakening fundamentals and slowing growth, but the narrative is extremely positive for their future with robotics and full self driving. This quarter may just be the turning point where the fundamentals start to matter again. It's impossible to ignore Google's 32% growth in cloud, as well as their double-digit growth in search, AKA "their dying business". On the other hand, you have Tesla, whose revenue was down by -11%, automobile segment was down -16%, and their energy/storage segment was down over -7%. In addition to that, Elon Musk warned shareholders there would be, "a few rough quarters" ahead. Clearly, both of the stock's price movements reflected a change in market sentiment. Google may not be this dying business and maybe everything Elon touches isn't going to turn to gold tomorrow (but it may in upcoming years). As we mentioned in our newsletter last week, "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." In that same newsletter, we had this to say about Tesla, "We have mixed feelings about Tesla...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." With both stock earning reports out of the way, we like Google even more and have actually added to our positions this week. As for Tesla, we still believe it is going to be a long term winner in robotics and full self driving (FSD), but there is too much short-term risk in this name and that's not just us saying it, it's coming straight from Elon Musk's own words, as mentioned above.

Enough about Google and Tesla because this coming week will be one of the most pivotal of the quarter. We’re not just seeing earnings; we’re witnessing narrative reshaping. Several names are sitting at inflection points:

Meta Platforms (META) – After a stellar run in 2024, the market expects both AI monetization progress and signs of user stability in core apps. We believe Meta will have a very strong quarter, as they are the leading company that has been able to monetize AI. Because Meta and Google are in similar industires with their ad businesses, if Meta's report is anything like Google's, we expect an easy double beat this earnings season.

Microsoft (MSFT) – With its Azure business under scrutiny and OpenAI integrations under pressure, MSFT must prove it can turn AI enthusiasm into enterprise cash flow. Similar to Meta, we believe Microsoft will continue to capitalize on AI and their stranglehold on their investment in Open AI. This is why we believe Microsoft will have a very strong quarter and post a double beat as well.

Amazon (AMZN) – With cloud growing in Google's earnings report, we expect Amazon's cloud (AWS) to grow as well. As for consumer spending, we do know that Prime Day was a little weaker than normal, but Amazon has given us no hints that the consumer is weak here. Despite concerns over tariffs, Amazon has come out and said that tariffs haven't affected them like many think it has. So, we believe this quarter will be Amazon's way to prove themselves to the market. Whether they beat or miss earnings, we believe it's a tough call to make and a toss-up depending on too many unknown factors. We love Amazon long-term, but short-term they need to prove themselves here or we could see the stock pull back.

Apple (AAPL) – As iPhone sales plateau and regulatory risks rise, Apple must signal a credible path forward in services and AI-driven hardware upgrades. This quarter could reset or reinforce its growth narrative. One thing to note is that Apple is one of the few big tech names that is down almost -20% from its all time high. This does give it some wiggle room to the upside, even if it only has a decent quarter, especially because we expect Apple to announce a buyback of their shares (buyback = bullish). Apple's slowing growth concerns us, but we will be keeping a close eye on this one for potential entry post-earnings report.

Visa (V) / Mastercard (MA) – Often overlooked during tech earnings, Visa / Mastercard provide a read on global consumer strength, cross-border spending, and fintech disruption. Strong results here would affirm the health of the transaction economy as well as confirmation that the stock market can move higher into the end of the year (more consumer spending = bullish). We like both of these names as they act as a duopoly in the payment space, but like we mentioned in last week's newsletter, we look for stocks with a little bit more risk and higher potential growth which is why our investment, in fintech, has been in Toast (TOST).

These are the 5, technically 6, biggest stocks we are watching this week but don't get us wrong, there are many others we are interested in and believe will have a very strong earning reports. Some of these include: Cadence (CDNS), Vertiv (VRT), Robinhood (HOOD), Lam Research (LRCX), Coinbase (COIN), and Cloudflare (NET). More important than these names just beating on revenue and earnings per share (EPS), is the forward guidance these companies give on the earning calls. People always seem to miss this point and are confused when a stock beats on earnings but drops in stock price. Normally that is because the guidance given on the call was bad, which signals the next 3 months will be a rough patch for the stock. This earnings season, make sure to pay attention to what the forward guidance is for all the companies you're watching, otherwise you may be blindsided with a big up or down move.
Meme Stock Mania Is Back! What This Means For Your Portfolio! (Source)

Stocks mentioned: $DNUT, $GPRO, $OPEN, $NVDA, $MSFT, $KSS, $RKT, $ABAT
The meme stock surge isn’t just entertainment, it’s a signal. With Krispy Kreme (DNUT), GoPro (GPRO), and Opendoor Technologies (OPEN) posting massive short-term gains, it’s clear that retail traders are re-entering the riskiest corners of the market. While some see this as irrational speculation, others view it as a natural rotation into underappreciated assets. Either way, when meme stocks start moving, it often marks a turning point, not just for those tickers, but for the broader market itself.

Historically, meme mania doesn’t start in a vacuum. It usually begins when large-cap growth names are already fully priced. And that’s exactly what we’re seeing now. Big names like Nvidia (NVDA) and Microsoft (MSFT) have delivered massive runs, leaving little room for further multiple expansion without near-perfect execution. As a result, retail attention is drifting elsewhere. Attention is shifting to lower-priced, high-beta (high volatility) plays with potential for oversized returns and at the same time higher risk. This behavior suggests that the market may be entering a late-cycle phase, where capital starts rotating into speculative trades not because of their fundamentals, but because they still have room to run.

Here are a few stocks currently riding this momentum wave:

Krispy Kreme (DNUT): A consumer-facing brand experiencing renewed retail interest amid short interest and brand recognition.

GoPro (GPRO): An action-camera maker trading well below previous highs, now seeing social media buzz and short-squeeze potential, causing it to go higher.

Opendoor Technologies (OPEN): A real estate tech company with volatile fundamentals, but high trading volumes and community attention.

Kohl’s (KSS): A department store chain with activist investor interest and meme-style trading volume, despite mixed earnings.

Rocket Companies (RKT): A mortgage tech platform that’s become a frequent mention among retail forums for its volatility and option activity.

None of these names are guaranteed winners moving forward, but that’s not the point. The resurgence in meme stocks opens the door for short-term trading strategies with proper risk management. Traders can take advantage of volatility by setting stop-losses, limiting position size, and locking in gains quickly. It’s less about believing in the story and more about understanding the setup. For long-term investors, that might not fit their framework, but for short-term traders (day/swing/option traders), these moments present a different kind of opportunity.

These are the exact opportunities we have been able to find, in the CEO Watchlist Investment Club with our club members. We’ve been able to stay ahead by tracking unusual activity from some of the most powerful organizations in the world. Our Investment Club members have learned how to filter winning meme stocks from the duds, like our American Battery Technology (ABAT) trade (screenshot below), which followed BlackRock’s activity and returned over 75% in just one day, this past week! And that’s just one example. We're currently eyeing three new meme stocks for next week! If you're already a member, [CLICK HERE to log in] and see exactly which stocks we’re watching. If you’re not a member yet, we know meme stocks can be tricky, which is exactly why we break everything down in simple terms. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your edge, we’ll show you how we approach the market and share the specific positions we’re holding in real time. If the return of meme stock mania has you wondering whether now’s the time to get serious, we’d love to help you take that next step. Right now, you can join the Investment Club for $200 off. You’ll get access to all our meme stock purchases, a breakdown of our full trading strategy, real-time stock/options trades, and the exact system that’s helped so many members level up fast. But don’t wait [CLICK HERE to claim your spot now] before this offer expires.
Ask ChatGPT,
Stock Spotlight: This Legacy Growth Stock May Be Poised For A Sharp Bounce Higher! (Source)

Stocks mentioned: $UNH

UnitedHealth Group ($UNH) is back in the headlines this week, but for all the wrong reasons...again. News broke that the company is officially cooperating with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in a probe over Medicare Advantage billing. Shares dipped on the report, as expected. But here’s the twist: this isn’t new information. The DOJ’s involvement has been known since at least April. What changed? Nothing, except the media cycle. And yet, the market’s reaction was swift, as if rediscovering old news somehow created new risk. That’s the mispricing we’re zeroing in on. Long-term investors should be paying less attention to recycled headlines and more attention to who’s quietly buying into the panic: UnitedHealth insiders and members of Congress.

Let’s set the stage. UNH stock is down more than 50% from its all-time highs, dragged lower by a cascade of headlines: the ransomware fallout from its Change Healthcare acquisition, regulatory heat on Medicare Advantage billing, and now the DOJ’s formal probe. But beneath the noise, the machine is still running. Optum, UnitedHealth’s high-margin data and services arm, is expanding, but most importantly, those closest to the action are buying. Since the selloff began, UnitedHealth executives have been purchasing shares in bulk. According to Form 4 filings, insider buying has ramped up, often a strong indicator of long-term confidence. In addition to that, recent congressional disclosures shows heavy accumulation of UNH shares by politicians that sit on key healthcare and financial services committees that make the laws surrounding these healthcare stocks. Who knows what Unitedhealth is going through more than the insiders within the company, and the politicians shaping the laws around it? In our opinion...no one!

This creates a powerful thesis heading into this week’s earnings. If UnitedHealth signals operational stability or outlines a timeline for DOJ resolution, the stock could re-rate sharply higher. A surprise beat or optimistic guidance would act as a catalyst. And because the DOJ situation is now fully priced in, or even over-discounted, any forward-looking clarity could flip sentiment fast. With Medicare Advantage enrollment still structurally rising and Optum’s flywheel spinning, UNH is positioned to outperform the broader market once the legal fog clears. The DOJ probe is a bottleneck, but bottlenecks don’t last forever. They just create pressure. Once it’s released, the rebound can be violent.

Skeptics will point out that regulatory probes can drag on, that Medicare Advantage remains a political target, and that healthcare margins are under threat. That’s fair. But in every cycle, quality wins out. UnitedHealth isn’t a speculative biotech stock, it’s a dominant, vertically integrated healthcare platform with scale, data, and infrastructure advantages no competitor can replicate. The more the market punishes the stock for headline risk, the more attractive the entry becomes. As volatility rises, conviction matters. And right now, the conviction from insiders and lawmakers alike is hard to ignore.

The bottom line: $UNH is being mispriced due to headline fatigue. Investors are reacting emotionally to old news, while insiders and congress members are making cold, calculated moves. They're buying up the stock like there is no tomorrow. In the past few months alone, they bought up over $30 million worth of stock, which can be seen in the screenshots below. Most of the buys have been between $280-$300 per share. Currently the stock is trading at $281.06 as of 7/25/25. This means if you purchase the stock today, you're getting in below what most of the insiders and politicians paid for it. As for this week’s earnings, they could mark a turn-around point for the stock if we get some positive news on the earnings call. For those willing to look through the noise, UnitedHealth offers asymmetric upside with structural tailwinds still intact. In a market increasingly driven by perception, this is a rare case where reality and the people closest to it are signaling something very different. The opportunity isn’t just to own UNH. It’s to own the rebound narrative before it becomes consensus.

INSIDER TRADES FROM THE WEEK:

1. Progress Software (PRGS) - Yogesh Gupta, CEO, bought ~$100,000 of PRGS stock on July 23, 2025, but it was reported to the public on July 24, 2025. (Source)

2. Simmons First National (SFNC) - George Makris, CEO, bought ~$840,000 of SFNC stock on July 23, 2025, but it was reported to the public on July 24, 2025. (Source)

3. Tamboran Resources (TBN) - Bryan Sheffield, director, bought ~$800,000 million worth of TBN stock on July 22, 2025, but it was most recently reported to the public on July 24, 2025. (Source)

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