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Stem Cell Stocks: 10 Biggest NASDAQ Companies in 2025

Investing 9 Mins Read

Stem cell research and regenerative medicine are growing markets in the life science sector, and the top stem cell companies are working hard to make advancements that can help patients.

Stem cells serve as an internal repair system in the body. They can divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the body is still alive. Unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of promise for medical advancements, and there are already stem cell treatments approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Still, there is a lot of room for further advancements, and plenty of lab work still needs to be done before stem cell products can be used as cell-based therapies or regenerative medicines.

A report from Grand View Research projects that the global stem cell market will reach US$28.89 billion by 2030. The research firm sees “the rising number of stem cell banks, growing focus on increasing therapeutic potential of these, and extensive research for the development of regenerative medicines” as drivers of this market. The stem cell market and the value of regenerative medicine stocks is expected to grow further via increased government funding for cancer research and the development of cellular therapies to treat various cancers.

Grand View Research reports that in 2024 the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies segment captured the largest revenue share for the stem cell therapy market at 54.19 percent.

1. AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN)

Company Profile

Market cap: US$228.3 billion

First on this list of the top NASDAQ stem cell company stocks is multinational pharma and biotech firm AstraZeneca, which also specializes in other therapeutic areas, including oncology, cardiovascular diseases, the respiratory and central nervous systems and pain control.

While it may be the largest company on this list by market cap, the pharma giant has been slower than its peers in staking a position in the cell therapy market. Its particular focus in oncology is the treatment of solid tumors. The company is also looking at stem cell therapies to treat life-threatening chronic kidney disease and liver disease.

AstraZeneca acquired biotech firm Neogene Therapeutics in 2023, bringing the company’s expertise on T-cell receptor therapies into AstraZeneca’s fold.

Its long-term strategy in this area is to develop ‘off-the-shelf’ allogenic CAR-T therapies to increase the availability and accessibility of the treatments.

2. Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN)

Company Profile

Market cap: US$160.05 billion

A global leader in biotech, Amgen is heavily invested in gene-based research and uses advanced human genetics to develop and manufacture therapeutics targeting a variety of diseases with unmet medical needs.

The biotech firm has a multi-year fund agreement with Canada’s Center for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM), which specializes in developing and commercializing regenerative medicine-based technologies and cell and gene therapies. Under the multi-year agreement, both CCRM and Amgen will fund early stage regenerative medicine-based technologies and therapies with research conducted in institutions that are part of CCRM’s global network.

In May 2024, the US FDA approved Amgen’s Imdelltra for the treatment of adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, making the drug the first and only T-cell engager therapy available for treating this condition. The therapy activates the patient’s own T cells to attack particular tumor cells.

3. Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD)

Company Profile

Market cap: US$137.13 billion

Global biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences specializes in developing breakthrough medicines to prevent and treat serious diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis and cancer.

One of the stem cell therapies in its product portfolio is Yescarta, a CAR-T cell therapy for blood cancer and the first such therapy for certain types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Yescarta aids a patient’s immune system in fighting the disease. Gilead currently has at least eight cell therapy candidates in its product pipeline, including three in Phase 3 clinical studies targeting high-risk lymphomas and myeloma.

4. Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY)

Company Profile

Market cap: US$134.81 billion

French multinational pharmaceutical company Sanofi develops therapeutic products for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, oncology, immunology, multiple sclerosis, rare diseases, rare blood disorders and vaccines. Its product portfolio includes Mozobil, a hematopoietic stem cell mobilizer that helps bone marrow release stem cells into the bloodstream for transplant into the body.

In 2021, the firm bolstered its regenerative medicine business through the US$1.9 billion acquisition of Kadmon, adding FDA-approved stem cell transplant product Rezurock to its portfolio. Sanofi has since partnered with privately held biotech company Scribe Therapeutics to develop CRISPR-based cell therapies targeting cancers.

The company also has a licensing agreement with Innate Pharma (NASDAQ:IPHA) as the two companies collaborate on developing natural killer cell therapeutics in oncology. One investigational drug candidate under this collaboration is SAR’579, which is in Phase 1/2 studies for the treatment of blood cancers with high unmet needs, including relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia, B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and high-risk myelodysplasia. SAR’579 received FDA Fast Track Designation for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.

5. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Company Profile

Market cap: US$123.34 billion

Vertex Pharmaceuticals has developed a number of approved treatments for cystic fibrosis, and has a pipeline of genetic and cell therapies for diseases such as sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and type 1 diabetes.

Vertex and its partner CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP) co-developed drug Casgevy, a CRISPR/Cas9 genome-edited cell therapy, received FDA approval in December 2023 for the treatment of sickle cell disease in patients 12 years and older with recurrent vaso-occlusive crises. Casgevy is the first ever treatment based on CRISPR technology to be approved for the US market. In 2024, the drug received validation from the European Medicines Agency and Health Canada for this indication as well.

In addition, Vertex has two active clinical trials for type 1 diabetes cell therapy: X-880, an investigational allogeneic stem cell-derived, insulin-producing islet cell therapy in Phase 1/2/3 clinical trials; and VX-264, designed to be a surgically implanted device in phase 1/2 clinical trials.

6. BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX)

Company Profile

Market cap: US$28.67 billion

Immunotherapy company BioNTech is advancing novel therapies for diseases such as cancer. The company combines computational discovery and therapeutic drug platforms to rapidly develop new biopharmaceutical products. The company is best known today for its mRNA vaccine development and in-house manufacturing capabilities, as well as its COVID-19 vaccine, created with partner Pfizer (NYSE:PFE).

BioNTech is engaged in collaborative partnerships aimed at assembling mRNA vaccine candidates for a range of infectious diseases. BioNTech’s portfolio of oncology product candidates includes individualized and off-the-shelf mRNA-based therapies, CAR-T cell therapies, bispecific checkpoint immuno-modulators, targeted cancer antibodies and small molecules.

The most advanced of its CAR-T product candidates is BNT211, which comprises two drug products designed to induce an immune response against various CLDN6-positive solid tumors, such as ovarian cancer, sarcoma, testicular cancer, endometrial cancer and gastric cancer. BNT211 is in a Phase 1 trial in patients with CLDN6-positive relapsed or refractory advanced solid tumors.

7. BeiGene (NASDAQ:ONC)

Company Profile

Market cap: US$26.72 billion

Biotechnology company BeiGene specializes in the development of drugs for cancer treatment across a broad range of areas, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, mantle cell lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and ovarian cancer. Its clinical development pipeline includes 12 advanced Phase 3 programs.

BeiGene has a strategic partnership with Shoreline Biosciences for the development and commercialization of a genetically engineered natural killer cell therapy.

BeiGene’s bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor Brukinsa gained FDA approval in early 2023 for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic leukemia, both forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The company’s monoclonal antibody Tevimbra garnered FDA approval in early 2024 for the treatment of advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after prior chemotherapy. Near the end of the year, the European Commission gave the green light to the drug for first-line treatment of advanced/metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer, while the FDA approved it for first-line treatment of gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers in combination with chemotherapy.

8. BioMarin Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:BMRN)

Company Profile

Market cap: US$13.1 billion

BioMarin Pharmaceutical develops and commercializes therapies for patients with serious, life-threatening genetic diseases and medical conditions.

The global biotech company focuses on diseases with critical unmet medical needs, as well as products with an opportunity to be first to market or to offer significant benefits over existing products. BioMarin’s portfolio includes eight commercial products and multiple clinical and preclinical product candidates across its therapeutic areas.

9. Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA)

Company Profile

Market cap: US$12.98 billion

Biotechnology and pharmaceutical company Moderna is a pioneer in the field of mRNA. The company’s assets include a diverse clinical portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics, plus a large intellectual property portfolio in areas such as mRNA and lipid nanoparticle formulation; it also has an integrated manufacturing plant that allows for both clinical and commercial production.

These assets, along with Moderna’s network of domestic and overseas government and commercial collaborators, allowed for the rapid development of one of the world’s most effective COVID-19 vaccines.

The other therapeutics and vaccines in the company’s pipeline are targeting infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, cardiovascular diseases and autoimmune diseases. Moderna has 23 development programs underway across these areas.

10. Bio-Techne (NASDAQ:TECH)

Company Profile

Market cap: US$10.3 billion

Bio-Techne develops, manufactures and sells reagents, diagnostic instruments and bioprocessing services for research and clinical applications, including drug discovery. The company’s revenue segments include diagnostics and spatial biology, and protein sciences.

Bio-Techne offers tailored technologies and services for its life science customers developing and producing immune cell, regenerative and gene therapies. The company expanded its Advanced Cell Diagnostics branded RNAscope probe portfolio in February 2025.

‘With over 12,000 citations in clinical and translational research combined, our expanded portfolio of gold-standard RNAscope probes enables customers to accelerate biomarker validation and ultimately improve lives,’ said Dr. Matt McManus, president of Bio-Techne’s diagnostics and spatial biology segment.

FAQs for stem cell stocks

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are the building blocks of life, with special capabilities that are particularly important in both the early and later stages of a human’s lifecycle. Human stem cells have the ability to develop into a variety of different cell types in the body, including organ-specific cells, as well as muscle tissue and bone marrow cells; they can even renew themselves.

What is stem cell therapy?

Stem cell therapy is the use of stem cells to treat or prevent a disease or condition, including some cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and neuroblastoma. Cell therapy involves the direct administration of cells into the body to promote the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

What is stem cell banking?

Stem cell banking is the process of collecting, processing and cryogenically storing potentially life-saving stem cells for future use in therapies and regenerative medicine.

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Economy

Could Bitcoin Reach $200000? Market & Expert Insights

Economy 2 Mins Read

Bitcoin attracts bold predictions. Recent forecasts show that this top cryptocurrency may soon hit Bitcoin Reach $200000. Many trusted sources, including Yahoo Finance, CoinDesk, Bloomberg, and CNBC, have reported this forecast. This public news reflects rising optimism among market experts amid changing economic conditions.

Market Sentiment and Economic Drivers

Many analysts believe that economic uncertainty and rising prices create a strong chance for Bitcoin to serve as a safe asset. Investors now see Bitcoin as a reliable store of value. They shift funds to cryptocurrencies when they lose trust in traditional assets. In addition, new regulations in key markets push both large and small investors to spread their money across various assets.

Technical Analysis and Price Trends

Technical data supports a potential price surge. Long-term charts show an upward trend, while short-term drops offer good buying points. Trading volumes and network activity grow each day. Experts point to a limited supply and high demand as key reasons that Bitcoin Reach $200000 upto.

Investor Implications and Risk Management

Investors must stay alert in this volatile market. They should manage risk by diversifying their portfolios. Many experts advise reviewing holdings and allocating funds wisely. They also recommend keeping up with the latest market news and technical signals to guide decisions.

Conclusion

This forecast that Bitcoin may reach $200,000 comes from strong market sentiment, positive technical trends, and a unique economic climate. However, investors face a volatile market that demands caution. Experts urge both individual and institutional investors to monitor these trends closely and prepare for various market moves.

While reaching $200,000 is not guaranteed, this forecast offers valuable insight into the ever-changing crypto market. It shows that the market can shift quickly and that informed decisions are key. Investors should act wisely and stay updated on news and trends. By doing so, they can protect their investments and uncover new opportunities in the fast-paced world of cryptocurrencies.

The post Could Bitcoin Reach $200000? Market & Expert Insights appeared first on FinanceBrokerage.

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Business

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon says DOGE ‘needs to be done’ to fix government inefficiency

Business 2 Mins Read

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon on Monday said the U.S. government is inefficient and in need of work as the Trump administration terminates thousands of federal employees and works to dismantle agencies including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Dimon was asked by CNBC’s Leslie Picker whether he supported efforts by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. He declined to give what he called a “binary” response, but made comments that supported the overall effort.

“The government is inefficient, not very competent, and needs a lot of work,” Dimon told Picker. “It’s not just waste and fraud, its outcomes.”

The Trump administration’s effort to rein in spending and scrutinize federal agencies “needs to be done,” Dimon added.

“Why are we spending the money on these things? Are we getting what we deserve? What should we change?” Dimon said. “It’s not just about the deficit, its about building the right policies and procedures and the government we deserve.”

Dimon said if DOGE overreaches with its cost-cutting efforts or engages in activity that’s not legal, “the courts will stop it.”

“I’m hoping it’s quite successful,” he said.

In the wide-ranging interview, Dimon also addressed his company’s push to have most workers in office five days a week, as well as his views on the Ukraine conflict, tariffs and the U.S. consumer.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Business

Joann to shutter all 800 fabric stores after failing to find a buyer to save its locations

Business 2 Mins Read

Fabrics outlet Joann will shutter all of its approximately 800 locations after failing to find a buyer who would keep its stores open.

In a statement, the company said it would commence nationwide going-out-of-business sales as a stipulation of the group that won its assets at auction.

‘JOANN leadership, our Board, advisors and legal partners made every possible effort to pursue a more favorable outcome that would keep the company in business,’ the company said. ‘We are committed to working constructively with the winning bidder to ensure an orderly wind-down of operations that minimizes the impact on all our stakeholders. We deeply appreciate our dedicated Team Members, our customers and communities across the nation for their unwavering support for more than 80 years.”

Joann was founded as the Cleveland Fabric Shop by German immigrants during World War II. At one point, it was the largest fabrics retailer in the U.S.

The company went public in 2010, but was de-listed within a year. It experienced a brief revival thanks to the stay-at-home crafts boom during the pandemic. Joann went public again in 2021, but by 2023 its sales had tanked, and it filed for an initial bankruptcy proceeding in 2024.

Joann listed some 19,000 employees, most of them part-time, when it filed for its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing in January.

The company posted an extensive FAQ on its website with details about the going-out-of-business sales, which are set to commence immediately.


This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Business

Denny’s says some locations will start charging extra for eggs amid nationwide shortage

Business 1 Min Read

Denny’s is the latest nationwide restaurant chain to announce surcharges for meals that include eggs in response to a nationwide shortage that has sent U.S. prices skyward.

In a statement, the breakfast giant said that individual markets and restaurants would be responsible for deciding the surcharge price. It declined to quote any pricing examples, describing it as a ‘fluid situation.’

‘Denny’s remains committed to providing our guests with delicious meals they love at the value they expect,’ it said. ‘We do our best to plan ahead with our vendors on items like eggs to minimize the impact market volatility has on our costs and menu pricing.’

Denny’s follows Waffle House among major food purveyors announcing egg surcharges. Many local media reports have also found individual restaurants adding surcharges in recent weeks.

USDA data show a dozen eggs now cost more than $7 on average and have jumped another 10% in just the past week to a fresh all-time high as avian flu continues to spread on many of the nation’s poultry farms.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Business

How digitally native companies like Rothy’s are growing profitably in a new era for retail

Business 6 Mins Read

Direct-to-consumer footwear brand Rothy’s just recorded its best year on record after the company appointed retail veteran Jenny Ming, one of the co-founders of Old Navy, as its CEO. 

Ming took the helm of the flats maker from co-founder Stephen Hawthornthwaite in January 2024. Under her direction, the company grew sales 17% to $211 million last year, its best volume year since it launched nearly a decade ago. 

Comparable sales at its stores grew 20% and it posted positive EBITDA for the full year, with margins above 10%. 

Rothy’s outperformed the U.S. footwear market, which was flat in 2024 compared with 2023, according to Circana. 

Rothy’s growth, which came from an expansion into wholesale and a focus on brick-and-mortar stores, comes as direct-to-consumer darlings find it harder than ever to survive with the pure-play models that once wowed investors at the turn of the decade. 

Once considered the future of the industry, these online-only businesses are now leaning into the retail fundamentals that have long been the building blocks of emerging brands. Wholesale partnerships are a critical customer acquisition tool, and stores still matter.

As these plucky startups contend with the challenges that come with an online-only business, the winners are adapting to a new reality where stores, wholesale partnerships and e-commerce all need to be part of the mix to ensure they can operate profitably. 

“A lot of people are like, why would you be on Amazon? Because people do a lot of searches on Amazon. If we weren’t there, and they type in Rothy’s, a competitor or somebody else would show up. So why wouldn’t we want to be there?” Ming told CNBC in an interview. “To me, it’s really thinking a little bit more holistically and broadly. What our customer would want from us is how we approach it … people shop very different today.” 

Channel diversification will never be a panacea for a business that’s inherently broken or doesn’t serve a market need. The footwear industry and specialty retail overall is more competitive than ever, and Rothy’s needs to continue its efforts to diversify, scale and expand into new categories to keep up its performance.

Soon after Rothy’s launched in 2016, it quickly made a name for itself with its ubiquitous Instagram and Facebook advertisements and an innovative approach on sustainable shoe manufacturing that included using recycled plastic to make machine washable products. By 2019, it was Meghan Markle’s flat of choice and it had developed a cult following. 

Buoyed by a record year for valuations and 0% interest rates, Brazilian footwear company Alpargatas took a 49.9% stake in Rothy’s in 2021 that resulted in a post-investment valuation of $1 billion. 

Rothy’s used the investment to build out a store fleet, but by that time, the company’s growth had stagnated and it was struggling to reach profitability. 

“Once we sort of emerged from the pandemic, you could see a lot of these digitally native brands now sort of saying, OK, now what, right? I need stores. It is so expensive to acquire customers online,” said Dayna Quanbeck, Rothy’s president. ”[With] an e-commerce model … all of your costs are variable, right? Where you really find scale and you really find profitability is where you can leverage your fixed costs, which is stores, really, and wholesale.”

Ming, who served as Old Navy’s president between 1996 and 2006 and later became the CEO of Charlotte Russe, joined Rothy’s board in 2022 and was later asked to take over as CEO. She said no at first, but later agreed to take the helm after she spent a few months consulting and saw the early innings of a transformation beginning to take shape. She immediately started focusing on improving profitability and generating sales momentum by making sure Rothy’s was selling the types of products that its customers wanted — and in the places they shopped. 

“I literally went line by line … looking at what we should spend, what we shouldn’t, you know, and rightsize marketing spend. There was things that, you know, we don’t need,” said Ming, citing office plants as one of the first things she cut. “But the main thing is, driving profitability is really in revenue. You have to be growing your sales in order to really be profitable, right?” 

That’s where Rothy’s new selling strategy came in. In 2024, it began testing with a select number of wholesale partners — Anthopologie, Bloomingdale’s, Amazon and toward the end of the year, Nordstrom.

At the same time, it continued growing its store fleet. Now, a business that drew about 99% of its revenue from its website does about 70% of sales online, with the rest balanced between stores and wholesalers. Combining profitable stores with strong wholesale partnerships, Rothy’s has been able to grow sales and become more profitable at the same time.

“If we were just digitally native forever and ever, you really just can’t get there with the cost of acquisition, with the cost of, you know, just showing up these days,” said Quanbeck. “Honestly, it’s impossible.” 

Looking ahead, Rothy’s is planning to build on its wholesale partnerships and has made stores, along with international expansion, a central part of its strategy. 

Quanbeck said it’s hard to sell customers on everything that makes the brand appealing without them being able to see it in person.

“But when you can walk into the store and you can see it visually, you have a great customer experience where we can really tell the story,” said Quanbeck “It’s additive. And we know that the lifetime value of those customers that engage with us IRL is really high.” 

Quanbeck and Ming, who are alumni of now-bankrupt Charlotte Russe, know all too well the perils of overexpanding unprofitable store fleets, and said they’re taking a balanced approach to brick-and-mortar. The 26 stores Rothy’s has are small and all are profitable and the company plans to open another eight to 10 doors this year, said Quanbeck.

Ming said Rothy’s won’t need hundreds of stores, but she’d like to see the fleet grow to 75, or perhaps even 100. 

“But we also want to make sure our wholesale partners is in the picture,” said Ming. “We’re going to be in [Nordstrom] in March … they have more stores than we will ever have, so they might be in markets that we might not decide to open a store but then we still have a partner for our customer to shop in.” 

When asked if Rothy’s will pursue an initial public offering or look to be acquired, Ming said the business isn’t there yet — and her team doesn’t need the distraction.

“We had a really great year but … I keep telling the team, one year doesn’t make it a trend,” said Ming. “So we’re really focused on this year. I think if we have another great year, you know, maybe a year or two, I think then we could really step back and say, ‘What next?’”

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Stock

The Best Five Sectors, #8

Stock 4 Mins Read

Utilities enter top 5

Last week’s trading, especially the sell-off on Friday, has caused the Utilities sector to enter the top 5 at the cost of Industrials.

Based on last Friday’s close, the sector ranking based on the combination of weekly and daily RRG metrics came out as follows:

  1. Communication Services – (XLC)
  2. Consumer Discretionary – (XLY)
  3. Financials – (XLF)
  4. Technology – (XLK)
  5. Utilities – (XLU)*
  6. Industrials – (XLI)*
  7. Consumer Staples – (XLP)
  8. Energy – (XLE)*
  9. Real-Estate – (XLRE)*
  10. Healthcare – (XLV)
  11. Materials – (XLB)

The best four sectors remain unchanged. At the bottom of the best five sectors, Utilities and Industrials are swapping positions.

In the second half of the ranking, Energy and Real Estate swapped positions, but this has not affected the portfolio yet.

Weekly RRG: Rotations starting to shift direction

On the weekly RRG above, we see Financials turning back up while inside the weakening quadrant; this is a positive sign, suggesting that XLF is entering a new up-leg within an already existing up-trend.

Communication services remain inside the leading quadrant, albeit on a slightly negative heading. The short tail suggests a steady outperformance.

Consumer Discretionary is on a long tail with a negative heading, moving into the weakening quadrant. Based on the high reading on the weekly RRG, this sector remains in the top-5.

Technology shows a dangerous rotation. Immediately after entering the leading quadrant, the tail has rotated back into a negative heading. For now, the short tail saves the day, but caution needs to be exercised when this tail starts to accelerate at this negative heading.

Daily RRG

The daily RRG shows the XLY tail deep inside the lagging quadrant, which is pulling the weekly tail lower. These two time-frames are fighting for dominance in this sector. For now, the longer term, weekly time frame remains on top.

A Look At The Charts

Communication Services (XLC)

XLC is holding up above the former breakout level, which is now providing support. The raw relative strength line maintains the rhythm of higher highs and higher lows but at a lesser pace.

This is reflected in the RS-Momentum line moving lower. Given the high reading of the RS-Ratio line, this is very likely a temporary setback in relative strength.

Consumer Discretionary

The Consumer Discretionary sector is now getting close to completing a double top formation, which would send a negative chart technical signal.

In case of such a break, the target area will very likely be in the 200-210 area.

The deterioration in relative strength has already started, but it needs more time to become convincing enough to materialize a drop out of the top five.

Financials (XLF)

XLF has been consolidating between 50-52 in the past 4-5 weeks relative to the market. This means a slight improvement, which is reflected in both RRH-Lines turning back up. With the tail located inside the weakening quadrant, XLF will be well-positioned for outperformance in the coming weeks.

Technology (XLK)

Another week, another failure to take out overhead resistance.

Once again, the 242 area has proven to be too much of a hurdle for XLK. The close at the week’s low suggests some follow-through in the coming week.

The sector is still within the boundaries of the rising channel, and the RRG-Lines are mildly positive, justifying the #4 spot in the portfolio, but risks are increasing.

Utilities (XLU)

The strong performance since the low mid-January is starting to spill over into the relative strength of the Utilities sector.

The price chart is back in a series of higher highs and higher lows while the RRG-Lines are slowly starting to curl upwards.

The weak rotation for XLY on the daily chart is offset by the strength on the weekly RRG. The situation for XLU is the other way around. Here, XLU’s strong performance on the daily RRG offsets the sector’s weakness on the weekly RRG.

Portfolio Performance Update

The equal weight portfolio (20%/sector) gave back the outperformance that was built since inception. The RRG portfolio was at +2.36% since inception while SPY gained +2.62%.

Not great but no drama either, we will continue to monitor.

#StayAlert, –Julius

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AMZN: A Case Study in Bearish Divergence

Stock 4 Mins Read

In the later stages of a bull market cycle, we will often observe a proliferation of bearish momentum divergences. As prices continue higher, the momentum underneath the advance begins to wane, representing an exhaustion of buyers.

We’ve identified a series of bearish momentum divergences in the early days of 2025, from Magnificent 7 names like Alphabet (GOOGL) to financial institutions including Synchrony Financial (SYF). Today, we’ll focus in on the bearish momentum divergence for Amazon.com (AMZN), which could indicate broader signs of weakness for the consumer discretionary sector as well as for the equity markets as a whole.

The daily chart of AMZN features all the key features of a bearish momentum divergence. Note how the price has remained in a primary uptrend going into this week, marked by a clear pattern of higher highs and higher lows. The most recent all-time high, achieved earlier this month when AMZN pushed briefly above the $240 level, saw the RSI fail to get above the overbought threshold.

The Magnificent 7 have transformed into the Meager 7. So which sectors or stocks might take the lead in 2025? Join me in our upcoming FREE webcast on Wednesday 2/26 at 1:00pm ET as we explore sector rotation trends, analyze growth vs. value dynamics, and spotlight stocks gaining momentum in Q1. Can’t make it live? No worries! Just register and I’ll send you the replay as soon as it’s ready. Sign up for Finding Value: The Great Rotation of 2025 today!

In a healthy bullish trend, we would expect higher price highs to be supported by strong momentum readings, indicating an influx of buying power and investor optimism.  When new highs are matched with lower RSI levels, that suggests a lack of buying power and evaporating investor optimism.

Once a bearish momentum divergence is confirmed, we can monitor the most recent swing low to confirm a potential breakdown as the price follows through after the divergence. After reaching that support level around $215 last Friday, we have seen AMZN push below this support level during the trading day on Monday. A confirmed close below this support level could represent a meaningful breakdown and a “change of character” for one of the top weights in the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY).

Any time I see a potential pattern on the daily chart, I remember the classic market maxim, “When in doubt, zoom out!” The weekly chart shows how the most significant pullbacks in 2023-2024 were marked by a sell signal from the weekly PPO indicator.

Over the last two weeks, we’ve recognized a similar bearish pattern to those previous pullbacks, both of which ended with AMZN finding support at the 40-week moving average. That would align closely with the 200-day moving average on the daily chart, which currently sits just below the $200 level.

When I see a bearish momentum divergence appear on a chart like Amazon, I’ve learned to put that chart on a ChartList of potential reversal names, and monitor those tickers for signs of a breakdown of support. Based on our analysis of the daily and weekly charts of AMZN, this leading internet retailer could be signaling a key breakdown going into March.

RR#6,

Dave

P.S. Ready to upgrade your investment process? Check out my free behavioral investing course!

David Keller, CMT

President and Chief Strategist

Sierra Alpha Research LLC

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

The author does not have a position in mentioned securities at the time of publication. Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person or entity.

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DP Trading Room: Defensive Sectors Lead the Pack

Stock 3 Mins Read

The complexion of the market is changing. Aggressive sectors which have led the market higher are now beginning to show signs of strain as momentum slowly dissipates and prices turn lower. However, defensive sectors (XLP, XLRE, XLV and XLU) are now leading the market. Typically when this occurs the market is at a top. Given the look of the SPY, we could very well have hit a major market top.

Carl started off the trading room with a review of the DP Signal Table and Bias Table which are still looking bullish overall.

He then gave us his analysis of the market in general looking at not only the SPY, but Bitcoin, Gold, Gold Miners, the Dollar, Bonds and more!

Once the market review was complete, Carl walked us through the Magnificent Seven charts, both daily and weekly. There is clear weakness showing through on most of these stocks and that doesn’t bode well for the market as a whole.

Erin took over and discussed sector rotation, specifically the gains in defensive sectors. Aggressive sectors are topping and looking very weak. Energy has some potential, but it still has to figure out what “drill, baby, drill” will mean for Crude Oil related stocks.

Finally, Erin covered viewer symbol requests which included SMCI, MSTR, PLTR and JPM.

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Top 10 Tungsten-p​roducing Countries

Investing 7 Mins Read

Tungsten’s importance in a wide range of industrial categories, from smartphones to car batteries, means demand is likely to rise. At the same time, supply chain disruptions and increased production costs are weighing on global supply, making it important to learn about the top global tungsten producers.

Tungsten has many applications. It’s used in electrical wires, as well as in welding, heavy metal alloys, turbine blades and as a lead substitute in bullets. The metal can also be found in heating and electrical contacts.

Tungsten prices have traded upward in recent years, and the industry’s supply and demand dynamics are expected to push the metal higher in 2025 and beyond. Total revenue for the tungsten market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8 percent through 2024 to 2032 to reach nearly US$9.49 billion in value.

With that in mind, it’s worth being aware of which countries produce the most tungsten. According to the US Geological Survey, global tungsten production came in at 81,000 metric tons (MT) in 2024, up slightly from 2023’s 79,500 MT. The vast majority of tungsten mining and processing occurs in China. Looking forward to 2025, increased production is seen coming from mines in South Korea and Australia.

Here’s an overview of tungsten production by country in 2024, as per data from the US Geological Survey.

1. China

Tungsten production: 67,000 metric tons
Tungsten reserves: 2.4 million metric tons

In 2024, China produced 67,000 metric tons of tungsten, up by 1,000 MT from 2023. The country is the world’s largest producer of the metal by a wide margin, accounting for more than 80 percent of total annual tungsten output worldwide.

That said, China’s tungsten production has been falling in recent years — the Asian nation has limited the quantity of tungsten-mining and export licenses it awards and has imposed quotas on tungsten concentrate production. The country has also recently increased environmental inspections.

China has been the main source of tungsten imported into the US since 2017, and the country accounted for 27 percent of US tungsten imports in 2024.

In response to US President Donald Trump’s imposition of 10 percent tariffs on imports from China in February 2025, the Government of China immediately announced strict export controls on tungsten and four other key metals used in several important industries, including defense. Tighter tungsten supply out of China may lead to higher prices for the metal despite growing production from ex-China sources.

2. Vietnam

Tungsten production: 3,400 metric tons
Tungsten reserves: 140,000 metric tons

Vietnam’s tungsten production in 2024 came to 3,400 metric tons, down by 100 MT from the previous year. Privately owned Masan Resources runs the Vietnam-based Nui Phao mine, which it says is the largest tungsten-producing mine outside China. It is also one of the lowest-cost producers of tungsten in the world.

In 2024, Vietnam accounted for 8 percent of US tungsten imports.

3. Russia

Tungsten production: 2,000 metric tons
Tungsten reserves: 400,000 metric tons

Russia produced 2,000 metric tons of tungsten in 2024, on par with the last few years. The war between Russia and Ukraine has hampered Russia’s ability to trade and make deliveries of tungsten to the world market as it continues to face sanctions. The Tyrnyauz tungsten-molybdenum mine is the largest tungsten deposit in the country and one of the largest globally.

Russia is a significant supplier of the metal to Europe, but restrictions have increased the continent’s dependency on Chinese imports. At the same time, the war is fueling tungsten demand given the metal’s use in ammunitions.

4. North Korea

Tungsten production: 1,700 metric tons
Tungsten reserves: 29,000 metric tons

In 2024, North Korea produced 1,700 metric tons of tungsten production, up by 100 MT over the previous year. The Mannyŏn mine in North Hwanghae province is the country’s largest tungsten mine. Its name means 10,000 years in reference to its vast reserves.

Tungsten ore is North Korea’s third highest export by value, worth nearly US$26 million in 2023, with the majority being consumed by China. Tungsten’s high spot in North Korea’s export market may be due to the fact that it’s one of the few metals not listed under UN sanctions on the country’s trade.

5. Bolivia

Tungsten production: 1,600 metric tons
Tungsten reserves: Not available

Bolivia’s tungsten production in 2024 was 1,600 metric tons, a gain of 100 MT over the previous year. The South American country has increased its tungsten production since 2014 as a result of moves to promote its tungsten industry. Bolivia accounted for 8 percent of US tungsten imports in 2024.

The Bolivian mining industry is heavily influenced by Comibol, a state-owned mining umbrella company.

6. Rwanda

Tungsten production: 1,200 metric tons
Tungsten reserves: Not available

Rwanda produced 1,200 metric tons of tungsten in 2024, on par with 2023’s output. Tungsten is one of the most common conflict minerals in the world, meaning that at least some of it is produced in war zones and is sold to perpetuate fighting.

While Rwanda has promoted itself as a source of conflict-free minerals, concerns remain about its tungsten output. Nevertheless, it is an important exporter of tungsten, accounting for 31 percent of global tungsten trade in 2022.

One of the largest tungsten producers in Rwanda is privately owned Trilogy Metals, which owns the Nyakabingo tungsten ore mine. Trilogy’s largest shareholder is UK-based private industrial company Techmet, which is working to secure a viable technology metal supply chain.

7. Australia

Tungsten production: 1,000 metric tons
Tungsten reserves: 570,000 metric tons*

In 2024, Australia produced 1,000 metric tons of tungsten. This represents a more than 130 percent jump in output from 2023 levels, taking it from the ninth spot on the previous year’s list to rank seventh in global tungsten production for 2024.

There are several operating tungsten mines in Australia. EQ Resources (ASX:EQR) is an Australian tungsten miner producing the metal at its Mount Carbine asset in North Queensland. On the island state of Tasmania, Group 6 Metals (ASX:G6M) brought the historic Dolphin tungsten mine back into production in 2023. The island also contains private firm Tasmania Mines’ Kara tungsten mine

Tungsten projects under development in Australia include the Molyhil tungsten-molybdenum-copper project located in the Northern Territory. Molyhil is a 75/25 joint venture between Thor Energy (LSE:THR,OTC Pink:THORF) and Investigator Resources (ASX:IVR). According to Mining Database Online (MDO), Investigator is working toward completing a scoping study on Molyhil, based on an updated May 2024 mineral resource estimate, in the first half of 2025.

Another company with Australia-based tungsten projects is Tungsten Mining (ASX:TGN), whose properties include Mount Mulgine, Big Hill and Kilba in Western Australia, as well as Watershed in Northeast Queensland and Hatches Creek in the Northern Territory.

* Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant or equivalent reserves were 220,000 metric tons.

8. Austria

Tungsten production: 800 metric tons
Tungsten reserves: 10,000 metric tons

Austria’s tungsten production in 2024 was 800 metric tons, down 50 MT from the previous year. Much of that production can be attributed to Wolfram’s Mittersill mine, which is located in Salzburg and hosts Europe’s largest tungsten deposit.

9. Spain

Tungsten production: 700 metric tons
Tungsten reserves: 66,000 metric tons

Spain produced 700 metric tons of tungsten in 2024, up 50 MT over the previous year.

There are a number of companies engaged in the exploration, development and mining of tungsten assets in Spain. Australia’s EQ Resources, which acquired tungsten producer Saloro in 2023, now controls the Barruecopardo Mining and Processing operation. MDO reports that a program is underway to upgrade the plant and improve recoveries with completion expected by the end of 2025.

As for Spanish tungsten assets under development, Almonty Industries (TSX:AII,OTCQX:ALMTF) owns the permitting-phase Valtreixal tungsten-tin project.

10. Portugal

Tungsten production: 500 metric tons
Tungsten reserves: 3,400 metric tons

In 2024, Portugal produced 500 metric tons in 2024, up by 50 MT from that produced in the previous year.

The European country has the lowest-known tungsten reserves figure out of all the nations on this list, totaling just 3,400 MT. Almonty Industries’ Panasqueira mine is Portugal’s largest tungsten-producing operation. ‘The Panasqueira Mine has some of the highest tungsten recovery rates in the industry, consistently averaging 80 (percent),’ MDO states.

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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