Boosting Confidence in Stock Market Investing: 5 Essential Strategies
Thursday, Apr 24, 2025 1:29 pm ET
Many Americans are intimidated by the stock market, but learning about stocks and their role in overall financial planning can help build confidence. Volatility is expected, so preparing for it beforehand is key. Developing an overall financial plan and educating oneself about investing can help navigate market downturns and gain confidence in investing strategy.
Title: Navigating the Stock Market: Building Confidence Through Financial PlanningMarket volatility can be intimidating for many investors, but understanding the fundamentals of the stock market and developing a robust financial plan can help build confidence. By preparing for market fluctuations and educating oneself about investing, individuals can navigate downturns more effectively and gain confidence in their investment strategies.
On Thursday, April 24, the stock market faced a muted open as China indicated that trade talks with the U.S. had not yet begun, following a strong two-session rally on softening tariff rhetoric [1]. This news underscored the ongoing uncertainty surrounding trade policies and their impact on the market.
Bristol Myers Squibb reported strong quarterly results and raised its revenue and earnings outlook for the year, despite challenges with its schizophrenia drug Cobenfy, which failed to show efficacy in a late-stage trial [1]. The company's guidance included estimates of current tariffs on U.S. products shipped to China but not the U.S. tariffs on pharmaceutical imports that President Donald Trump had threatened [1].
Merck delivered a quarterly beat but lowered its guidance due to tariffs, expecting an additional $200 million in costs [1]. Despite this, the company's top-selling cancer therapy Keytruda saw a 4% increase in quarterly sales [1]. Meanwhile, ServiceNow shares soared 9% after reporting the best enterprise software quarter of any company, moving into customer relations management [1].
IBM shares were down significantly, but the company reported a strong quarter of excellent free cash flow, with a new mainframe cycle on the horizon [1]. PepsiCo delivered slight quarterly beats but noted subdued consumer conditions and rising supply chain costs [1]. Procter & Gamble narrowly beat on quarterly earnings but missed revenue targets, citing tariffs and consumer uncertainty [1].
Wells Fargo research analysts raised their price target on Capital One to $225 per share from $210, citing a decline in delinquency rates and upcoming share buybacks [1]. Bank of America lowered its price target on Apple to $240 per share from $250, citing cost estimates, while Goldman Sachs lowered its price target on Microsoft to $450 from $500 due to macroeconomic volatility [1].
Developing an overall financial plan and educating oneself about investing can help navigate market downturns and gain confidence in investment strategies. By staying informed about market trends and preparing for volatility, investors can make more informed decisions and build a more resilient portfolio.
References:
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/24/jim-cramers-top-10-things-to-watch-in-the-stock-market-thursday.html