Caterpillar, Palo Alto, and HPE Among Analyst Top Picks Amid Retail Earnings and Tariff News

The S&P500 closed in the green on Friday after investors digested retail earnings, tariff-related news, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech. Nasdaq lost over 1% for the week. Notable analyst calls included Caterpillar, Palo Alto, and HPE as top picks.

The S&P 500 closed in the green on Friday, August 23, 2025, as investors processed retail earnings, tariff-related news, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the annual gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Despite the positive market sentiment, the Nasdaq lost over 1% for the week, underscoring the ongoing tech sector volatility.

Powell's speech hinted at a potential interest rate cut, signaling a shift in the Fed's policy stance. The market's reaction was swift, with investors increasing the chances of a quarter-point cut to 91% from 75% [1]. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 846 points, or 1.8%, while the S&P 500 climbed 1.5%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq increased 1.8%, driven by gains in major tech stocks such as Intel, Tesla, and Delta Air Lines [1].

Retail earnings also played a significant role in Friday's market performance. Several retailers reported mixed results, with some companies beating expectations while others missed the mark. The varied earnings reports contributed to the overall market's cautious optimism.

Notable analyst calls included Caterpillar, Palo Alto Networks, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) as top picks. Caterpillar, in particular, saw its stock rise after announcing a long-term collaboration with Hunt Energy Company to deliver efficient, independent energy production for data centers. This partnership positions Caterpillar to leverage its advanced power solutions and Hunt Energy’s infrastructure experience, potentially reshaping its outlook in digital infrastructure markets [2].

The market's reaction to Powell's speech and the retail earnings reports underscores the ongoing economic uncertainty and the Fed's role in managing it. As the Fed continues to monitor the hiring slowdown and tariff-driven price increases, investors remain watchful for further policy shifts that could impact the broader economy.

References:
[1] https://abcnews.go.com/Business/dow-closes-840-points-after-fed-chair-powell/story?id=124897730
[2] https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/capital-goods/nyse-cat/caterpillar/news/caterpillar-cat-is-up-68-after-hunt-energy-partnership-to-po