The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Walmart, Kroger, Target and Costco

For Immediate ReleaseChicago, IL – February 25, 2025 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks and ETFs featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. ETFs recently featured in the blog include: MicroSectors Gold Miners 3X Leveraged ETN GDXU, Direxion Daily CSI China Internet Index Bull 2X Shares CWEB, Direxion Daily MSCI Emerging Markets Bull 3x Shares EDC, Direxion Daily Healthcare Bull 3X Shares CURE and Direxion Daily Utilities Bull 3X Shares UTSL.Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:5 Leveraged ETFs with Double-Digit Gains Halfway Through Q1Amid the tariff trade war fears, economic slowdown concerns and roaring inflation, Wall Street has been on a bull run halfway through the first quarter. The S&P 500 touched record highs on several occasions, having risen 2.2%, while the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq Composite Index gained 2.1% and 1.1%, respectively.We have highlighted a bunch of the best-performing leveraged equity ETFs from different corners of the market that gained double digits halfway through the first quarter.These funds seek to register big gains in a short span and will continue their strong trend, at least in the near term, provided the sentiments remain bullish. Leveraged ETFs provide multiple exposures (2X or 3X) to the daily performance of the underlying index. These funds employ various investment strategies, such as swaps, futures contracts and other derivative instruments, to accomplish their objectives.A combination of advancements in AI, solid corporate earnings season and lower rates are driving the rally. The rally has broadened beyond the "Magnificent Seven" to other sectors like financials and industrials this year. Though the Fed has signaled no rush to reduce interest rates further as inflation remains elevated, since September 2024, it has made a series of rate cuts, by a total of 100 bps (read: Only One Rate Cut Expected in 2025? ETFs to Play).However, the latest economic data points to a slowdown in the economy. U.S. business activity nearly stalled in February, while consumer sentiment dropped to a 15-month low. Consumers' 12-month inflation expectations deteriorated to 4.3%, the highest reading since November 2023, from 3.3% in January. Over the next five years, consumers expect inflation to be 3.5%, the highest since 1995, compared with 3.2% in January, according to the latest survey.Additionally, concerns are building up in the homebuilder space that tariffs would raise the cost of building materials, including lumber and appliances, thereby leading to elevated home prices and reduced affordability. Homebuilder sentiment dropped to a five-month low in February.Further, President Donald Trump's tariff talks, which could lead to a global trade war, have been weighing on the stock market.Leveraged ETFs in FocusMicroSectors Gold Miners 3X Leveraged ETN – Up 60.6%MicroSectors Gold Miners 3X Leveraged ETN seeks to deliver three times (3X or 300%) the performance of the S-Network MicroSectors Gold Miners Index. It has amassed $392.2 million in its asset base and charges 95 bps in annual fees. MicroSectors Gold Miners 3X Leveraged ETN trades in an average daily volume of 786,000 shares.Direxion Daily CSI China Internet Index Bull 2X Shares – Up 52.9%Direxion Daily CSI China Internet Index Bull 2X Shares offers twice the leveraged exposure to China’s Internet market by tracking the CSI Overseas China Internet Index. It charges an annual fee of 88 bps and trades in an average daily volume of about 751,000 shares. Direxion Daily CSI China Internet Index Bull 2X Shares has accumulated AUM of $418.6 million (read: What's Behind the Surge in Chinese Tech Stocks & ETFs?).Direxion Daily MSCI Emerging Markets Bull 3x Shares – Up 20.5%Direxion Daily MSCI Emerging Markets Bull 3x Shares seeks to provide three times the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. It has amassed $84.4 million in its asset base and trades in a volume of 87,000 shares. Direxion Daily MSCI Emerging Markets Bull 3x Shares charges 95 bps in annual fees.Direxion Daily Healthcare Bull 3X Shares – Up 17.5%Direxion Daily Healthcare Bull 3X Shares creates a three times leveraged long position in the Health Care Select Sector Index. It charges 91 bps in fees a year. Direxion Daily Healthcare Bull 3X Shares has $179 million in AUM and trades in volumes of 56,000 shares on average.Direxion Daily Utilities Bull 3X Shares – Up 15.4%With AUM of $46.3 million, Direxion Daily Utilities Bull 3X Shares offers three times exposure to the performance of the Utilities Select Sector Index. It charges investors an annual fee of 95 bps and trades in a good average daily volume of 155,000 shares.Bottom LineAs a caveat, investors should note that these products are extremely volatile and suitable only for short-term traders. Additionally, the daily rebalancing, when combined with leverage, may make these products deviate significantly from the expected long-term performance figures (see: all the Leveraged Equity ETFs here).Yet, for ETF investors who are bullish on these sectors in the near term, any of the above-mentioned products can be an interesting choice. A near-term long could be intriguing for those with high-risk tolerance and a belief that the trend is a friend in this corner of the investing world.Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox?Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week.Get it free >>Zacks Investment Research800-767-3771 ext. 9339support@zacks.comhttps://www.zacks.comPast performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.Only $1 to See All Zacks' Buys and SellsWe're not kidding.Several years ago, we shocked our members by offering them 30-day access to all our picks for the total sum of only $1. No obligation to spend another cent.Thousands have taken advantage of this opportunity. Thousands did not - they thought there must be a catch. Yes, we do have a reason. We want you to get acquainted with our portfolio services like Surprise Trader, Stocks Under $10, Technology Innovators,and more, that closed 256 positions with double- and triple-digit gains in 2024 alone.See Stocks Now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Direxion Daily MSCI Emerging Markets Bull 3x Shares (EDC): ETF Research Reports Direxion Daily Healthcare Bull 3x Shares (CURE): ETF Research ReportsThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks