The Trading Post | 05.01.25

May 01, 2025

Good morning,

Microsoft and Meta earnings spark a tech rally, the U.S. economy just shrank for the first time in three years, S&P posts third straight monthly loss, McDonald's same-store sales leave a bad taste, and trade tensions might finally be cooling off.

Master a proven SPX trading strategy that requires just 5-6 hours per week with Brandon Wendell's free masterclass designed for traders seeking both consistency and freedom. 

Let’s jump in.

Pre-Market Performance

As of 04.30.25 market close.

Market News

  • Tech on top: Microsoft and Meta crushed earnings, sending Nasdaq futures flying. Apple and Amazon report after the bell, so expect more fireworks. Reuters

  • GDP takes a hit: U.S. economy shrank in Q1, thanks in part to import hoarding ahead of tariffs. First contraction since the pandemic. CNBC

  • April wasn't kind: S&P just logged its third straight monthly loss. Nasdaq eked out a gain, value still beating growth. Reuters

  • McDonald's is not lovin' it: U.S. same-store sales fell 3.6%, more than double the expected decline. Consumer fatigue much? Bloomberg

  • Trade tensions thawing: U.S. signaling it might ease up on tariffs. Global markets exhaled. WSJ

A Message From Wealth Builders HQ



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Earnings We’re Watching

  • AGCO Corporation (AGCO) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. (APD) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • AMETEK, Inc. (AME) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • APi Group Corporation (APG) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Aptiv PLC (APTV) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Arrow Electronics, Inc. (ARW) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • ATI Inc. (ATI) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Baxter International, inc. (BAX) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Becton, Dickinson, & Co. (BDX) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Biogen Inc. (BIIB) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (BR) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Builders FirstSource Inc (BLDR) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Cameco Corp. (CCJ) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Carrier Global Corporation (CARR) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Chart Industries Inc. (GTLS) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • CNH Global N.V (CNH) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • CommScope Holding Company, Inc. (COMM) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • CVS Health (CVS) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Dominion Energy, Inc. (D) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • DTE Energy Co. (DTE) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. (EL) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Exelon Corp. (EXC) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Fortive Corporation (FTV) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Graphic Packaging International Corp. (GPK) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Harley-Davidson, Inc. (HOG) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Hershey Company (HSY) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • HF Sinclair Corporation (DINO) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (HGV) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Howmet Aerospace (HWM) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Hubbell Incorporated (HUBB) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Hyatt Hotels Corp (H) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (IDXX) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Insight Enterprises, Inc. (NSIT) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • IntercontinentalExchange Inc (ICE) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Iron Mountain Inc. (IRM) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Kellanova (K) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Kirby Corp. (KEX) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • KKR & Co. L.P. (KKR) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Linde plc (LIN) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Mastercard Inc (MA) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • McDonalds Corp. (MCD) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Organon (OGN) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • PBF Energy Inc. (PBF) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Roblox Corporation (RBLX) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Schneider National, Inc. (SNDR) - Thursday (BMO)  

  • SiriusXM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) - Thursday (BMO)  

  • Smurfit Westrock plc (SW) - Thursday (BMO)  

  • Southern Company (SO) - Thursday (BMO)  

  • Targa Resources Corp. (TRGP) - Thursday (BMO)  

  • TC Energy Corporation (TRP) - Thursday (BMO)  

  • Thomson Reuters Corporation (TRI) - Thursday (BMO)  

  • Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) - Thursday (BMO)  

  • W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) - Thursday (BMO)  

  • Wayfair Inc. (W) - Thursday (BMO)  

  • Wesco International (WCC) - Thursday (BMO) 

  • Airbnb, Inc. (ABNB) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Ameren Corp. (AEE) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • American International Group, Inc. (AIG) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Amgen, Inc. (AMGN) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. (APLE) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Apple, Inc. (AAPL) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Atlassian Corporation Plc (TEAM) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Block, Inc. (XYZ) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Canadian National Railway Company (CNI) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Consolidated Edison Inc. (ED) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • DexCom Inc (DXCM) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Eldorado Gold Corp (EGO) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Eversource Energy (ES) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. (FND) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • GoDaddy Inc. (GDDY) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Huntsman Corp (HUN) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Hologic, Inc. (HOLX) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Ingersoll-Rand Co. (IR) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Juniper Networks, Inc. (JNPR) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Lumen Technologies (LUMN) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • MasTec Inc. (MTZ) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Mohawk Industries Inc. (MHK) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Olin Corporation (OLN) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (RGA) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Roku Inc (ROKU) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Stryker Corp. (SYK) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • Twilio, Inc. (TWLO) - Thursday (AMC) 

  • United States Steel (X) - Thursday (AMC) 

Trade Ideas

  • Apple Inc (AAPL)

  • AbbVie Inc (ABBV)

  • Airbnb Inc (ABNB)

  • Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

  • Amgen Inc (AMGN)

  • American Express Co (AXP)

  • Baidu Inc (BIDU)

  • Crocs Inc (CROX)

  • EOG Resources Inc (EOG)

  • Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

  • Keysight Technologies Inc (KEYS)

  • Lowe's Companies Inc (LOW)

  • Merck & Co Inc (MRK)

  • M&t Bank Corp (MTB)

  • PACCAR Inc (PCAR)

  • Prologis Inc (PLD)

  • Philip Morris International Inc. (PM)

  • Texas Instruments Inc (TXN)

  • Valero Energy Corp (VLO)

  • Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL)

  • Welltower Inc (WELL)

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Daily Moment of Zen

❝

The goal of a successful trader is to make the best trades. Money is secondary.

Alexander Elder

Why It Matters:

Ah yes, the financial equivalent of “it’s about the journey, not the destination.” Elder’s quote is a reminder that chasing profits like a caffeinated golden retriever chasing a squirrel is a fast track to dumb trades and emotional blowups. Focus on process—entries, exits, risk—and let the dollars sort themselves out.

In a world where Robinhood traders measure success in Lambos and meme gains, this quote is borderline heretical. But here’s the truth: professionals don’t wake up thinking “how can I make money today?” They think, “how can I execute my edge flawlessly?” Money follows skill. And if it doesn’t... congrats, you’re a disciplined loser. Which, weirdly, is a win.