The Trading Post | 05.16.25

May 16, 2025

Good morning,

The S&P 500 is flirting with a five-day win streak, the US-China tariff drama isn't over (spoiler: 30% is the new normal), economic sentiment data drops today, Charter is merging with Cox in a $21B media mashup, and Novo Nordisk CEO is out after a 4% share stumble.

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 05.15.25 market close.

Market News

  • S&P 500 Eyes 5th Green Day: Stocks have fully clawed back 2025’s earlier losses as the bull run stretches on. Until it doesn’t. Yahoo Finance

  • Tariffs Stick Around: Despite a temporary truce, U.S. tariffs on China will hover around 30% through 2025, killing 70% of exports. So... bullish? CNBCTV18

  • Economic Data Dump Incoming: Housing starts, building permits, import prices, and consumer sentiment all hit today. Get your macro hats on. Investing.com

  • Charter + Cox = Cable Giant: $21B merger means fewer remote options to lose. Charter popped 6%. Yahoo Finance

  • Novo Nordisk's CEO Bails: Down goes the stock (-4%) as Eli Lilly eats their lunch in the weight loss wars. Yahoo Finance

  • Fed Cut Forecast Party: UBS sees 100 bps of cuts starting September. Barclays says five cuts total through 2026. Lower yields = real estate and utility stocks' time to shine. CNBC

  • Broadcom Gets Leveraged ETF: Nasdaq launches AVGG (2x long AVGO) today. High risk, high reward... or high regret? Nasdaq

  • Tech Rotation Watch: UBS just downgraded U.S. equities to "neutral" and says it might be time to rotate out of frothy tech. Reuters

A Message From Wealth Builders HQ

Trade Smarter, Not Harder: The SPX Success Formula 

Looking to create consistent cash flow without sacrificing your precious time? Options trading veteran Brandon Wendell is revealing his proprietary SPX strategy that thousands of successful traders are already using – but most of the market still doesn't know about. 

As a Chartered Market Technician with 25 years of experience in both personal and corporate trading, Brandon has distilled his expertise into a system that requires just 5-6 hours of your attention per week. Imagine consolidating all your trading activities into less than one hour per day while maintaining (or even improving) your results! 

This free training reveals how to analytically identify the highest-probability SPX candidates before they make their move, implement a strategy that needs minimal supervision while active, and join the small percentage of traders who've discovered this efficient approach to the markets. 

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Earnings We’re Watching

  • Flowers Foods Inc. (FLO) - Friday (BMO) 

Trade Ideas

Vistra Corp (VST), Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY), American Tower Corp (AMT), CAVA Group Inc (CAVA)

Lowe's Companies Inc (LOW), Marriott International Inc (MAR), Prologis Inc (PLD), Prologis Inc (PLD)

Crocs Inc (CROX), Docusign Inc (DOCU), Domino's Pizza Inc (DPZ), Global Payments Inc (GPN)

American Tower Corp (AMT), CAVA Group Inc (CAVA), Cigna Group (CI), CME Group Inc (CME)

Get these ideas delivered to your inbox daily with Trade With Rob. It’s 100% free. Sign up here.

Daily Moment of Zen

❝

"Trend is your friend until the end when it bends."

Ed Seykota

Why It Matters:

A poetic slap in the face to every breakout chaser and late-to-the-party bull. Trends are comfy, profitable, and seductive—right up until they turn on you like a caffeinated raccoon. The lesson? Ride the wave, sure, but always know where the exit is. The real pros know when the friend is about to ghost.