The Club on Friday is updating five price targets for stocks in the portfolio to reflect recent developments at the companies and broader macroeconomic trends. We’re also adding a new stock to the bullpen, while reiterating our support for Morgan Stanley amid the recent upheaval in the banking sector. Meta We’re increasing our price target on Meta Platforms (META) to $220 per share, from $195. This new target represents about 18-times 2024 earnings estimates. Over the last two months, analysts have steadily increased their earnings estimates on Meta, and the stock has appreciated alongside those revisions to above our previous target. Since Jan. 31, the day before Meta announced fourth-quarter results , the consensus earnings-per-share (EPS) estimate for 2023 has moved up about 24%, to $10, from $8.08 per share. For 2024, the consensus EPS estimate has risen 2%, to $12.39, from $10.14 a share. The driving forces behind those analyst revisions are the company’s emphasis on improving efficiency through a second round of layoffs , controlling its costs by reducing its 2023 expenses outlook and, most recently, signs of so-called green shoots at its advertising business for its family of applications. That’s a result of the continued monetization of its Reels short-form video offering on Facebook and Instagram, along with the easing of ad-targeting headwinds. The two fundamental ingredients that drive higher stock prices are earnings and the valuation multiple investors are willing to pay for those earnings. Generally, higher earnings are our preference of the two. Sometimes multiple expansion is just a great fool theory. In essence, you are buying a stock because you think someone else will pay more for it in the future. But when earnings are up, it’s because the value of the company is increasing. With estimates pushing higher, we think the rally in META still has more room to run, prompting us to raise our price target. Nvidia We’re increasing our price target on Nvidia (NVDA) to $300 per share, from $240. This new target puts Nvidia’s valuation at a pricey 67-times the consensus EPS estimate for next year. But the chipmaker is uniquely worthy of such a premium because it is the unrivaled leader in accelerated computing and artificial intelligence (AI), which is finally at an inflection point after having what CEO Jensen Huang called its “iPhone moment.” Nvidia has previously said generative AI — which includes applications like OpenAI’s ChatGPT — has a total addressable market of $600 billion split between hardware and software. Indeed, with the channel inventory correction in gaming largely behind Nvidia and new orders for its H100 graphics processing unit (GPU) accelerating to support generative AI, it’s likely that earnings estimates this year are too low. Energy We’re reducing our price targets on Coterra Energy (CTRA), Devon Energy (DVN), and Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) to reflect the lower prices of both oil and natural gas. For all three names, we are lowering our price targets to the consensus price, according to FactSet. That means reducing Devon Energy to $68 per share from $82, Coterra Energy to $30 per share from $40, and Pioneer to $259 per share from $300. We’re also downgrading Devon to a 3 rating , meaning we’ll look to sell shares into strength — part of a broader move to consolidate our energy holdings and free up space in the portfolio. Our rationale behind keeping Pioneer is its higher dividend yield of 11.8%, compared with Devon’s 7.6% yield. With Coterra, we support its shift to focus on share repurchases over paying out a variable dividend. Favoring buybacks over dividends make more sense to us, with the stock down more than 30% from last year’s high. Bullpen The newest addition to our bullpen is Foot Locker (FL). The sneakers and athletic-wear retailer plays a large role in the $80 billion sneaker market, which has been growing at a mid-single digit clip thanks to three big tailwinds, according to the company. The first is mass casualization, whereby hybrid work and new norms of wearing sneakers with dress clothes have boosted sneaker sales. The second is traditional and new performance sneaker brands becoming fashion statements. And the third tailwind is the rise of sneakers as a vehicle of individual expression. In the 2021 Piper Sandler Spring Teen Survey, 25% of teens identified as a “sneakerhead” or a sneaker enthusiast that is likely to own multiple pairs. But the rising tide of sneakers hasn’t lifted all ships. Foot Locker has struggled over the past few years because it was mostly thought of as a reseller of Nike (NKE), which has shifted gears to double down on its own direct-to-consumer business. Foot Locker has also been a victim of the shift to shopping on ecommerce platforms, given its large presence in malls. Foot Locker needed a change. And in September, the company appointed retail industry veteran Mary Dillon, the former CEO of Ulta Beauty (ULTA), as its new CEO. On Monday, Dillon unveiled Foot Locker’s new “Lace Up” strategy, in conjunction with its fourth-quarter results and Investor Day event, while stopping by “Mad Money” to talk with Jim Cramer. Dillon is hitting the reset button in 2023 in order to put the business on a path towards sustainable growth. To do this, management plans to diversify its brand mix to offer more sneaker choices to become less beholden to Nike; optimize its store footprint by exiting 400 underperforming stores; launch new store concepts; and accelerate investments in technology and its loyalty program. But all these actions will come at a price, with management expecting 2023 earnings to be down 30%. We don’t want to make light of how big this haircut to earnings will be, but as Foot Locker’s growth initiatives and cost savings programs play out, it should quickly return to growth in 2024. And in the years after that, management’s financial targets look very robust. In 2024 through 2026, management expects annual sales growth of 5% to 6%, with comparable sales growth of 3% to 4%, and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) margins reaching 8.5% to 9% by the end of 2026. For comparison, EBIT margins are expected to be 5.7% in 2023. After including share buybacks every year, Foot Locker sees its adjusted EPS growing by a low-to-mid-twenties percentage rate annually from 2024 to 2026. For a stock that currently trades at about 11-times earnings, this isn’t growth at a reasonable price, it’s growth at a very cheap price. Of course, a price-to-earnings multiple that low implies some skepticism around Foot Locker’s ability to make good on its goals. Turnarounds are never easy and the company continues to face headwinds from Nike and its traditional mall presence. So it’s now up to Dillon to deliver. But if she can do for Foot Locker what she achieved at Ulta Beauty, Footlocker’s shares can go much higher. And in the interim, the company’s current 4% dividend yield represents a solid payment to hold us over. Morgan Stanley We continue to see great value in the Morgan Stanley (MS) franchise but haven’t added to our position because we already own so much and can’t meaningfully improve our cost basis while the stock is in the $80s-per-share range. We would like to see it go a little lower, with a dividend yield closer to 4%, as we await a resolution to the troubles at First Republic Bank (FRC). Despite the challenges facing regional and community banks, Morgan Stanley should still emerge as a net winner from the ongoing turmoil. Along with other big banks, Morgan Stanley committed $2.5 billion of uninsured deposits to First Republic Bank, in a likely sign that MS saw inflows since the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank two weeks sparked the current uncertainty. Furthermore, Morgan Stanley’s business model is driven by wealth-and-asset-management fees and is less reliant on collecting deposits and issuing loans. (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
An employee arranges a sneaker display at a Foot Locker Inc. store inside the South Park Mall in Strongsville, Ohio.
Luke Sharrett | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The Club on Friday is updating five price targets for stocks in the portfolio to reflect recent developments at the companies and broader macroeconomic trends. We’re also adding a new stock to the bullpen, while reiterating our support for Morgan Stanley amid the recent upheaval in the banking sector.
Alexander Vlaskamp, the outspoken CEO of MAN Trucks, claims that an electric semi truck can pay for itself in less than three years – but there are a few asterisks in that statement. We’ll try to unpack them all for you here.
The good news is that, in the EU, incentives are plentiful. MAN says those programs, together with Europe’s much higher diesel prices compared to the US (about $6.80/gal compared to $3.70, as I type this), can help the eTruck pay for itself in as little as two and a half years.
And, if you’re not familiar with European incentives for electric semi trucks, hold on to your hats because they are wild:
Advertisement – scroll for more content
up to 80% of vehicle purchase price subsidy in Austria (ENIN)
in Belgium, there’s a subsidy for up to 32% of the price of the truck (up to 2 trucks per company)
in Ireland, government incentives cover 30–60% of the up-front cost difference versus a comparable diesel truck
Norway offers a similar 60% diesel cost difference incentive
“It’s all about the charging infrastructure, that’s the problem,” Vlaskamp told Börsen-Zeitung. “When it comes to investment in charging stations, Europe is lagging far behind … what’s needed now is the political will to reverse this trend,” adding, “We need to act quickly.”
Charging is key
Charging an eTruck; via Man Trucks.
Spanish-language site Motorpasión notes that red tape isn’t the only reason charging lags. Driving investment into new charging infrastructure is lagging, too – but MAN’s CEO thinks there’s a simple fix: take half of annual toll revenues generated by commercial trucks (around €7 billion in Germany, alone) and funnel it directly into DC fast charging.
In addition to the still deficient charging network, another obstacle is the cost of electricity for charging. Vlaskamp proposes a reduced price for commercial truckers, as has traditionally been the case with diesel. Currently, the average price is 45 to 50 cents per kWh, but says the ideal would be, “between €0.20 and €0.30/kWh.”
TL;DR: if charging was cheaper and easier to access and the government was willing to subsidize EVs as much as they’ve subsidized oil with the creating and ongoing support of a globalized military industrial complex, MAN Trucks’ CEO thinks plug-in semis would be a no-brainer.
Head on down to the comments and let us know if you agree.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
It’s Labor Day weekend, which means big deals on car lots across America – especially if you’re shopping for a new electric vehicle to help with your labor. We’ve rounded up the best offers on electric pickups, vans, and even a great option for ride share drivers!
Sure, there’s a bit of irony in pitching “work vehicles” on a holiday meant for not working – but for many small business owners, work is part of who they are. And with the $7,500 federal EV tax credit set to expire, plus a wave of great Labor Day deals on work-ready EVs, now might be the best time yet to plug into a new electric ride.
Here are some of the standout electric vehicles offers we found this Labor Day weekend (2025), organized by vehicle type.
Electric pickup | F-150 Lightning
F-150 Lightning; via Ford.
The “Ford for America,” summer sales event continues through Labor Day with interest-free 0% financing, $0 down payment, and zero payments for up to 90 days for retail customers. Ford is also throwing in $0 maintenance for 24 months.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
But wait, there’s more! Ford Authority is reporting that a complimentary home charger and standard installation might also be included as part of the Ford Power Promise promotion happening at participating dealers in select markets with the purchase of a new F-150 Lightning pickup through the end of September.
Lease customers aren’t being left out, either. You can lease a 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning XLT 4P 311A pickup at $399 per month for 36 months, with “just” $399 due at signing (basically your first month’s payment).
For your money, you get a capable, Ultium-based electric cargo van with more room than your college dorm and a nationwide dealer network to keep it up and running when you need it most.
Electric van (hon. mention) | Mercedes eSprinter
2024 eSprinter; via Mercedes-Benz.
Despite being based on the company’s existing diesel platform, Mercedes’ eSprinter has proven itself a capable urban hauler in the hands of Amazon, DHL, and countless European tradespeople. Despite that, there are still a handful of leftover 2024 models hanging around dealer lots – enough that Mercedes is offering up to $30,000 (!) Customer Cash on any new ’24MY eSprinter purchased from dealer stock.
As you can imagine, there’s some fine print on that Customer Cash deal. It can’t be combined with Special APR programs through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (MBFS), but it can be combined with the Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles Medium Fleet Program.
And, while we’re at it, it’s probably worth noting that serious road warriors will probably save more than $129/mo. in fuel alone.
If you prefer to own your vehicles after making payments on them for a few years, you can also get 0% interest financing on select ID.4s for up to 72 months. It’s important to note here that Volkswagen’s deals can vary wildly by region. That $129/mo. offer is available in California and a few other West Coast states, for example, but the electric crossover’s listed at $329 for 24 months with $4,499 due at signing in others.
Disclaimer: the vehicle models and financing deals above were sourced from CarsDirect, CarEdge, and (where mentioned) the OEM websites – and were current as of 29AUG2025. These deals may not be available in every market, with every discount, or for every buyer (the standard “with approved credit” fine print should be considered implied). Check with your local dealer(s) for more information.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Sustainable construction experts McKinstry have teamed up with leading BESS developers Viridi and the Denver Public Library to deploy a first-of-its-kind solar and battery storage system that sets a new standard for fire safety.
The Denver Public Library sought a battery energy storage system (BESS) that could deliver cost savings without compromising safety for staff, visitors, or the architecturally significant, Michael Graves–designed structure itself. That required a battery backup solution that not only met the city’s fire safety standards, but also addressed public fears about the risk of lithium-ion battery fires.
That unique set of project priorities led the library to Viridi, makers of the RPSLinkEX battery solution that’s equipped with a unique, “passive Fail-Safe thermal management and anti-propagation technology” designed to prevent the sort of thermal runaway that leads to li-ion battery fires.
“Public facilities like the Denver Public Library are at the forefront of demonstrating that energy resilience and safety can go hand in hand,” said Jon M. Williams, CEO at Viridi. “This installation highlights how fail-safe battery storage can empower communities to maximize renewable energy, reduce costs, and maintain reliability – all without compromise.”
Advertisement – scroll for more content
Keeping it safe
Denver Public Library; by Michael Graves.
Viridi doesn’t talk too much about how its passive Fail-Safe thermal management system works, but if you’re picturing heat-dissipating layers, fire-resistant insulation, and strategically-placed phase change materials (or PCMs) limiting the transfer of heat from one cell to another if it begins to overheat, you’ve probably cracked it.
These passive safety features enable safer deployment scenarios in occupied buildings or near critical infrastructure by reducing dependence on active fire suppression systems like sprinklers or fire extinguishers, and convinced the City of Denver to move forward with the project, which is the city’s first-ever solar + battery storage system.
“The entire McKinstry team is very excited about developing and constructing the first Solar + BESS project for the City and County of Denver,” said Jon Ensley, Sr. Construction Project Engineer at McKinstry. “We are appreciative of all our partners and stakeholders who helped to achieve this goal. We value Viridi’s expertise in deploying this technology and the whole team has been great to work with.”
McKinstry says this latest solar project sets, “a new benchmark for how cities can combine renewable energy and battery storage without compromising safety.” And, with solutions like the RPSLinkEX building systems that meet city planners and politicians where they are, instead of trying to educated them about the objective, proven safety of li-ion batteries, Viridi is helping communities adopt cleaner, more resilient clean energy solutions sooner rather than later.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.