The S & P 500 will wrap up the fourth quarter this week and is on track to gain about 5.5% over the three-month period from October through December, as of the close on Wednesday, Dec. 28. The positive performance represents the only quarter of gains in 2022, breaking what had been the longest losing streak since 2008. What made the fourth quarter stand out from the first three of the year? First off, equities finally found some reprieve from the strong U.S. dollar , which peaked on Sept. 27, right before the end of the third quarter. The strong dollar has been a headwind to multinationals all year because it makes revenues generated outside the U.S. smaller when converted from foreign currencies. Also helping equity valuations was the peak in Treasury yields on Oct. 24. After yet another volatile quarter in the books, we’ve reviewed how our portfolio fared in the 3 months ended Dec. 31, using the close on Dec. 28 as our reference point. Here’s a snapshot of the best and worst performers in the Investing Club’s 33-stock portfolio for the fourth quarter, starting with our top 4 performers. (Note: We’re excluding our most recent initiation, Emerson Electric (EMR), from the rankings since the stock was purchased in mid-December. Shares of this industrial automation company have gained about 30.1% in the fourth quarter.) Top performers Taking the crown was Halliburton ( HAL), with a huge gain of around 54.7% for the quarter. What a difference a quarter can make. Shares of this oil-services company were the biggest laggard in the portfolio during the third quarter . The turnaround in performance shows that Halliburton was briefly a broken stock, not a broken company. Earnings also did the trick. In late October, Halliburton delivered strong third-quarter results , including improved operating margins thanks to healthy demand for its equipment and services. The gains were even more impressive when considering that the price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed a volatile quarter roughly at the same price it traded at the start of October. Second place was a tie. Wynn Resorts (WYNN) gained 27.1% in the quarter. This was the second quarter in a row that Wynn made our top 4 list. Shares of this Macao-centric casino operator gained 10.6% in the third quarter. Wynn’s strong stock performance can be attributed to China’s pivot away from its strict zero-Covid policy . Wynn shares appreciated because investors finally gained some visibility into when the world’s second-largest economy will recover. It also helped that Wynn’s properties in Las Vegas and Boston continued to perform at a high level. Honeywell (HON) also climbed 27.1% in the quarter. Usually cyclicals are the ones that get hit when recession risks are fresh on investors’ minds. But, it was actually the industrials that were among the strongest performers in the quarter. In late October, Honeywell delivered a solid earnings beat for the third quarter and management raised the low end of its full-year outlook by about 15 cents a share. With Honeywell’s strong exposure to aerospace, oil-and-gas and non-residential construction, the company isn’t tied to the industrial end-markets that are currently facing declines. Fourth place was TJX Companies (TJX), which gained about 26.7% in the quarter. This was the second quarter in a row that TJX made our top 4 list. This off-price retailer was the portfolio’s top performer in the third quarter, gaining about 11.4%. The stock briefly broke above $80 a share and hit new all-time highs in reaction to a strong third-quarter earnings report . In addition to the positive results, management had been upbeat about the buying environment and merchandise opportunities heading into the holiday season. As an off-price retailer, TJX takes advantage of inventory gluts across the retail sector by purchasing quality brands at liquidation prices. The stocks that fared the best quarter-to-quarter changed frequently throughout the year. This highlights the difficulty of predicting what sector or group of stocks will outperform from one period to the next. It’s why we always strive to stay diversified and invest in high-quality companies across different industries. Worst performers Turning to what didn’t work in the fourth quarter, the worst performer for the club was Amazon (AMZN), which fell 27.6% in the quarter. Poor earnings and a disappointing fourth-quarter outlook were the major catalysts behind this decline. From online retail to its cloud unit, the weakening macroeconomic picture and high inflation negatively impacted nearly every part of Amazon’s business. It also didn’t help that Amazon stock was richly priced during a time in which valuations across the stock market have been adjusted due to higher interest rates. It has the highest price-to-earnings (PE) multiple of mega cap tech stock. Since Amazon has a premium PE multiple, it essentially has more room to fall. Second was Meta Platforms (META), which saw its share price come down by 14.2% in the fourth quarter. Meta went through a whole host of issues this quarter, mainly centering around its third-quarter earnings report . Revenues declined year-over-year for the second quarter in a row, but that was mostly anticipated by the market. What shocked the market the most was how management completely lost control over its expenses, with many billions of dollars earmarked for the Metaverse, an expensive endeavor with no real business case yet. Fortunately, Meta started to listen to the gripes of its shareholder base a few weeks later. The company announced it would lay off 13% of its workforce and tweaked lower its 2023 total expenses outlook. The news marked a step in the right direction, but Meta must do more to protect its earnings amid a slowdown in advertising spending. Bausch Health Companies (BHC) was the third worst-performing stock for the Club in the fourth quarter, with shares of this specialty pharmaceutials company dropping 11.6% in the quarter. There wasn’t much news impacting BHC this quarter, but its investment case remains a challenged one. Investors remain concerned about Bausch’s high debt load and lack of clarity around when a key drug, Xifaxan, will lose patent protection. This is a market that wants profitable companies with strong balance sheets, along with cash returns to shareholders through dividends and buybacks. Bausch may be profitable, but its bad balance sheet in a slowing economy will keep shareholders away. On the bright side, Bausch could move to spin off Bausch + Lomb (BLCO) in 2023, an event that would unlock value for BHC shareholders. The fourth worst performer was Walt Disney (DIS), which fell 10.8% in the quarter It all unraveled for Disney after it reported a much weaker-than-expected fiscal fourth quarter in November. Margins at the theme park division contracted and the losses from its streaming services swelled well beyond expectations. We made clear that a shakeup in leadership was necessary after that disaster of a quarter, and we got it. Bob Iger is back as CEO , having replaced Bob Chapek. He’s the steady hand Disney needs to course correct and provide more thoughtful navigation of cord-cutting at the company’s media division, while positioning the streaming business toward profitable growth. The common denominator this quarter was weakness in technology stocks. This group was once lauded for its secular growth characteristics, but as we have learned the hard way this year, many have closer ties to the economic cycle than previously thought. And if you aren’t profitable, then forget about it. An additional problem facing tech is that so many companies saw their businesses boom during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing them to overinvest, overspend and, some cases, increase inventories to keep up with the rapid uptick in demand. Now, many have become overstaffed, with bloated cost structures. What may be needed for these companies to sustainably rally again is to realign expense growth with the new reality of slowing revenue. (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.
Workers walk towards Halliburton Co. “sand castles” at an Anadarko Petroleum Corp. hydraulic fracturing (fracking) site north of Dacono, Colorado, U.S., on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014.
Jamie Schwaberow | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The S&P 500 will wrap up the fourth quarter this week and is on track to gain about 5.5% over the three-month period from October through December, as of the close on Wednesday, Dec. 28. The positive performance represents the only quarter of gains in 2022, breaking what had been the longest losing streak since 2008.
Enbridge, a Canadian energy company, just announced it’s moving forward with an 815-megawatt (MW) solar project called Sequoia in Texas. When it’s done, it’ll be one of the largest solar farms in North America. The project’s price tag is a hefty $1.1 billion.
Enbridge’s Sequoia, around 150 miles west of Dallas, has already landed long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with AT&T and Toyota, ensuring most of its output is sold for years to come. This deal was highlighted in Enbridge’s third-quarter report on Friday.
Sequoia will be built in two phases, with power expected to start flowing in 2025 and 2026. Enbridge says it’s taken steps to reduce risks by securing equipment and procurement contracts in advance. Permits and purchase orders are also locked down.
Toyota’s PPA with Enbridge’s Texas solar project is part of Toyota’s broader push toward sustainability, as the automaker aims to achieve net zero by 2035 and match 45% of its purchased power with renewable electricity by 2026 as it still clings to its “diverse powertrain strategy.”
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. 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. They have 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 Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
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With its new electric SUV rolling out, NIO’s (NIO) sales topped the 20,000 mark again in Oct, its sixth straight month hitting the milestone.
NIO sold 20,976 vehicles last month, up 30.5% from October 2023. The NIO brand sold 16,657 vehicles, while its new “family-oriented smart vehicle brand,” Onvo, contributed 4,319 in its first full sales month.
After launching its new mid-size Onvo L60 electric SUV in September, NIO said production and deliveries are steadily ramping up.
At the end of October, NIO’s Onvo had 166 Centers and Spaces throughout 60 cities. Onvo plans to continue expanding its network to drive future growth.
NIO’s new electric SUV starts at around $21,200 (149,900) and is a direct rival to Tesla’s Model Y. The base $21K model is if you rent the battery. Even with the battery included, Onvo L60 prices still start at under $30,000 (206,900 yuan), with a CLTC range of up to 341 miles (555 km). That’s still less than the Model Y.
Tesla’s Model Y RWD starts at around $35,000 (249,900 yuan) with 344 mi (554 km) CLTC range in China.
NIO’s new Onvo brand drives higher Oct sales
NIO has often compared its new electric SUV to the Model Y, claiming it’s superior in many ways. The L60 has better consumption at 12.1 kWh/100km compared to the Model Y at 12.5 kWh/100km).
With a longer wheelbase (2,950 mm vs 2,890 mm), NIO’s electric SUV also provides slightly more interior space.
Despite the L60’s success so far, NIO believes its second Onvo model will be an even bigger hit. It could be a potential game-changer.
“If you think the L60 is good, then this new model is a much more competitive product,” NIO’s CEO William Li told CnEVPost after launching the L60. Onvo will launch a new EV every year. Following the L60, Onvo will launch a new mid-to-large-size electric SUV next year.
NIO’s leader claims the new model will be revolutionary. According to Li, it will offer even more surprises than the L60. Deliveries are planned to begin in Q3 2025.
NIO Onvo L60 vs Tesla Model Y trims
Range (CLTC)
Starting Price
NIO Onvo L60 (Battery rental)
555 km (341 mi) 730 km (454 mi)
149,900 yuan ($21,200)
NIO Onvo L60 (60 kWh)
555 km (341 mi)
206,900 yuan ($29,300)
NIO Onvo L60 (85 kWh)
730 km (454 mi)
235,900 yuan ($33,400)
NIO Onvo L60 (150 kWh)
+1,000 km (+621 mi)
TBD
Tesla Model Y RWD
554 km (344 mi)
249,900 yuan ($34,600)
Tesla Model Y AWD Long Range
688 km (427 mi)
290,900 yuan ($40,300)
Tesla Model Y AWD Performance
615 km (382 mi)
354,900 yuan ($49,100)
NIO Onvo L60 compared to Tesla Model Y prices and range in China
Local reports suggest a six-or seven-seat electric SUV could hit the market even sooner. With rumors of a launch around Q1 2025, deliveries could happen as soon as May 2025.
According to sources close to the matter, the L60 is just a “stepping stone” with even more exciting EVs on the way. The source claimed the new six-seat option will start at around $42,100 (300,000 yuan).
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Velotric Ebikes are designed by some of the most brilliant minds in the business. And now, you have the opportunity to own one (or two!) of these high-performance, elegant, reliable rides. You won’t want to miss these fantastic early-bird Black Friday deals running from November 1-14, and, also get a sneak peek at special offers that start on November 8.
Read on to find the right model for you and learn how you can donate $5 to get up to$550 off a superb Velotric electric bike.
Velotric Black Friday deals – give to get back
If you donate $5 to either the Clean Air Task Force or the Solutions Project at checkout, you’ll unlock some fantastic discounts off Velotric e-bikes:
Clean Air Task Force: Fighting air pollution for healthier communities
The Solutions Project: Advocating for 100% renewable energy in frontline communities
Plus, Velotric is giving Electrek readers an exclusive discount: Enter the code Electrek20 at checkout to get an additional $20 OFF!
Velotric Discover 2 Ebike
The Velotric Discover 2, Velotric’s most comfortable e-bike, now has even more power, with a 750W high-performance motor and 75 Nm of torque. The 48V 706 Wh battery, providing up to 75 miles per charge, maximizes your range.
You can ride in comfort, as the frame design supports an upright posture; plus, it’s got a 200mm wide saddle and ergonomic grips, reducing long-ride strain. Enjoy a premium, versatile ride that turns every journey into a joyride.
Discover 2 – Save up to $200
Velotric Summit 1 Ebike
If you want both an everyday bike and a trekking bike, then this is the one for you. The customizable Velotric Summit 1 Ebike is a hybrid e-bike featuring a 750W motor with 90 Nm of torque that delivers exceptional power for both city streets and offroad terrain, and the intuitive throttle means you can access that power effortlessly. When you’re off-road, the 120mm travel suspension absorbs the impacts, resulting in a smoother ride. The 48V, 705.6Wh battery provides up to 70 miles of charge.
Plus, it features a vibrant multifunctional screen with three configurations and use the Velotric app to monitor mileage and access real-time bike data.
Summit 1 – Save up to $200
Velotric Nomad 1 Plus Ebike
The Nomad 1 Plus Ebike‘s 750W motor and 75 Nm torque allow you to conquer just about any terrain. The 691Wh battery keeps you on the move for up to 55 miles, an 80mm suspension fork smooths your ride, and powerful waterproof hydraulic brakes give you full control.
The Nomad 1 Plus features an adjustable stem, a brighter front light, and max speed adjustable range is 12-28 mph.
Nomad 1 Plus – save up to $550
Velotric Fold 1 Ebike
The Velotric Fold 1 Ebike becomes compact in just three quick moves, but don’t mistake it for simple. The high-performance 750W motor and generates 70 Nm torque, beating most of the competition for acceleration and climbing ability. The 608Wh battery will give you up to 55 miles of range, its step-through design is 20% lower than the competition, and when you’re done zipping around town or commuting, you can pop it into a car trunk or even a closet.
Plus, the Fold 1 is compatible with a wide range of cool accessories so you can customize it to meet your needs.
Fold 1 – Save up to $350
Velotric T1 ST Plus Ebike
The Velotric T1 ST Plus Ebike is an ultra-compact, 39-pound city-and-gravel bike that’s designed for riders with an active lifestyle. But don’t be fooled by its sleek look because it’s very well-equipped: The five pedal-assist-level T1 ST has a 70-mile range and three riding modes, and the peak 600W motor generates 40Nm of torque. It also comes with Apple Find My integration.
T1 ST Plus – Save up to $400
Velotric Discover 1 Plus Ebike
The Velotric Discover 1 Plus Ebike is a fantastic commuter bike that’s designed for comfort. (Plus, it’s kinda fun that it comes in five color choices.) If your commuting route is a bit more challenging, then the Discover 1 Plus might be the right fit for you. It features a rear light with braking high-beam, a 60 Lux front light, and double hydraulic disc brakes for extra safety. Plus, Velotric rigorously tests its frames 150,000 times under tough conditions for quality assurance.
This commuter e-bike that rides like a cruiser has a pedal assist range of 65 miles and throttle range of 58 miles on a 900W peak motor that generates 65 Nm of torque.
Discover 1 Plus – Save up to $550
Velotric Go 1 Ebike
Velotric’s Go 1 Ebike is small but mighty – it can carry up to 440 pounds comfortably. This ride has hydraulic suspension and a plush saddle, and it can be kitted out with a wide range of accessories, making it a versatile form of transport for everything from a fun day out to carting groceries across town.
It’s powered by Velotric’s proprietary Velopower H50 Drive System, which provides a range of up to 55 miles on pedal assist up to 25 mph (unlocked) with a peak 900W motor.
Get 3 accessories & unlock 30% off on selected accessories
*Not included in the early-bird Black Friday deal, this deal runs from November 8-28 only
Velotric Packer 1 Ebike
From kids to cargo, the Velotric Packer 1 Ebike was designed to haul it all! The Packer 1 features Velotric’s proprietary Velopower H75 Drive System, which provides a range of up to 52 miles on pedal assist up to 25 mph (unlocked) with a 750W motor.
It can carry up to 440 pounds and has a 176-pound rear cargo carry capacity, plus hydraulic suspension with 80 mm of travel for a smooth ride. If you’re running a child to school every day, this would be a fantastic choice. Be sure to check out all the great accessories.