The Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV) offers broad exposure to the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, focusing on 100 S&P 500 stocks with the lowest realized volatility. With assets over $7.06 billion and an expense ratio of 0.25%, it's considered a medium-risk investment due to its diversification across sectors like Utilities, Financials, and Real Estate. The ETF has performed well this year, returning 6.79%, and holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold).
In 2026, RTX has emerged as the top performer among major aerospace and defense stocks, with a 14% year-to-date gain, followed by GE Aerospace at 11%. Boeing, however, has lagged significantly with a 3% decline. The article highlights that these companies, despite being in the same sector, have fundamentally different business models—GE Aerospace focuses on recurring engine servicing, RTX on a diversified portfolio, and Boeing on airframe manufacturing, explaining their varied performances.
In 2026, Occidental Petroleum (OXY) leads the oil and gas sector with a 46% year-to-date gain, closely followed by EOG Resources (EOG) and ConocoPhillips (COP) which both achieved a 43% gain. The SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP) outperformed two of these individual stocks with a 45% return, suggesting that for most investors, a sector-wide ETF might have been a more effective choice than picking individual stocks this year. The article highlights the narrow margin between the top performers and the ETF, advising investors to maintain modest single-stock positions.
In 2026, Visa has significantly outperformed its credit card rivals, Mastercard and American Express, with a 9% year-to-date gain, while American Express has seen a 9% decline. This divergence is attributed to their differing business models: Visa and Mastercard operate as pure payment networks without credit risk, whereas American Express lends directly to cardholders, exposing it to credit risk. The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) also outperformed American Express, highlighting the importance of stock selection within the broader financial sector this year.
Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC, a major shareholder and ten percent owner of Texas Pacific Land Corp (TPL), purchased 1 share of common stock on August 21, 2026, for $381.51. This transaction increased Horizon Kinetics' direct holdings to 3,244,015 shares. A previous Schedule 13D filing from May 7, 2026, indicated beneficial ownership of 10,109,933 shares.
Donald R. Shirley, Executive Vice President of Packaging Corp of America (NYSE: PKG), sold 12,000 shares of company common stock on August 20, 2026, at a weighted average price of $250.708 per share, totaling approximately $3.01 million. After this transaction, Shirley holds 19,110 shares directly and 6,501 shares indirectly through a 401(k) plan. The sale was executed in multiple trades within a price range of $249.60 to $252.475 per share and was not made under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
SunCar Technology Group (NASDAQ: SDA) operates a cloud service and mobile app that digitalizes the automotive aftermarket and e-insurance sectors in China, partnering with major EV manufacturers. The company experienced significant revenue growth in FY 2023, particularly in its auto e-insurance business, and has recently shown positive Adjusted EBITDA. SunCar addresses the need for aftermarket support in China's rapidly growing EV market, which lacks extensive dealer networks, and aims to make car ownership more efficient and affordable through its platform.
Safety Insurance Group Inc. (SAFT) has reached a new 52-week high of $103.76, demonstrating a significant upward trend with a 43.75% return over the past year. The company's strong market performance and a recent increase in its revolving credit facility highlight investor confidence. Despite trading near its high, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock may be undervalued, although its RSI indicates it is in overbought territory.
Options trading for SLB (Schlumberger Limited) saw a significant surge, with call volume nearly six times higher than put volume, indicating strong bullish speculation. The October $57.50 calls were particularly active, suggesting traders anticipate a sharp price increase. While call volume points to a potential rally, open interest data reveals a more complex scenario, with established positions and hedging activity also at play, and falling implied volatility suggests less expectation for dramatic price swings.
An officer at Packaging Corp of America (PKG.US) has sold 20,000 shares of common stock for a total of US$3.01 million. The transaction occurred at an average price of US$150.795 per share. This sale indicates a significant insider transaction for the company.
